Lily Allen Issues Apology to Katy Perry Over Blue Origin Space Flight Remarks

British pop star and actress Lily Allen has publicly apologised to American singer Katy Perry after criticising her participation in Blue Origin’s recent space flight. Allen, who had previously mocked Perry’s involvement in what she described as a “tone-deaf” event, took to her BBC podcast, Miss Me, to acknowledge her comments were driven by “internalised misogyny” and poor judgment.

“There was actually no need for me to bring her name into it, and it was my own internalised misogyny,” Allen confessed during the latest episode, reflecting on the backlash surrounding Perry’s short journey to space. “It was just completely unnecessary to pile on with her.”

Perry was among six high-profile women, including Lauren Sánchez, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn — who were flown to the edge of space in a Blue Origin rocket, designed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s aerospace company. The mission was celebrated as the first all-female flight to space since 1963, a historic milestone in commercial space travel and gender representation.

Perry, in the lead-up to the mission, had framed it as “an important moment for the future of commercial space travel and for humanity in general and for women all around.” However, the flight sparked heated reactions from critics who questioned its timing and purpose amidst global economic strain.

Allen, who had earlier ridiculed Perry on her podcast alongside co-host Miquita Oliver, remarked sarcastically: “Katy Perry and her mates all going up to space for 12 minutes… What the hell was all that about? Why? For why?”

She continued, “It’s so out of touch. Like, we’re on the brink of a recession. People are really struggling to make ends meet and put food on their tables. And the fact that they’ve, like, made it some sort of feminist thing…”

Allen now admits singling out Perry wasn’t fair. “She was possibly the most famous, and the one that divides people the most,” she said. “So there was something in me that decided to choose her as the person that should [be singled out]. I’m just sorry. I would have been hurt if it had been me.”

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Allen’s apology represents a broader introspection around how public figures engage with cultural moments, particularly those that intersect fame, privilege, and gender. By acknowledging her comments stemmed from ingrained biases, Allen highlights a pattern of disproportionately targeting women — especially high-profile ones — in public discourse.

While Allen was not alone in her criticism, her comments gained traction due to her own celebrity status. Other critics included model Emily Ratajkowski, who said she was “disgusted” by the flight, arguing that sending a few famous women into space does not constitute real progress. Actress Olivia Munn echoed the sentiment, describing the mission as “gluttonous” and questioning the point of the venture during a time of economic hardship.

“Katy Perry sang What a Wonderful World and held up her new tour setlist to the in-flight camera — it all just felt like a performance,” said one critic on social media, pointing to what many perceived as a publicity stunt rather than a pioneering step forward.

The backlash was so pronounced that even fast-food chain Wendy’s joined the chorus, tweeting, “Can we send her back?” — a remark they later softened with a follow-up statement: “We have a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world talent.”

Still, not everyone viewed the flight as frivolous. TV host and fellow passenger Gayle King expressed disappointment at the criticism. “I was very disappointed and very saddened by the backlash,” she said. “Have you been [to space]? If you’ve been and you still feel that way after you come back, please let’s have a conversation.”

The all-female mission was intended as a celebration of female achievement in a field historically dominated by men. Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist and one of the passengers, described the flight as “a symbolic leap forward” for women in STEM.

The event also marked a moment of personal triumph for Perry, who kissed the ground upon landing and was visibly emotional in post-flight images. While the optics of celebrities venturing into space during economic uncertainty may strike some as insensitive, others view it as a continuation of humanity’s enduring curiosity and a signal of what’s to come in commercial space exploration.

In a media environment where celebrities are often both idolised and vilified, Allen’s apology underscores the importance of nuance. “I disagree with what it was that they did, but she wasn’t the only person that did it,” she said. “I just regret that I made her the face of something that she didn’t solely represent.”

Whether one sees the Blue Origin mission as a meaningful moment for women or an extravagance amid global hardship, the discourse it has sparked reflects deeper tensions around celebrity, privilege, and progress. And Allen’s candid self-reflection may open the door for more thoughtful, less reactionary dialogue in future cultural conversations.