Wendy’s recent online jab at Katy Perry’s participation in Blue Origin’s historic all-female space flight has sparked backlash, leaving some of her fans demanding an apology.
Shortly after Perry, 40, and fellow crew members, including journalist Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez, former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, returned from their approximately 11-minute space journey on April 14, the fast food chain’s official social media accounts took aim at the pop star.
In one particularly controversial post, Wendy’s remarked, “Can we send her back,” while another criticized the flight’s “celebration of women” by stating, “When we said women in STEM, this isn’t what we meant.”
These comments didn’t just ignite division among Perry’s fans; they also contributed to ongoing tensions between Perry and fellow musician Kesha, 38, who posted a photo of herself smirking and holding a Wendy’s cup later that day. Now, an insider familiar with the situation is speaking out, calling Wendy’s posts “not only disrespectful but blatantly inappropriate.”
“Wendy’s didn’t make a joke. They made a choice,” the insider told PEOPLE magazine, emphasizing that the company, as a major corporate brand, had an obligation to act responsibly.
“This wasn’t harmless banter. This was a billion-dollar brand using its platform to publicly demean a woman,” the source added, contending that “when billion-dollar brands join in, it’s irresponsible.”
In response, Wendy’s offered a neutral statement to PEOPLE, stopping short of a formal apology: “We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy’s has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world talent.”
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The source pointed out the irony in Wendy’s targeting Perry during a proclaimed groundbreaking moment for women.
“[Wendy’s is] not adding to the conversation. They’re dragging it down, and this kind of behavior contributes to a culture where women are punished for standing out or a woman daring to do something different is a target…Telling a woman that she should be ‘sent back’ is shameful bullying and reflects a troubling willingness to tear down in today’s society. What’s worse is that the face of Wendy’s is a woman, which makes this decision not just hypocritical, but painfully ironic.”
Perry also briefly entertained her fellow passengers in space with a rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” all while promoting her upcoming tour setlist.
The criticism surrounding the Blue Origin flight extends beyond Wendy’s, with public debate focusing on the environmental impact and costs associated with private space travel.
Numerous celebrities have voiced their disapproval of the flight, including model and actor Emily Ratajkowski, who expressed being “disgusted” by the situation. “That’s end time shit,” Ratajkowski remarked in a TikTok video, “Like, this is beyond parody.”
“You say that you care about Mother Earth, and it’s about Mother Earth, and you’re going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s single-handedly destroying the planet. Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space. For what?”
Earlier this month, on April 3, actor Olivia Munn also questioned the purpose of the flight, stating, “I know this probably isn’t the cool thing to say, but there are so many other things that are so important in the world right now.”
“What are you guys gonna do up in space? What are you doing up there? I know this is probably obnoxious, but like, it’s so much money to go to space, and there’s a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs.”
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However, the flight’s participants have robustly defended the significance of their mission, highlighting the inspirational value of female representation.
Gayle King, 70, openly addressed these criticisms on CBS Mornings.
“Space is not an either-or. It’s a both. And because you do something in space doesn’t mean you’re taking anything away from Earth. And what you’re doing in space is trying to make things better here on Earth.”
King further expressed disappointment in the backlash, urging critics not to overlook the flight’s positive influence on women and girls. “There was nothing frivolous about what we do,” King asserted.
“So, you know, I’m very disappointed and very saddened by it [the criticism]. And I also say this—what is it doing to inspire other women and young girls? Please don’t ignore that.”
Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Jeff Bezos, echoed this sentiment passionately, inviting skeptics to witness firsthand the dedication behind Blue Origin’s initiatives.
“I would love to have them come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that don’t just work here, but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle,” she told PEOPLE.
“When we hear comments…I just say, ‘Trust me. Come with me. I’ll show you what this is about, and it’s really eye-opening.’”
However, much of the public discourse has revolved around the flight not being inherently feminist but rather a display of capitalistic messaging for an experience that posits itself as “for the benefit of the Earth” while remaining inaccessible to most of society.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
