Despite the swirl of controversy surrounding her recent Blue Origin voyage this month, Gayle King stands tall and unbowed. "I'm simply not letting the backlash detract my focus," King declared to The Hollywood Reporter on the glamorous red carpet of the Time 100 Gala on Thursday evening. "I'm aware of the incredible feat we accomplished. We're all proud and bold about what we did, knowing the profound impact it's having on young women, girls, and even some boys. Consequently, negativity isn't my concern."
Nonetheless, when probed about her potential return to space in the future, King replied, "I won't be heading back anytime soon, but I remain open to the possibility." The esteemed Time 100 honoree elaborated on her sense of security during the journey. "It's paradoxical to feel safe in something inherently so perilous. Yet, I had immense trust in our training and the company," she shared. "Absolutely, I'd entertain the thought again."
On April 14, the CBS Mornings co-anchor embarked on a breathtaking 10-minute sojourn beyond our planet. She was accompanied by singer Katy Perry, Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez, film producer Kerianne Flynn, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, and research scientist Amanda Nguyen, marking the historic first all-female crew to venture into space.
When the news broke, Olivia Munn deemed the trip as "excessive" and questioned their cover feature in Elle magazine. "What exactly are they up to? Why?" Munn inquired. "There are myriad pressing matters in the world today. What are your intentions in space?" Similarly, model-actress Emily Ratajkowski also lambasted the expedition, expressing her "disgust" on TikTok.
