As Jeff Bezos heads into space on Blue Origin’s first crewed mission, Hollywood took to Twitter to weigh in on the historic (and controversial) flight.
While some celebrities used the opportunity to make jokes, others took to Twitter to condemn Bezos, who has been widely criticized for Amazon‘s working conditions and benefiting from tax breaks, pleading with the billionaire to focus his resources toward Earth.
“The single most important discovery of space travel, for those who don’t already know is that we are one world,” Rob Reiner wrote on Twitter. “It’s time to clean it up.”
The single most important discovery of space travel, for those who don’t already know is that we are one world. It’s time to clean it up.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) July 20, 2021
Musician Moby voiced similar concerns, writing, “Dear @elonmusk, @JeffBezos, @richardbranson, Earth needs your tech and money way more than space does.”
Dear @elonmusk @JeffBezos @richardbranson , Earth needs your tech and money way more than space does. pic.twitter/Sr3BUYO8yx
— moby XⓋX (@thelittleidiot) July 20, 2021
While many celebrities criticized the billionaire’s motives, comedians riffed suggestively about the rocket’s phallic shape.
“They just changed the flight path of Bezos’ rocket to head straight toward Uranus,” Bob Saget wrote on Twitter.
They just changed the flight path of Bezos’ rocket to head straight toward Uranus.
— bob saget (@bobsaget) July 20, 2021
Comedian Amber Ruffin added, “Space bout to get fucked,” alongside a photo of the New Shepard rocket.
Space bout to get fucked pic.twitter/z2NCBxQK8l
— amber ruffin (@ambermruffin) July 20, 2021
Author and screenwriter Gary Whitta, who wrote “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” also took to Twitter. “The whole thing with Bezos and his big phallic rocket is just gross,” Whitta said. “Pay your taxes, treat your workers with basic dignity and respect, use your obscene, incalculable wealth to help others. What kind of asshole says ‘Nah to all that, instead imma build myself a giant space dick!'”
The whole thing with Bezos and his big phallic rocket is just gross. Pay your taxes, treat your workers with basic dignity and respect, use your obscene, incalculable wealth to help others. What kind of asshole says “Nah to all that, instead imma build myself a giant space dick!”
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) July 20, 2021
Taking another angle, Conan O’Brien fired shots at Bezos’ high-priced supermarket chain, writing, “Jeff Bezos is charging someone $28 million for 11 minutes in space, which sounds just about right for the owner of Whole Foods.”
Jeff Bezos is charging someone $28 million for 11 minutes in space, which sounds just about right for the owner of Whole Foods.
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) July 20, 2021
Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro wrote, “If billionaires paid their fair share in taxes, we could improve public education, end homelessness, and ensure every American has health care. Instead, we’re subsidizing their recreational space travel with tax loopholes and corporate handouts. We must do much better.”
If billionaires paid their fair share in taxes, we could improve public education, end homelessness, and ensure every American has health care.
Instead, we’re subsidizing their recreational space travel with tax loopholes and corporate handouts.
We must do much better.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) July 20, 2021
Senator Elizabeth Warren added, “It’s time for Jeff Bezos to take care of business right here on Earth and pay his fair share in taxes.”
It's time for Jeff Bezos to take care of business right here on Earth and pay his fair share in taxes.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 20, 2021
Most simply, writer and comedian Quinta Brunson tweeted, “I wanna fight Jeff Bezos.”
I wanna fight Jeff bezos
— quinta brunson (@quintabrunson) July 20, 2021
