The Hypocrisy of Judging Katy Perry’s Space Trip: A Billionaire in Space vs Billions on Earth

Recently, media and social platforms exploded over Katy Perry’s 11-minute journey to space and her safe landing back on Earth. Memes flooded timelines, brands took sarcastic jabs, and online commentary ranged from mocking to outright outrage. Many accused her of being wasteful, vain, or disconnected from the world’s real problems.

What’s fueling the buzz?

Hollywood Pop star Katy Perry, touched space on Monday with an all-women crew, including Jeff Bezos's (CEO of Amazon) fiancee Lauren Sanchez, CBS host Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, scientist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn, and five other women. It was the first all-female spaceflight in more than 60 years.

The flight was promoted as an inspiring milestone, but instead, it drew widespread criticism - sparking backlash over climate hypocrisy, performative feminism, and the excessive indulgence of celebrities masked as empowerment.

But here’s a question worth asking—are we really upset about the “waste” of money and resources, or are we just uncomfortable seeing a woman do something extreme and different?

When a Woman Does Something Bold, the World Reacts Differently

Let’s be honest. Katy Perry is a billionaire. Her lifestyle is not the same as most of us. So while many people dream of a trip to Bali or Paris, her dream was to touch space—even if just for 11 minutes. Why does that make her a target for so much judgment?

The reality is, if a man took that same trip, many would call him bold, visionary, or even inspirational. But when a woman does it, the tone shifts to “stupid,” “attention-seeking,” or “wasteful.” The double standards are glaring. So, is this the reason why Katy Perry is being targeted on social media?

Is Space Tourism More Wasteful Than Everyday Life?

Let’s break it down. Sure, space travel is expensive, it requires a lot of energy, but so does life on Earth. Every day, people spend money on bars, clubs, expensive clothes, cars, gadgets, and luxury getaways, not for need, but just for pleasure. Don’t they?

As a man, you might go out drinking every weekend—bad for your body and society. As a woman, you might throw kitty parties or spend on expensive outings. All of it costs money. All of it uses resources.

You would say, throwing parties, going to bars, and living an expensive life is not a billion-dollar rocket launch—but multiply it across billions of people, and the global impact is massive.

We can’t cherry-pick what counts as “acceptable waste” just because someone’s version of a dream looks different. If we’re being real, every act of consumerism adds weight to the earth’s systems, whether you're launching a rocket or ordering a second round of drinks on a Friday night.

Billionaires Dream Bigger—That’s Just the Reality

We don’t blink when the rich buy superyachts, throw million-dollar parties, or build private islands. But going to space? Suddenly, it's a moral crisis.

Maybe it’s because space travel feels “too much” to most people—too far from their own lives. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It’s just different.

And like it or not, billionaires have different scales of spending. For them, space is the new frontier — like Bali is for us. Do we judge someone for chasing a personal dream, just because it looks expensive?

Focus on the Real Issues, Not Clickbait Outrage

This kind of public shaming distracts from real issues. While people are busy making memes about Katy Perry, major decisions are being made globally about climate change, inequality, education, and more.

It’s easy to direct our frustration at a single person doing something flashy. But, shouldn’t we focus on the larger systems and choices that affect everyone, rather than just mocking someone for doing something out of the ordinary?

Final Thought

It’s not about defending the act of a billionaire. It’s about “calling out selective outrage” and thinking deeper about how we treat people—especially women—who step outside traditional boxes. 

Before we drag someone for “wasting resources,” let’s ask: how do our own choices stack up when multiplied across the planet? Cutting trees for building concrete, damaging water resources, for factory uses so that they can produce your luxury needs, and also burning fossil fuels. Maybe then, the conversation will shift from judgment to genuine reflection.

"This article does not center on feminism but rather reflects individual perspectives. I'm curious—would public reactions be the same if a male celebrity undertook a similar space journey?"