Katy Perry’s Space Odyssey: When Celebrity Activism Misses the Mark?

When Katy Perry announced her latest wellness-meets-space-age venture, the internet had questions—and not just about the tech. In an age where celebrity-backed causes are everywhere, the line between genuine activism and glossy PR move is getting harder to spot. At Dandy, we’re unpacking what happens when celebrity wellness ventures aim for the stars… and sometimes land a little off course.

By Dandy / Apr 15 2025

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It was the kind of headline that makes you blink twice. Katy Perry, pop icon and former cupcake-bra connoisseur, is headed to space. Not metaphorically. Literally.

As part of a high-profile celebrity mission with Blue Origin, Perry is set to join the ranks of ultra-rich humans leaving Earth — for fun, inspiration, and possibly Instagram content. And while the headline screams girlboss-goes-galactic, many of us are left wondering: is this really what the world needs right now?

More importantly, what does this say about the way celebrities approach activism, platform power and purpose in 2025?

Let’s unpack the paradox of performative space travel and the growing disconnect between star power and real-world impact.

Celebrity Activism: Then and Now

Once upon a time, celebrity activism meant rocking a red ribbon at the Oscars or doing a heartfelt voiceover for a charity campaign. It was often earnest, occasionally misguided, but generally seen as a good thing. If someone with influence wanted to draw attention to injustice, great.

But we’re in a new era now. One where audiences are more cynical, better informed and frankly a bit tired of being preached to by people with home saunas and private jets.

Today, we expect more than hashtags and branded awareness. We want substance. Strategy. Impact. And for celebrities who claim to care about the planet, spending millions on a joyride into the stratosphere feels more than a little off-key.

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So What’s the Issue with Space Tourism?

Space tourism has been marketed as the next frontier — a symbol of progress, innovation and possibility. Billionaires love it. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: rocket launches are wildly carbon intensive. According to researchers, a single spaceflight can release tonnes of black carbon into the upper atmosphere, where it lingers far longer than ground-level emissions.

In short, it’s terrible for the planet. And when climate anxiety is at an all-time high, watching celebrities float weightlessly above the Earth feels like a tone-deaf flex.

Add to that the eye-watering price tag and the fact that space tourism does nothing to address inequality, displacement or any of the other real issues facing humanity — and it starts to look less like activism and more like escapism.

But Isn’t It Her Money? Her Life?

Yes. Katy Perry can do what she likes. So can Jeff Bezos. So can any ultra-wealthy individual. But here’s the catch: when you position yourself as someone who cares — about mental health, about women’s rights, about climate change — you invite scrutiny. You say, through your platform, that your choices matter. And they do.

Because celebrity isn’t just fame. It’s influence. And in 2025, influence is currency.

So when someone with millions of followers chooses space tourism over funding clean water access, or raising awareness for underreported crises, or backing grassroots sustainability initiatives, people are going to ask questions. And rightly so.

Is This Just Another Round of Public Shaming?

Not necessarily. The goal isn’t to cancel or drag celebrities for sport. It’s to examine the gap between messaging and action. Between optics and outcomes.

Katy Perry has supported many worthwhile causes. She’s backed education initiatives, LGBTQ+ rights, and UNICEF campaigns. That matters. But this latest venture highlights the tension at the heart of modern celebrity culture: how do you balance personal adventure with public responsibility?

And what happens when the optics of a choice undermine the values you claim to hold?

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The Problem with “Inspiration”

One of the most common defences of celebrity space travel is that it’s “inspirational.” The idea is that seeing a pop star in zero gravity will spark wonder, curiosity and a renewed passion for the possibilities of science and exploration.

But inspiration is not neutral. In a media-saturated world, it comes with context. When people are struggling to pay rent, access healthcare or survive wildfires, inspiration feels hollow if it’s not grounded in reality.

We don’t need more spectacles. We need more solidarity.

The Wellness Connection

So what does any of this have to do with wellness?

Actually, quite a bit.

The wellness industry is increasingly intertwined with ethical consumption, conscious living and personal empowerment. We talk a lot about living with intention. About aligning our values with our habits. About understanding how our individual choices ripple outwards.

So when a wellness-adjacent figure makes a decision that feels completely out of sync with collective care, it strikes a nerve.

The space race is the opposite of grounded. It’s detached — literally and figuratively — from the communities that need the most support. And while wellness is often marketed as personal liberation, it should never come at the cost of planetary or social responsibility.

A Better Kind of Stardust

This isn’t about perfection. No one is saying celebrities should renounce all fun or fly economy forever. But it is about perspective.

Imagine the impact if Katy Perry used her next big headline not to announce a space mission, but to fund climate-resilient housing, or launch an initiative for single mothers, or partner with Indigenous environmental activists.

That’s the kind of stardust we need right now. Not another selfie from low Earth orbit.

The Dandy Takeaway

We don’t need our celebrities to be saints. But we do need them to read the room.

In 2025, activism isn’t about grand gestures or PR-ready stunts. It’s about listening, learning and showing up where it counts. Sometimes that means doing less, not more. Staying grounded, not taking off.

So while Katy Perry’s space odyssey might be a fun talking point, it’s also a reminder: real change doesn’t require a rocket ship. It just requires being here — on Earth — and choosing to care in ways that matter.