US fast food chain Wendy‘s insists it has “a ton of respect” for Katy Perry, days after sharing a snarky response to the singer’s space flight.
The company has issued a statement to People magazine over its post on X, which jokingly asked whether the Woman’s World singer could be “sent back” to space when the Blue Origin flight returned to earth on April 14.
“We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy’s has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent,” Wendy’s told the publication.
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The X post in question came in response to one from celebrity news account Pop Crave, which reported, “Katy Perry has returned from space.”
“Can we send her back,” the Wendy’s account replied.
Another post made by the account at the time of the space flight read, “When we said women in stem this isn’t what we meant.”
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People quotes a source “close to the situation” saying the post from Wendy’s was “disrespectful [and ] blatantly inappropriate”.
“Telling a woman that she should be ‘sent back’ is shameful bullying and reflects a troubling willingness to tear down in today’s society,” one quote read.
The 10-minute space flight, in which Perry was joined by TV host Gayle King, Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, research scientist Amanda Nguyen and movie producer Kerianne Flynn, has faced plenty of criticism.
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Critics have included several celebrities, who’ve branded the event “gluttonous” and “beyond parody”.
”What’s the point? Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it’s a bit gluttonous,” actress Olivia Munn said.
“Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they gonna do up there that has made it better for us down here?” was model and actress Emily Ratajkowski’s take.
“This is beyond parody. Saying that you care about Mother Earth and that its about Mother Earth and you’re going up in a space ship that is built and paid for by a company that’s single-handedly destroying that planet.”
King responded to the backlash, saying it left her “saddened and disappointed”.
“There was nothing frivolous about what we did … and I also say this , what it’s doing to inspire other women and young girls, please don’t ignore that,” she said.
“I’ve had so many women and young girls reach out to me, and men too, by the way, men too say, ‘Wow, I never thought I could do that but I see you doing it at this stage of your life’.”
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