Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski has spoken out publicly against the recent Blue Origin flight that featured an all-female crew, including pop singer Katy Perry, CBS anchor Gayle King, and Lauren Sánchez, the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The mission, which lasted 11 minutes and reached the edge of space, was widely promoted as a historic moment by various media outlets. However, Ratajkowski has criticized the endeavor as performative and environmentally irresponsible.
In a TikTok video posted on Monday, Ratajkowski described the spaceflight as “end-time” behavior and “beyond parody.” She questioned the stated intentions behind the mission, particularly in relation to environmental advocacy. “Saying that you care about Mother Earth, and it’s about Mother Earth, and going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s single-handedly destroying the planet?” she said. Ratajkowski expressed concern about the resources used for the flight and its broader implications in the context of global inequality.
Blue Origin door opening goes viral after the door was opened from the inside before being closed so Jeff Bezos could wrench it open on camera. pic.twitter.com/xkIZRfbeV6
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 17, 2025
The 33-year-old continued to expand on her thoughts in a follow-up video on Tuesday. She acknowledged that the visual of women and people of color participating in a high-profile space mission may appear to represent social progress. However, she argued that such representation can be misleading when tied to wealth and power. “Having a man who has gained his power and become a part of the one percent purely through exploitation and greed deciding to take his fiancée and a few other famous women to space for space tourism is not progress,” she said.
Emily Ratajkowski says she’s ‘disgusted’ by the Blue Origin space trip:
“Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women in space… for what?” pic.twitter.com/i9rRrWvSei
— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 14, 2025
Ratajkowski’s comments suggested that the flight was less about scientific advancement and more about spectacle. She concluded by framing the event within a larger critique of wealth inequality. “It just speaks to the fact that we are absolutely living in an oligarchy,” she said, referring to a society where a small elite group holds significant power. She highlighted the contrast between those who can afford space travel and those struggling with basic needs, such as food and housing.
Actress Olivia Munn also voiced skepticism about the mission during an appearance on “Today with Jenna and Friends.” Munn questioned the value of the flight, referring to it as “a bit gluttonous.” She emphasized that the original purpose of space exploration was to advance knowledge and serve humanity. “What are they gonna do up there that has made it better for us down here?” she asked.
The Blue Origin flight has received a mixed response from the public and media. Supporters have hailed it as a symbolic moment for women in aerospace and technology, while critics have dismissed it as a publicity-driven venture lacking meaningful scientific contribution. The crew members involved in the mission have yet to respond publicly to the critiques raised by Ratajkowski and others.
Fighting the Fake News with Facts:
That Blue Origin flight with Katy Perry and other women did not really go to space like the media is portraying. They didn’t actually experience micro gravity either.
Yes, technically the rocket delivered passengers beyond the Kármán line,… pic.twitter.com/QIc8wKDGFC
— David Pollack (@DavidPollackUSA) April 16, 2025
Can any space nerds help me understand how the Blue Origin capsule came back down without any re-entry burns?
Was this a trajectory thing or some kind of superior material used?
Falcon crew capsule for comparison pic.twitter.com/VY2hL2THmI
— Andrew Côté (@Andercot) April 15, 2025
This mission marks one of several recent high-profile flights conducted by Blue Origin, a company owned by Jeff Bezos, which has been developing reusable rocket technology and promoting space tourism. As private space travel becomes more common, discussions continue around its societal and environmental implications, especially when celebrity involvement draws heightened public attention.
