Emily Ratajkowski Criticizes Blue Origin’s Celebrity Space Flight: “Exploitation Is Not an Accomplishment”
Model and activist Emily Ratajkowski is once again calling out Blue Origin’s recent celebrity-studded space mission, doubling down on her earlier criticism that the 11-minute flight is more about elitism than empowerment.
Blue Origin Space Flight
The initial flight, which featured high-profile names like Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Gayle King, and Amanda Nguyen, was hailed by some as a celebration of female accomplishment. But Ratajkowski seemingly wasn’t convinced. In a viral video posted shortly after the mission, she accused Blue Origin of “destroying the planet,” pointing to the environmental cost of space tourism.
Now, in a new video (@emrata TikTok) posted to her social media, Ratajkowski has taken her critique a step further. She questions the true motives behind the flight, stating how having a man who gained power purely through exploitation and greed deciding to take his fiancée and other famous women to space for space tourism is “not progress.”
Blue Origin Owner
This comment seems to be an alleged jab at Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin and was present at the launch to support Sánchez.
Ratajkowski went on to say, “We are absolutely living in an oligarchy,” expressing frustration that a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals are pursuing space as a luxury escape while millions of people are struggling to make ends meet. She claims that they allegedly want a new lease on life up there, while others are worried about paying rent and putting food on the table.
Her most pointed statement? “Exploitation is not an accomplishment.”
Blue Origin All Female Crew
While Blue Origin has not responded to the criticism, Ratajkowski’s comments have sparked renewed debate about the ethics of space tourism and the optics of using high-cost spaceflights as branding opportunities. As conversations around wealth inequality and climate responsibility grow louder, her statements are striking a chord with many who view the space race not as a leap forward but a leap away from Earth’s real problems.
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Published by HOLR Magazine
Image Credit: @emrata TikTok, @blueorigin Instagram