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.