On Monday, Gayle King participated in a groundbreaking Blue Origin flight alongside an all-female crew, which included pop superstar Katy Perry and journalist Lauren Sánchez. The eight-minute journey into space was designed to highlight the contributions of women in aeronautics, but it also sparked significant criticism from various quarters, including other celebrities.
The flight drew notable backlash, particularly from actress Olivia Munn, who described it as “gluttonous.” Munn expressed concern over the current global issues, questioning, “What are you guys going to do up in space?” Other celebrities, including Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde, and Emily Ratajkowski, also voiced their opinions, contributing to the ongoing debate about the relevance of such space tourism endeavors.
In a post-flight interview with Extra, Gayle King addressed the criticism head-on. She acknowledged that she once shared similar sentiments, saying, “I was one of those people before I went on this flight and before I became educated.” King emphasized that her perspective shifted once she understood Blue Origin's mission: “to figure out a way to harness the waste here and put it in space to make the Earth a better place.”
King elaborated on the significance of space technology in everyday life, noting the benefits we gain from GPS and satellites. She asserted, “Every time a flight goes up, they get some type of information that can be used for something else.” This insight underlines the broader implications of space exploration and its potential to contribute positively to our planet.
While acknowledging that a flight with Blue Origin is "expensive," King suggested that if enough people show interest, the costs could become more manageable. She also addressed the language used to describe such flights, pointing out the disparity in terminology. “You never see a male astronaut who’s going up in space and they say, ‘Oh, he took a ride,’” she remarked. “It’s always referred to as a flight or a journey, which I feel is a little disrespectful to what the mission was and the work that Blue Origin does.”
Despite the wave of criticism, King remains undeterred. She stated, “I know there are cranky Yankees, I know there are some haters, but I’m not gonna let people steal my joy and steal the joy of what we did or what we accomplished that day.” Her determination to focus on the positive outcomes of the flight, even amidst skepticism from peers, reflects her commitment to promoting the importance of women in aeronautics and the broader mission of space exploration.
To catch the full interview with Gayle King and hear her thoughts in detail, watch the video below.
