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Emily Ratajkowski isn't holding back when it comes to Blue Origin's recent all-female space mission. The model and actress took to TikTok to express her disapproval, labeling the event as "end time s--t" and "beyond parody."
On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin launched its NS-31 mission, marking the first all-female crewed spaceflight since 1963. The crew included singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyễn, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and helicopter pilot and author Lauren Sánchez, who is also Jeff Bezos fiancée.
The 11-minute suborbital flight aboard the New Shepard rocket aimed to celebrate female empowerment and inspire future generations.
Ratajkowski's Environmental Concerns
Ratajkowski criticized the mission's environmental impact, questioning the resources used for a non-scientific voyage. She highlighted the irony of promoting ecological awareness while participating in an activity she perceives as detrimental to the planet. “Saying that you care about Mother Earth, and it’s about Mother Earth,” she continued, “and you’re going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s singlehandedly destroying the planet?”
“Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space,” she added. “For what? What was the marketing there?”
Lauren supports many causes, including caring for migrant children in educational spaces in Mexico and empowering female business owners selling goods in The Little Market. In 2022, she took to social media to share a glimpse of her Tanzania trip alongside the Bezos Earth Fund.
The trip aimed to experience the wild beauty of an East African country while supporting Jeff Bezos' commitment to donate $10 billion in grants within the current decade to fight climate change and protect nature.
The same year, the Bezos Earth Fund announced its first investments dedicated to marine protection at the United Nations Ocean Conference, totaling $50 million in new grants. These grants target the 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030.
In September 2022, Lauren shared a video about the importance of addressing the climate crisis. "Restoring deforested and degraded land is among the most widely accessible, cost-effective solutions in the fight against climate change," she wrote. "Investing in restoration brings better yields for farmers. Harvests that are more resilient to drought and heat.More jobs. More food security. More economic development. Nowhere does landscape restoration have greater potential than in Africa, where opportunities and needs are the greatest."
Mixed Reactions from the Public
The mission received a range of responses. While some praised the initiative for breaking gender barriers in space exploration, others, like Ratajkowski, viewed it as an extravagant display lacking a substantive contribution to scientific advancement. Actress Olivia Munn also voiced concerns about the mission's relevance and environmental cost.
Crew Members Defend Their Journey
In response to the criticism, crew members emphasized the mission's symbolic significance. Gayle King described the experience as "profound," noting the peacefulness of space and the unique perspective it offered on Earth. Lauren Sánchez expressed a desire to inspire young women and showcase diverse representation in space exploration.
The debate surrounding Blue Origin's all-female spaceflight shows the complexities of modern space tourism. While it represents a milestone in gender representation, it also raises questions about environmental responsibility and the purpose of such missions.