Gayle King, the seasoned co-host of CBS Mornings, has addressed the backlash regarding her recent venture into space alongside Blue Origin’s inaugural all-female crew. In Tuesday’s episode of the morning show, King responded to the backlash, highlighting the significant influence the mission could have on motivating future generations.
“What we do is anything but frivolous,” King stated. “I feel quite disheartened and troubled by the criticism.” What is most important to me is how this mission inspires women and young girls. Kindly do not overlook that.
King shared that following her flight, she has been inundated with messages from women, young girls, and even men who conveyed how deeply her journey has inspired them. “I’ve had numerous women and young girls reach out to me, as well as men, expressing, ‘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 prominent journey included King, pop sensation Katy Perry, and Lauren Sanchez, who is engaged to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. They boarded a Blue Origin flight, a company that enables private individuals to secure a seat with a refundable deposit of $150,000. Since its inaugural public auction in 2021, where a seat fetched $28 million, Blue Origin has persistently provided a distinctive space travel experience for civilians.
King openly acknowledged that she had not always been in favor of space tourism initiatives. In an interview with Extra, she reflected on her early doubts. “I was once among those individuals,” King remarked. “‘Why are we allocating so many resources to space when there’s so much to address here on Earth?’ That was my perspective.”
Her viewpoint changed after she gained a deeper understanding of Blue Origin’s long-term objectives. King emphasized the company’s research focused on utilizing space to address terrestrial issues, including waste management and environmental conservation. “They are exploring methods to utilize waste and transport it into space, with the goal of improving conditions on Earth,” she explained.
King highlighted the ways in which daily life is enhanced by space technology, citing developments such as GPS and satellite communications. “With each flight that takes off, we collect new information that benefits us right here at home,” she stated.
In spite of the early criticism, King continues to take pride in her participation in the landmark flight. She aspires for her experience to inspire more individuals — particularly women and youth — to envision greater possibilities and view space exploration as a reachable objective.
The mission represents an important milestone not only for King individually, but also for the wider dialogue regarding space inclusion and the role of everyday individuals in influencing the future beyond our planet.
