While Katy Perry and Gayle King exuded enthusiasm regarding the recent all-female Blue Origin NS-13 mission, not all public figures shared their sentiments. Prominent celebrities like Amy Schumer and Olivia Wilde utilized social media platforms to voice criticism of this landmark space launch, helmed by Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée.
Olivia Munn became one of the earliest voices of dissent, describing the expedition as “gluttonous.” On “Today With Jenna & Friends,” she lamented, “What are they doing? I recognize that this may not be a popular opinion, but there are pressing global issues that deserve immediate attention.”
Munn further elaborated, stating, “It’s exorbitantly expensive to venture into space while many are struggling to afford basic necessities such as eggs. What’s the significance of this venture? Is it historic simply because you’re going on a joyride? It seems rather self-indulgent to me.”
On launch day, Schumer jokingly posted on Instagram that she had been unexpectedly invited to accompany Perry and King aboard the New Shepard 31 spacecraft, exclaiming, “Out of nowhere, they added me to the mission!”
Olivia Wilde echoed similar sentiments regarding the financial implications of the Blue Origin flight, quipping, “A billion dollars surely produced some amusing memes,” alongside an image of Perry landing and kissing the Texan soil.
The mission’s achievements, however, cannot be overlooked. The impressive all-female crew, which included civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, and producer Kerianne Flynn, made history as the first all-women crew to travel into space since Valentina Tereshkova’s solitary flight in 1963. In a subsequent press conference, Sanchez and King addressed their critics, emphasizing the inspiration and hope the mission instilled in young women, asserting, “Anyone criticizing this endeavor likely fails to comprehend its true significance.”
In a stark contrast to the celebratory tone, Perry also faced backlash, with the son of an elderly veteran she is currently suing for damages expressing hope that her experience would foster greater empathy toward individuals facing challenges similar to his father’s.
Vocabulary List:
- Exuberance /ɪɡˈzub.ɚ.əns/ (noun): The quality of being full of energy excitement and cheerfulness.
- Criticism /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/ (noun): The expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.
- Exorbitantly /ɪɡˈzɔːrbɪtəntli/ (adverb): In a manner that is unreasonably high in price or amount.
- Indulgent /ɪnˈdʌl.dʒənt/ (adjective): Characterized by excessive generosity or leniency.
- Significance /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/ (noun): The quality of being worthy of attention; importance.
- Adept /əˈdʌpt/ (adjective): Very skilled or proficient at something.
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