Katy Perry’s Space Trip Backlash: Joe Rogan, Memes, and the Internet’s Brutal Takedown of Celebrity Activism

Katy Perry, the pop star known for her chart-topping hits and bold public persona, has found herself at the center of a social media firestorm following her brief trip to space aboard Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin spacecraft.

What was meant to be a moment of empowerment and inspiration has instead turned into a PR nightmare, with critics, comedians, and internet users alike mocking the event as a tone-deaf display of celebrity privilege.

Leading the charge is none other than podcast giant Joe Rogan, whose sharp critique of Perry’s space adventure has added fuel to the fire.

The saga began when Perry joined an all-female crew for an 11-minute suborbital flight, touted as a historic milestone for women.

The trip, which saw the participants float briefly in zero gravity before returning to Earth, was heavily marketed as an empowering moment for womankind.

Perry herself described the experience as life-changing, comparing it to giving birth and claiming it brought her closer to love and humanity.

However, the internet quickly turned on the narrative, with many questioning the significance of the trip and its portrayal as a groundbreaking achievement.

Joe Rogan’s Brutal Commentary

Joe Rogan, known for his unfiltered opinions, didn’t hold back in his assessment of Perry’s space adventure.

On his podcast, he sarcastically referred to the trip as a “roller coaster ride” and mocked the over-the-top reactions from Perry and her crew.

“What were they up there, 10 minutes?” Rogan quipped, adding, “It’s so cringey.

Look at us.

We’re very wealthy.

Don’t we look great? Admire us.”

Rogan’s critique resonated with many who saw the trip as an extravagant display of wealth rather than a meaningful contribution to space exploration or women’s empowerment.

He pointed out the stark contrast between Perry’s portrayal of the trip as a spiritual awakening and the reality of the event, which involved no scientific experiments or significant achievements.

“Real astronauts go through brutal training, take real risks, and face the very real possibility of not coming back,” Rogan said.

“Katy, she floated around in a luxury capsule that ran on autopilot and landed safely like an Amazon Prime package.”

The Internet’s Savage Response

The backlash didn’t stop with Rogan.

Social media platforms were flooded with memes, jokes, and scathing commentary, many of which mocked Perry’s dramatic post-flight behavior.

One viral tweet read, “Can we send her back?” while others compared the trip to a Disney ride, dubbing Perry the world’s first “zero-g influencer.”

The phrase “astronaut girly friends” became a meme genre in itself, used to parody the crew’s self-congratulatory tone.

Critics also took aim at the trip’s branding, which emphasized themes of empowerment and feminism.

Many felt that the narrative was disingenuous, pointing out that the participants were wealthy, high-profile women with connections to Jeff Bezos, rather than pioneers breaking barriers in science or technology.

“This wasn’t about science or space or women in STEM,” one commentator wrote.

“This was Katy Perry trying to do a soft rebrand in zero gravity.”

Even the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) weighed in, officially stating that Perry and her crew did not qualify as astronauts under their criteria.

According to the FAA, the title of astronaut is reserved for individuals who perform safety-critical tasks during a flight, a standard that Perry and her crew did not meet.

This announcement further fueled the narrative that the trip was more about optics than substance.

A Cultural Disconnect

The controversy surrounding Perry’s space trip highlights a growing cultural disconnect between celebrity activism and public perception.

While the event was marketed as a moment of progress and unity, many saw it as an example of performative privilege.

Critics argued that the trip did little to advance the cause of women in space or address the challenges faced by women in STEM fields.

Instead, it was seen as a lavish spectacle that underscored the gap between the elite and everyday people.

This disconnect was perhaps best encapsulated by a comment from Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’s fiancée and a member of the crew, who declared, “We’re all in this together.”

The statement, made from inside a luxury spacecraft, was widely criticized as tone-deaf, with many pointing out the stark contrast between the crew’s experience and the struggles faced by ordinary people.

“Not when the ride costs more than most people’s yearly income,” one user commented.

“Not when the capsule was filled with billionaires, network anchors, and pop stars pretending to represent the struggles of everyday women.”

The Martha Stewart Comparison

Adding to the backlash was an unexpected player: Martha Stewart.

In a move that many saw as the ultimate clapback, Stewart posted a throwback clip of herself casually floating in zero gravity during a 2007 flight.

Unlike Perry, Stewart made no grand declarations about empowerment or spiritual awakening.

Her understated approach stood in stark contrast to Perry’s elaborate branding campaign, earning her praise for her authenticity.

Stewart’s post quickly went viral, with users contrasting her quiet confidence with Perry’s over-the-top theatrics.

“Glamour isn’t innovation,” one commenter wrote.

“Martha did it better 17 years ago.”

The comparison further cemented the narrative that Perry’s trip was more about spectacle than substance.

The Fallout

As the memes and critiques continue to circulate, PR experts are warning that the backlash could have long-term consequences for Perry’s career.

While she remains a global superstar, the incident has highlighted the risks of celebrity activism in an era of heightened public scrutiny.

For many, Perry’s space trip has become a symbol of the disconnect between the elite and the everyday, a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of performative gestures in the age of social media.

Despite the criticism, Perry has not publicly addressed the backlash, and it remains to be seen how she will navigate the fallout.

For now, the internet shows no signs of letting up, with new memes and jokes emerging daily.

As one user put it, “Once you become the meme, you don’t get to decide what orbit you land in.”

Conclusion

Katy Perry’s space trip was meant to be a moment of inspiration and empowerment, but it has instead sparked a wave of backlash that shows no signs of slowing down.

From Joe Rogan’s biting commentary to the internet’s relentless mockery, the event has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about celebrity privilege and authenticity.

Whether Perry can recover from this PR disaster remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in the court of public opinion, the verdict is already in.

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