It’s been a little over a week, and we’re still holding space for when Blue Origin’s all-female crew defied gravity for a few minutes.
On April 14, CBS Mornings co-anchor Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, research scientist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, and Katy Perry embarked on a suborbital flight, reaching the fourth-highest later of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The New Shepard NS-31 crew was the first time an all-female crew had been to space in 60 years, but the voyage was still heavily criticized before the ship even took flight.
Olivia Munn reacted to the Blue Origin crew’s trip while co-hosting Today With Jenna & Friends, saying, “There are so many other things that are so important in the world right now. What are you guys going to do up in space?”
Emily Ratajkowski shared a video on her TikTok calling the space mission “end-time shit” and its purpose is “beyond parody.”
After the ship landed, Gayle responded to the backlash, saying, “I feel that anybody that’s criticizing doesn’t really understand what is happening here. I’ve heard it, we’ve all heard it.”
“I hope that they will do a deep dive into what this represents. We can all speak to the response we’re gettign from young women, young girls about what this represents,” she added. “This is really a lot of work, what went into getting us up and getting us down.”
But, despite Gayle and the other women’s efforts to quell the complaints, the backlash persisted. However, on the red carpet for the Time 100 Gala on April 24, Gayle proved that she’s rising above the hate.
“What I know is that we did something that was incredible. All of us feel proud and brave of what we did, and I know the difference it’s making for young women and girls and even some boys. So, I’m not focusing on negativity.”
When asked if she would take another trip to outer space, Gayle said, “I’m not going back anytime soon, but I’m definitely open to it.”
According to THR, Gayle “felt safe” being part of the all-female Blue Origin crew traveling to space. “It’s odd to feel safe for something that’s so dangerous, and I know inherently it’s very dangerous. But I had such trust in how we were trained and the company,” she said. “So yes, I would definitely consider it.”
Although it seems like a parody written and directed by Adam McKay, the all-female Blue Origin totally got into a spaceship, and everyone totally had strong opinions about it.
But, if you think the backlash will ground Gayle King, you have another thing coming — because she’s down for round two.
To infinity and beyond! I guess.