In a groundbreaking announcement, Gayle King, the renowned star of “CBS Mornings,” is set to participate in an all-female space flight aboard a Blue Origin rocket ship owned by Jeff Bezos, the proprietor of the Washington Post. However, this news has sparked discontent among some newsroom staffers at the Post, particularly in light of Bezos' recent overhaul of its opinion section.
This spring, King will join pop sensation Katy Perry and Bezos' fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, on a six-person mission aboard the New Shepard spacecraft. This extraordinary flight will take them to the edge of space, where the participants will experience a few minutes of weightlessness before safely returning to Earth. While this adventure is a remarkable opportunity, it has also raised eyebrows among those in the journalism community.
At least one staff member from the Washington Post has voiced their concerns, suggesting that King, reportedly one of the highest-paid television personalities earning approximately $13 million annually from CBS, should reconsider her participation. The staffer, speaking to Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter, described King’s decision as “kind of gross,” especially in light of Bezos’ recent actions that have stirred unrest among journalists at the Post.
There is uncertainty regarding whether King is financing her own trip to space or if someone else is covering the expenses. Historically, ticket prices for Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital flights have varied significantly. In 2021, the first seat was auctioned for an astonishing $28 million, with the proceeds donated to charity. More recent reports indicate that ticket prices are approximately $300,000 per passenger. However, Blue Origin customizes the pricing for each passenger, making it challenging to establish a standard ticket price for the New Shepard flights.
The announcement of King’s upcoming flight coincides with notable upheaval at the Washington Post. Recently, Jeff Bezos revealed that the publication would part ways with David Shipley, the opinion page editor, who confirmed his departure following Bezos’ statement on his X account. The billionaire expressed a desire for a new editor who aligns with his vision for revamping the opinion section to emphasize “personal liberties and free markets.” This change has alarmed current and former staffers who are increasingly concerned about Bezos' growing influence over the newspaper’s editorial decisions.
As the space flight approaches, the controversy surrounding Gayle King’s participation continues to unfold, raising questions about the intersection of journalism, celebrity, and corporate influence. The Washington Post has reached out for comments from King, CBS News, and Blue Origin, but the public remains eager to see how this situation develops.
