Katy Perry is said to be “regretting” her actions during the Blue Origin spaceflight amidst a surge of conspiracy theories following the landmark event.
The launch on Monday was heralded as a strong statement on women’s empowerment, sending six women on an 11-minute journey into space.
Instead, it has triggered intense debate concerning its staggering cost, environmental effects, and the extravagant actions of its celebrity passengers upon their return.
Joining Perry, 39, were Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and activist Amanda Nguyen for the journey funded by Jeff Bezos.
She is reportedly reconsidering — not the mission itself, but the manner in which it unfolded.
A source told the Daily Mail, “Katy doesn’t regret going to space. It was life-changing.”
“What she does regret is making a public spectacle out of it.”
The source also mentioned that she “did not anticipate such backlash” and feels “saddened” by the “unnecessary and distressing” responses.
“And despite the accusations, she is still an environmentalist,” they noted.
The source remained anonymous, and Perry has yet to comment on the negative reactions.
Videos of Perry kissing the ground, lifting a daisy to the sky, and giving a heartfelt speech about “love and belonging” became an internet sensation.
The source revealed that Perry now regrets the “intimate camera moments” aboard the New Shepard capsule, where she floated the daisy, sang ‘What a Wonderful World’, and plugged her forthcoming Lifetimes tour.
The daisy was meant to honor her daughter, four-year-old Daisy Dove Bloom, who was seen in public for the first time during the launch.
However, the insider stated that the “Roar” singer “regrets sharing the daisy publicly” and “wishes the footage inside the pod hadn’t been released.”
Since then, Katy Perry has been subject to online criticism and numerous conspiracy theories, with some claiming the mission was a hoax.
A widespread rumor suggested Blue Origin used dummies instead of real passengers after a photo surfaced showing what looked like a plastic hand in a grounded capsule.
“That sure looks like a mannequin’s shiny hand,” a user commented.
Another questioned, “Why is there a dummy hand on the Blue Origin?”
The controversy was soon clarified. The photograph is authentic but from a 2017 Blue Origin test flight, not the recent NS-31 mission.
The “plastic hand” was part of Mannequin Skywalker, a crash-test dummy from initial safety tests.
Nevertheless, such speculations continue to proliferate online.
Other skeptics have focused on the capsule’s hatch, citing a video that shows the door being opened from the inside, only for Jeff Bezos to seemingly “open” it from the outside moments later.
These observations led to allegations of the door being rapidly closed to simulate being sealed.
Critics also questioned the capsule’s pristine condition post-reentry, noting a lack of burn marks and signs of re-entry stress typically seen in space travel.
This incident is among many wild theories and critiques facing the high-profile launch.
Celebrities like model Emily Ratajkowski have criticized Bezos’ company, accusing it of “single-handedly destroying the planet.”
NFL Network’s Jane Slater branded the launch “embarrassing.”
Fast-food chain Wendy’s even poked fun at Perry on social media, posting: “Can we send her back?” alongside an image of her in a spacesuit.
Perry’s longstanding music rival, Kesha, fueled the controversy by posting a photo of herself enjoying a Wendy’s milkshake, which the source says Perry viewed as “adding fuel to the fire.”
While Blue Origin maintains that its rocket emits only water vapor, experts suggest it could still impact ozone depletion – a concern given Perry’s prior environmental advocacy as a UNICEF ambassador.
Gayle King tried to counter the criticism on CBS Mornings, stating, “They call it a ride, which I find very irritating… There’s nothing frivolous about what we did.”
