Katy Perry’s Space Trip Unites Internet in Criticism

In a rare moment of digital unity, the internet has collectively turned against pop star Katy Perry following her participation in Blue Origin’s all-female space mission. The singer, who joined media personalities Gayle King and Lauren Sánchez on the Jeff Bezos-funded flight, has become the primary target of criticism in what was billed as a feminist achievement, according to The Daily Beast.

The backlash has transcended traditional political and cultural divides, uniting celebrities, media outlets, and even fast-food chains in their criticism of what many are calling an out-of-touch publicity stunt. While the mission safely returned to Earth after its brief 11-minute journey on April 14, it has ignited a firestorm of debate about celebrity activism, environmental concerns, and the current state of Perry’s career. The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963, according to ABC News.

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From Pop Stardom to Space Controversy

Perry reportedly sang a snippet of “What a Wonderful World” while gazing at Earth from the spacecraft, a moment confirmed by Gayle King in interviews following the mission, according to NPR. The singer also brought a daisy with her into space in honor of her 4-year-old daughter, Daisy, whom she shares with fiancé Orlando Bloom. Upon landing, Perry was filmed kissing the ground, a gesture that became instant meme fodder across social media platforms.

The spaceflight was intended to showcase female empowerment and generate interest in science and technology, but instead has prompted widespread criticism from unexpected quarters. Fellow celebrities Olivia Munn and Olivia Wilde joined forces in a “public shaming” of their peers, with Munn describing the venture as “gluttonous” during an appearance on “Today With Jenna & Friends.” “What’s the point? Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it’s a bit gluttonous,” Munn stated, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Wilde shared a meme of Perry kissing the ground after landing with the caption “Billion dollars bought some good memes, I guess,” as reported by People. Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain amplified the criticism by sharing a particularly scathing Guardian essay about the flight, which characterized the mission as representing “the utter defeat of American feminism.” The piece went further, describing the event as “a kind of perverse funeral for the America that once enabled both scientific advancement and feminist progress.” Other celebrities weighing in included Amy Schumer, who posted a sarcastic video pretending she had received a last-minute invitation to join the mission.

Media Piles On as Brands Join the Fray

Major publications have been equally harsh in their assessment. The Atlantic dubbed Perry “the perfect pop star for a dumb stunt,” while Pitchfork published a widely-shared piece titled “In Space, No One Can Hear You Girlboss,” which ruthlessly dissected the singer’s career trajectory. The piece was “giddily shared all over social media,” according to The Daily Beast.

The Pitchfork article delivered one of the most savage critiques, suggesting the space mission was “the next logical step for Perry’s career” after writing “a few perfect songs in 2010” that she “had never been able to replicate.” The scathing review characterized the flight as “just a million dollar carnival ride dissembling as a publicity stunt,” with celebrities “in couture trying to milk a few days of earned media paid for by Amazon.”

In an unexpected twist, fast-food chain Wendy’s entered the controversy with a provocative tweet asking, “Can we send her back?” The restaurant’s social media account followed with additional barbs, including “I kissed the ground and I liked it” in reference to Perry’s hit song, and “When we said women in stem this isn’t what we meant,” according to TooFab.

The corporate pile-on sparked another news cycle, with sources close to Perry condemning the restaurant chain for engaging in bullying behavior. “This wasn’t harmless banter, this was a billion-dollar brand using its platform to publicly demean a woman,” a source told People. Wendy’s responded with a statement acknowledging they “bring a little spice to our socials” but insisting they have “a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent,” though they stopped short of offering an apology.

A Career in Perpetual Free Fall

The space mission criticism comes at a particularly vulnerable moment in Perry’s career. The singer hasn’t charted a Top 10 hit since 2016, with each subsequent release becoming internet fodder for jokes about her declining musical relevance, according to entertainment commentators.

Her recent single “Woman’s World” faced widespread derision for what critics described as “a laughably obtuse—and unlistenable—attempt to capitalize on a Kamala Harris-led feminist moment,” according to Yahoo Entertainment. Rumors circulated that Perry offered the song to Harris for her campaign, who “politely passed,” which “only added to the humiliation—which the cruel internet in turn celebrated.” These professional setbacks have contributed to Perry being characterized as projecting “a mixture of excessive enthusiasm and dire desperation” that many online commentators describe as “cringe.”

These professional struggles have combined with past controversies – including a contentious attempt to purchase a convent against the wishes of its elderly nuns and her public support for polarizing Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso – to create a perfect storm of negative sentiment.

Media analysts point to Perry’s apparent desperation to remain relevant as a key factor in the backlash. Her excessive enthusiasm paired with increasingly unsuccessful career moves has earned her the dreaded internet label of “cringe” – a designation that’s difficult for any public figure to overcome.

The Future of a Fallen Star

Despite the overwhelming criticism, Perry’s career is far from over. The singer has announced plans for a major tour, which she promoted during the space mission – another move critics have labeled as tone-deaf opportunism.

Industry experts note that pop stars have historically weathered similar controversies, with a single successful song often enough to rehabilitate a damaged reputation. Perry’s demonstrated talent and business acumen suggest she may yet navigate through this turbulent period.

Some marketing professionals even speculate about potential opportunities arising from the controversy, with one suggesting the inevitable conclusion: “Katy Perry starring in a Wendy’s Super Bowl commercial set in outer space.” Such a development would represent the ultimate commercial capitalization of what began as a supposedly inspirational mission.

As the dust settles on this celestial controversy, one thing remains clear: in an era of intense political and cultural division, Perry has achieved the remarkable feat of unifying the internet – unfortunately for her, in collective criticism rather than celebration.

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