Joe Rogan is among the celebrities who have recently voiced their disapproval of Katy Perry‘s emotional reactions and gestures following her all-female spaceflight on Blue Origin.
During one of his podcast episodes, Rogan openly made fun of Perry’s reflections and dubbed the crew as “not authentic astronauts” due to the short and automated nature of the flight. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy supported this viewpoint, referencing the criteria set by the FAA.
Katy Perry has spoken about the importance of the trip, calling the experience second only to motherhood and a symbol of “courage.”
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Joe Rogan Criticizes Katy Perry’s Spaceflight, Mocks Symbolic Gestures, And Astronaut Title
In his most recent podcast installment, Rogan did not shy away from expressing his critique of Perry and the all-female Blue Origin spaceflight. He took aim at the singer’s comments after the flight and her symbolic actions during the brief trip.
“Hey, Tim Dillion, I’m much better now that the ladies are back from space, thank you,” Rogan joked at the start of the podcast.
“It was very profound. I don’t know if you’ve seen Katy Perry talk about it,” he noted, poking fun at the singer’s philosophical take on the suborbital flight. “She’s basically a guru now.”
Rogan also took aim at Perry’s decision to bring a daisy aboard, which she proudly displayed during the capsule’s microgravity float.
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“She brought a daisy, which is super important. It shows you how quick the flight was,” he quipped, per the New York Post. “The dead daisy that’s like snipped from its life source was still alive or still vibrant.”
Perry had shared that the flower was a tribute to her daughter, Daisy, symbolizing resilience. “Daisies are common flowers,” she had said after landing, “but they grow through every condition.”
The historic Blue Origin flight, which launched last Monday, included Perry, astronaut Amanda Nguyễn, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, CBS host Gayle King, producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
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Joe Rogan Questions Blue Origin Crew’s ‘Astronaut’ Status
Rogan continued his takedown of Perry’s brief space adventure, questioning the legitimacy of labeling the Blue Origin passengers as astronauts after their 11-minute flight that just kissed the edge of space before returning to Texas.
Slamming the comparison to traditional astronauts, Rogan said, “Let’s celebrate female astronauts because a lot of men astronauts have to go to school, they have to learn to be a pilot first, then they have to join the Air Force or the Navy, and then get appointed by NASA.”
Dillon pointed out that women have long had a presence in space, to which Rogan sarcastically replied, “Let’s not minimize this.”
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“They essentially got to the threshold of space,” Rogan continued. “They did not get like way out there where re-entry is very traumatic. How great is it that they just get called astronauts?”
Despite the criticism, Rogan admitted he’d be open to a similar experience. “I wouldn’t go to space space but I would do the 80 miles,” he said.
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Transportation Secretary Says Blue Origin Crew Can’t Be Called Astronauts
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also weighed in on the matter, echoing skepticism over titles.
“The crew who flew to space this week on an automated flight by Blue Origin were brave and glam, but you cannot identify as an astronaut. They do not meet the FAA astronaut criteria,” he clarified, pointing to FAA guidelines that outline strict criteria for earning that title under the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program.
According to the FAA, crew members must perform “activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety.”
Although the crew didn’t meet the official criteria to be classified as astronauts, Duffy still applauded the broader achievement.
In a follow-up statement, he described the mission as “an inspiring project which showcases American ingenuity and exceptionalism.”
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Other Celebrities Who Have Called Out Katy Perry’s Blue Origin Space Trip
The all-female Blue Origin space mission drew heavy backlash from several online, including celebrities, who voiced their disapproval.
Stars like Olivia Wilde, Olivia Munn, Amy Schumer, and Emily Ratajkowski criticized the spaceflight, dismissing it as little more than a flashy marketing stunt for Bezos’ space company.
Even popular fast food chain Wendy’s joined in, leaving a cheeky dig under a photo of Perry in her flight suit. The brand’s X [Twitter] account asked if the singer could be “sent back” to space.
Perry’s longtime pop rival Kesha also shared a photo of herself sipping from a Wendy’s cup, seemingly agreeing with the restaurant’s jab at the pop star.
Katy Perry Calls Spaceflight Second Only To Motherhood
Rogan’s jabs come as Perry continues to face criticism for her reaction upon landing back on Earth.
The “Roar” hitmaker made headlines for her dramatic reaction when she emerged from the space capsule, dropped to her knees, and kissed the ground at Blue Origin’s Texas landing site.
In a post-flight interview, Perry reflected on the experience, calling it the second most meaningful moment of her life, right after becoming a mother.
“This experience is second to being a mom. That’s why it was hard for me to go because that’s all my love right there,” she said, referencing her daughter. “I have to surrender and trust that the universe is going to take care of me and protect me, and also my family and daughter.”
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Describing the journey as both surreal and empowering, Perry said she hoped to set an example of bravery and self-worth.
The singer noted: “I am full up from being able to get that gift of being a mom, and to go to space is incredible, and I wanted to model courage, worthiness, and fearlessness.”
