Katy Perry fires back at critics of her Blue Origin flight during ‘Lifetimes’ tour opener

Katy Perry’s recent 10-minute trip to the edge of space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin New Shepard spacecraft has caused a lot of debate, splitting public opinion and leading to a strong reaction from the pop star herself. The flight, which took place on April 14, also carried journalist Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez (Bezos’ fiancée), former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

As reported by Page Six, the event quickly became a target for criticism about wealth inequality and environmental issues. Perry, however, didn’t stay quiet after the backlash. During the first night of her “Lifetimes” tour in Mexico City, she directly responded to her critics by asking the crowd, “Has anyone ever called your dreams crazy?”

This question, along with a space-themed performance featuring a shiny silver outfit, dancers floating in the air, and photos of people dressed in NASA-style suits, was her way of pushing back. I don’t think the backlash was due to people thinking Perry’s dreams were crazy, but that’s how she’s taking it.

Katy Perry is open about space flight

The backlash was immediate and harsh, as reported by E Online. Several celebrities spoke out against the flight, pointing out the extreme difference between a costly space tourism trip and the serious problems facing the world.

Perry’s situation isn’t unusual when looking at other celebrities and space travel. Many stars have shown interest in or even tried to go to space. William Shatner’s emotional trip on a Blue Origin rocket, where he described feeling the difference between the cold void of space and the warmth of Earth, was very different from Perry’s more upbeat approach.

Some see space tourism as a sign of human achievement and scientific progress, while others think it’s a wasteful luxury when the world has many social and environmental problems. Aside from the controversy, Perry’s tour has faced a small delay. Two shows in Guadalajara, Mexico, were canceled because the Arena Guadalajara wasn’t finished being built, which was out of Perry’s control.