Katy Perry’s space ride draws ire — and eye rolls

Pop star Katy Perry’s brief voyage to outer space has landed her back in the cultural crosshairs.

After participating in Blue Origin’s high-profile, all-female spaceflight Monday — led by company owner Jeff Bezos’ fiancee, Lauren Sanchez — Ms. Perry returned to Earth after just 11 minutes in zero gravity. The event, heavily promoted and livestreamed, was billed as a celebration of women’s empowerment.

But online, the reaction was anything but celebratory.

Slate’s Heather Schwedel likened the whole affair to “the world’s shortest influencer trip,” lampooning the pop star’s dramatic Earth-kissing moment post-landing.

Ellen Cushing of The Atlantic went even further, calling Ms. Perry the “perfect pop star for a dumb stunt.”

Other critics have piled on. Actress Olivia Wilde and model Emily Ratajkowski dismissed the endeavor as frivolous. Even fast-food chain Wendy’s chimed in, posting on X: “Can we send her back.”