Gayle King Responds to Criticism After Historic Spaceflight with Blue Origin

Gayle King, longtime co-host of CBS Mornings, has spoken out about the criticism surrounding her recent journey into space with Blue Origin’s first all-female crew. During Tuesday’s episode of the morning show, King addressed the backlash, emphasizing the meaningful impact the mission could have on inspiring future generations.

“There was nothing frivolous about what we do,” King said. “I’m very disappointed and saddened by the criticism. What matters most to me is what this mission is doing to inspire women and young girls. Please don’t ignore that.”

King revealed that since her flight, she’s received countless messages from women, young girls, and even men who expressed how much her journey inspired them. “I’ve had so many women and young girls reach out to me, and men too, saying, ‘Wow, I never thought I could do that, but seeing you at this stage of your life doing it gives me hope,’” she shared

The high-profile trip featured King alongside pop star Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Together, they boarded a Blue Origin flight — a company that allows private individuals to reserve a seat with a refundable deposit of $150,000. Since its first public auction in 2021, where a seat sold for $28 million, Blue Origin has continued to offer a unique space travel experience to civilians.

King also candidly admitted that she wasn’t always supportive of space tourism initiatives. Speaking to Extra, she recalled her initial skepticism. “I used to be one of those people,” King said. “‘Why are we spending so much money on space when there’s so much to do here on Earth?’ That was my mindset.”

Her perspective shifted once she learned more about Blue Origin’s long-term goals. King highlighted the company’s research on finding ways to use space to solve earthly challenges, such as waste management and environmental protection. “They are trying to figure out a way to harness waste and move it into space, to ultimately make Earth a better place,” she explained.

King also pointed out how everyday life already benefits from space technology, mentioning advancements like GPS and satellite communications. “Every time a flight goes up, new information is gathered that helps us right here at home,” she said.

Despite the initial backlash, King remains proud of her involvement in the historic flight. She hopes her experience will encourage more people — especially women and young people — to dream bigger and see space exploration as an achievable goal.

The mission marks a significant moment not just for King personally, but for the broader conversation about who belongs in space and how ordinary citizens can contribute to shaping the future beyond Earth.