Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin recently launched its first all-women spaceflight, but not everyone is impressed. Some celebrities have raised concerns about the timing and cost of the trip, calling it disconnected from real-world issues.
The trip featured six women, including Katy Perry, Gayle King, and Lauren Sánchez. They spent only four minutes in space, with the entire flight lasting 11 minutes from start to finish.
The price tag? Very high. According to Pocketmags, one seat on the trip costs between $64 million and $88 million. With six people on board, that adds up to around $384 million to $528 million—without counting other expenses.
During an April 3 episode of Today with Jenna and Friends, actor Olivia Munn shared her thoughts. She questioned the value of spending so much money on something that lasts only a few minutes.
She said, “There are so many important issues in the world right now. It’s hard to see the point of spending that much to go to space, especially when many people can’t even afford basic things like eggs.”
Munn added that space exploration is usually about learning new things and helping people. She asked what this particular trip would do to benefit life on Earth.
Actor Amy Schumer also commented on the flight in a lighthearted way. She posted an Instagram story joking about suddenly being invited to space and thanked the crew in a playful message.
She joked about the name “space” and how simple it sounds, questioning how people came up with it. Schumer added that she was excited for the “trip,” although it was clear she was poking fun.
Director Olivia Wilde also posted on Instagram, sharing a meme featuring Katy Perry. She added a short caption about how the trip cost a lot but did create some funny moments online.
In response to the criticism, Gayle King defended the mission. She told People that critics may not understand the goal of the trip and pointed out the positive reactions from many young women and girls.