Private companies have a lot more leeway for dramatic publicity stunts and/or hobby horses than something like Boeing. Instead of the stockholders being mostly a bunch of 401(k) plans of people who expect consistent good returns, there’s just Mr. Bezos, and if he wants to send Katy Perry to space with his girlfriend, it’s happening.
Tech journalist here – pretty sure they were all invited guests. Blue Origin is desperately trying to compete with SpaceX for public attention, and nothing gets eyeballs like sending celebrities to space. I’d bet good money they didn’t pay a dime.
This was an extremely expensive amusement park ride, nothing more. Nothing to do with advancing feminism or any other noble cause. This was a joy ride! End of story, no Gayle, you and your fellow riders are not astronauts, this was not an important moment in science. Get over yourself!
As someone who used to work in corporate sponsorships these celebrity flights are usually package deals. Blue Origin probably covered the basic costs but I bet they had some serious brand partnerships behind the scenes that helped offset the expenses.
So, here’s a thought: what if the whole Blue Origin flight with Katy Perry, Gayle King, and the rest of the crew wasn’t just a random celebrity joyride? I mean, who really footed the bill for that trip? It’s easy to think they all paid their own way, but what if there’s something deeper going on?
Maybe there’s a hidden agenda behind these high-profile flights, like promoting space tourism or even testing the waters for future missions. Imagine if some big corporation or government entity was secretly funding these trips to get the celebs on board for publicity, or to distract us from something else happening in the world. It’s wild to think about how these seemingly fun flights could be part of a bigger plan to shape public perception about space travel. Just makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes!
The question of who paid for Gayle King’s ticket is interesting in light of CBS News policy:
“Bribes, gifts and freebies
At CBS News and Stations, employees don’t accept, ask for or offer bribes or payments to obtain interviews or information. We also don’t solicit, accept or agree to accept anything else that’s offered for the purpose of influencing what we report.” Source: CBSNews.com
Would CBS Mornings have given the story the attention it did had Ms. King not been on board? Were her reports and comments on the network totally objective? Did she explore the question of “Astronaut” status for five passengers on an automated rocket ride?
She’s been critical of critics who question that status saying nobody questioned it when men went into space. Her focus was on the “sisterhood” that developed on the 11-minute ride. She told the Daily Mail any criticism of the mission has a “sexist implication.” I’m still looking for the objectivity for which CBS News was once known.
For the record, Blue Origin, the Bezos-owned rocket company, will not say how much the trip cost nor who paid for a ride and who did not. Also note that I worked in broadcast and print journalism as a reporter, writer, producer, director, and manager for nearly 30 years and paid for most of my lunches. When a company I was covering provided transportation, accommodations, and meals my organization was billed for those items.
Comments
[deleted]
It’s free publicity to put them on that flight. Days later people are still talking about it. I’m guessing blue origin paid for it.
I wasn’t for certain
I would hope Bezos footed the bill for his own PR Stunt
All of them could easily have paid themselves. I do have to wonder if Bezos made his fiancee buy a ticket, though.
I would pay to see her keep going and never come back.
It was Jeff’s wedding gift the the fiancée. She wanted to go to space with her heroes like he did with Shatner.
They paid the devil (Bezos) their souls
The consumers of amazon paid for it. This is where your money goes vs treating his employees well.
Tax payers in a roundabout way
Amazon shoppers
Gayle King claimed on her CBS Mornings show that she paid $600k for her flight
So I remember reading a long time ago when Blue Origin was still conceptual that Katy Perry paid $250k for a seat.
Jeff Bezos comped their tickets.
Private companies have a lot more leeway for dramatic publicity stunts and/or hobby horses than something like Boeing. Instead of the stockholders being mostly a bunch of 401(k) plans of people who expect consistent good returns, there’s just Mr. Bezos, and if he wants to send Katy Perry to space with his girlfriend, it’s happening.
American taxpayers did.
Probably Oprah
Blue Origin has received billions in government funding.
Not me
Thank you for calling them passengers. Gayle King has been going around calling herself an astronaut.
Tech journalist here – pretty sure they were all invited guests. Blue Origin is desperately trying to compete with SpaceX for public attention, and nothing gets eyeballs like sending celebrities to space. I’d bet good money they didn’t pay a dime.
This was an extremely expensive amusement park ride, nothing more. Nothing to do with advancing feminism or any other noble cause. This was a joy ride! End of story, no Gayle, you and your fellow riders are not astronauts, this was not an important moment in science. Get over yourself!
As someone who used to work in corporate sponsorships these celebrity flights are usually package deals. Blue Origin probably covered the basic costs but I bet they had some serious brand partnerships behind the scenes that helped offset the expenses.
I don’t know but it was clearly a PR stunt so I would guess Bezos paid for it.
Bezos. Marketing expense.
Jeffereyyyy, Jefferey Bezoooooss
We did
The working class
Don’t really care. Strange I have seen more from this by people bent out of shape over it than about the flight itself.
Anyone with the money can do this. But somehow a lot of people got butthurt over this.
Bezos.
the 2.4 billion handout from american taxpayers i presume
The workers of Blue Origin and Amazon paid for it.
My guess is Bezos. After all, it is his flying penis, and he can stock it it with whomever wants to go for a ride.
Probably a publicity write off for Blue origin, also prob got some money from whoever Gayle kings network backers are.
I hope Katy parry had to pay full price.
Definitely a freebie , we would all do the same if we could blast our pals up into space .
Ultimately every Amazon customer paid for it.
Prime members
What are we talking about?
Yeah, that was the shittiest PR stunt in the history of shitty PR stunts.
Does it matter?
You have, with every purchase on Amazon you ever made.
But Katy put the Ass in astronaut!
I would assume it was a special promotional deal since their celebs maybe they paid a little bit
So, here’s a thought: what if the whole Blue Origin flight with Katy Perry, Gayle King, and the rest of the crew wasn’t just a random celebrity joyride? I mean, who really footed the bill for that trip? It’s easy to think they all paid their own way, but what if there’s something deeper going on?
Maybe there’s a hidden agenda behind these high-profile flights, like promoting space tourism or even testing the waters for future missions. Imagine if some big corporation or government entity was secretly funding these trips to get the celebs on board for publicity, or to distract us from something else happening in the world. It’s wild to think about how these seemingly fun flights could be part of a bigger plan to shape public perception about space travel. Just makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes!
Satan.
Gayle King is Oprah’s best friend
That’s how Gayle got a hand up
Pretty sure she either paid for herself, or Oprah paid for her
If spending 3 minutes in space makes you an astronaut I am almost a gynecologist
Bozos?
They’re Oprah not divulging Oprah who paid for Oprah the pretend trip to space Oprah that lasted about as long Oprah as an 80-Oprah-year-old’s orgasm.
Katy Perry, Astronaut, American Singer and TV Personality was a guest on this mission
How did a bunch of millionaires pay….
I don’t care that they went into space. They are not astronauts. It was a luxury trip.
There have been women who are truly groundbreakers that were astronauts. Sally ride and let’s not forget Christa McAuliffe.
They are heroes. These people are tourists.
I don’t care that they went, but they are not heroes.
lets hope they dont get stuck like those astronauts
The question of who paid for Gayle King’s ticket is interesting in light of CBS News policy:
“Bribes, gifts and freebies
At CBS News and Stations, employees don’t accept, ask for or offer bribes or payments to obtain interviews or information. We also don’t solicit, accept or agree to accept anything else that’s offered for the purpose of influencing what we report.” Source: CBSNews.com
Would CBS Mornings have given the story the attention it did had Ms. King not been on board? Were her reports and comments on the network totally objective? Did she explore the question of “Astronaut” status for five passengers on an automated rocket ride?
She’s been critical of critics who question that status saying nobody questioned it when men went into space. Her focus was on the “sisterhood” that developed on the 11-minute ride. She told the Daily Mail any criticism of the mission has a “sexist implication.” I’m still looking for the objectivity for which CBS News was once known.
For the record, Blue Origin, the Bezos-owned rocket company, will not say how much the trip cost nor who paid for a ride and who did not. Also note that I worked in broadcast and print journalism as a reporter, writer, producer, director, and manager for nearly 30 years and paid for most of my lunches. When a company I was covering provided transportation, accommodations, and meals my organization was billed for those items.