A historic all-female Blue Origin space mission turned into a social media spectacle when fast-food giant Wendy's unleashed a series of sarcastic tweets targeting pop star Katy Perry.
According to the New York Post, the restaurant chain's social media team took aim at Perry after she returned from her brief journey to space alongside CBS News anchor Gayle King and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez.
The mission marked a significant milestone as the first all-female crew to visit space since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight in 1963. The group included accomplished professionals Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn.
Wendy's X account initiated the mockery by responding to news of Perry's return with a dismissive tweet asking if they could "send her back." The fast-food chain continued their commentary by referencing Perry's 2008 hit song after she was photographed kissing the ground upon landing.
When users pointed out the brief duration of the space flight, Wendy's sarcastically corrected them, emphasizing it was "11 minutes" rather than 10. The chain's social media team further quipped, "When we said women in stem this isn't what we meant."
The exchange garnered significant attention on social media platforms, with many questioning why Perry was singled out among the six-member crew.
The criticism extended beyond Wendy's, as several prominent entertainment figures expressed their disapproval of the space mission. Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde, Emily Ratajkowski, and Olivia Munn were among those who publicly voiced their concerns about the venture.
The Blue Origin New Shepard 31 flight launched at 9:30 a.m. from the company's West Texas base. Each crew member's spacesuit featured personalized touches reflecting their careers, with Perry's outfit incorporating a fireworks design as a nod to her hit single.
Perry also brought a daisy flower aboard as a tribute to her daughter with Orlando Bloom, while Sánchez's suit included a fly symbol referencing her children's book. King's spacesuit was adorned with a microphone, representing her broadcasting career.
The debate surrounding the space flight highlighted the growing intersection of celebrity culture and space exploration. While some celebrated the historic nature of the all-female crew, others questioned the value of such brief commercial space ventures.
The incident demonstrated the evolving nature of corporate social media strategies, with Wendy's Gen Z-focused account maintaining its reputation for provocative and sarcastic commentary. The fast-food chain's response garnered both praise and criticism from social media users.
Representatives for both Wendy's and Perry have not publicly addressed the social media exchange, leaving questions about the motivation behind the targeted criticism unanswered.
The Blue Origin mission represented a significant achievement in space exploration history, bringing together six accomplished women from diverse professional backgrounds. Despite lasting only 11 minutes, the flight marked only the second time an all-female crew has ventured into space. The mission successfully concluded with the crew's safe return to Earth at Blue Origin's West Texas facility. While Wendy's social media posts may have overshadowed some aspects of the historic flight, the achievement remains a milestone in the ongoing effort to increase female representation in space exploration.
