Gayle King is voicing her thoughts on the wave of criticism that has enveloped her space adventure. Having embarked on an exhilarating 11-minute suborbital journey on April 14, Monday, as part of Blue Origin's inaugural all-female flight crew—which also boasted the presence of Lauren Sánchez, Katy Perry, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn—King tackled the online backlash in a recent segment on 'Today With Jenna and Friends.'
During the engaging interview, King stated emphatically, "Those who criticize fail to grasp the true significance of what transpired here." She further underscored the mission's positive reverberations, saying, "The overwhelming response from young women and girls speaks volumes about what this endeavor represents."
Sanchez, who was also a part of the conversation, echoed these sentiments, addressing the criticism head-on. "I would invite those critics to visit Blue Origin and witness the thousands of dedicated employees who pour their hearts and souls into this incredible vehicle," she said. "They are passionate about their work and the mission, and it's a monumental achievement for them."
The expedition drew scrutiny from some fellow celebrities, including Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Munn, among others. Ratajkowski branded the launch as "end-time stuff" and lambasted Blue Origin—owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—for its environmental footprint. Others deemed it a "hollow" victory for women, noting that only one of the passengers had a scientific background.
Moreover, the journalist has become the focal point of viral memes capturing her apparently distressed demeanor as she boarded the Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. "At that moment, fear gripped me; all I wanted was to sink into my seat and let my training take the reins," she revealed at a press conference. "I longed to be inside the capsule, seated and secure. The walk-up to the launch pad was somewhat intimidating for me."
King also reflected on the historic nature of her spaceflight. "I'm immensely proud of us, and especially proud of myself," she exclaimed. "I never fathomed, in a million years, that I could accomplish this."
