What Was Meant to Inspire Turned Embarrassing: Katy Perry’s All-Female Space Journey Met with Harsh Criticism and Mockery

Katy Perry and a group of high-profile female celebrities recently made headlines for participating in an 11-minute all-female spaceflight mission organized in collaboration with a private aerospace company.

While the event was intended to be an empowering statement about women in science, technology, and exploration, the mission has instead sparked a mix of ridicule, internet memes, and harsh public criticism.

Many social media users labeled the event “cringe” and accused the group of turning what could have been a serious milestone in space travel into a publicity stunt.

The mission, intended as a symbolic celebration of female empowerment and progress in aerospace, saw the likes of Katy Perry, actresses, influencers, and female business leaders embark on a suborbital space journey designed to last just over ten minutes.

Launching aboard a sleek commercial capsule, the all-women crew briefly experienced weightlessness and saw Earth from above the atmosphere, a view that astronauts often describe as life-changing.

The mission was billed as a tribute to the underrepresented women of space history — from engineers to astronauts — and was heavily promoted as a way to inspire young girls around the world.

However, not everyone received it with admiration.

Critics quickly took to social media platforms, mocking the mission as a “celebrity gimmick” and questioning the significance of the flight, given its short duration and lack of scientific output.

Hashtags like #CringeInOrbit and #SpaceSelfieMission began trending within hours of the event’s livestream, with users comparing the journey to a joyride rather than a breakthrough in women’s representation in space.

Some viewers found the participants’ commentary during the mission — which included excited squeals, choreographed hand gestures, and lighthearted jokes — to be tone-deaf and superficial.

“They turned a spaceflight into an Instagram Live,” one user commented, referring to the crew’s real-time reactions and social media content shared during and after the flight.

Another tweet read, “We wanted role models for our daughters, not a music video in zero gravity.

Even major media outlets picked up on the public’s mixed reactions.

While some praised the symbolic value of the mission and acknowledged that space travel shouldn’t be reserved only for trained astronauts or billionaires, others questioned the value of sending celebrities into space purely for optics.

One columnist wrote, “This could have been a statement on the power of women in science.

Instead, it looked more like a fashion shoot above the stratosphere.

The backlash also raised larger questions about the commercialization of space and the growing trend of celebrity spaceflights.

Critics argue that sending high-profile entertainers into orbit — especially when there’s little scientific or educational purpose behind the mission — trivializes the risks, expenses, and history of space exploration.

More pointedly, several feminist commentators noted that while celebrating women’s presence in space is important, it should not be reduced to what felt like an overly curated publicity event.

In the days following the mission, some of the participants, including Katy Perry, attempted to address the criticism.

In an Instagram post, Perry defended the mission’s intentions, stating, “We did this to celebrate women in STEM, to inspire future generations, and to show that the sky is not the limit.

I understand not everyone sees it that way, but our goal was never to make a mockery of something meaningful.

” She also acknowledged that the public’s response had been more divided than expected but said she had “no regrets” about taking part.

Supporters of the mission, meanwhile, argued that much of the criticism was rooted in sexism and a double standard.

“When male billionaires go to space, it’s called innovation.

When women do it for inspiration, it’s called cringe?” one fan posted.

Others pointed out that it was the first time an entirely female civilian crew had flown together in space — even if briefly — and that the mission should be remembered as a first step toward broader inclusivity in the space sector.

Blue Origin, the company behind the flight, released a statement reiterating its commitment to democratizing space travel and emphasizing the symbolic importance of diverse representation.

“We are proud to have flown this historic crew,” the company said.

“Every journey to space matters.

Every voice we bring into the stars contributes to a future where space belongs to everyone.

Despite the controversy, the mission has generated an undeniable amount of attention and discussion, both positive and negative.

Whether it was seen as a genuine step forward for women in space, or simply a media circus cloaked in empowerment messaging, one thing is clear: the event has reignited public debate around who should go to space, why, and how such missions should be presented.

Katy Perry, no stranger to the spotlight or controversy, is likely to carry the weight of the criticism in the months to come.

Known for pushing creative boundaries and embracing bold statements in her career, this latest venture has added another complex layer to her public persona — one that blends ambition, idealism, and the unpredictable consequences of life in the social media age.

As the dust settles, the mission will likely be remembered not just for the image of a capsule soaring above Earth with a group of women on board, but for the cultural discourse it unleashed.

Whether it will inspire more thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful space initiatives moving forward remains to be seen.