Gayle King Reveals The Next Mission For Blue Origin's All-Female Crew After Controversial Space Trip

Gayle King revealed that the all-female Blue Origin crew plans to attend a Katy Perry concert together after their controversial April 14 space trip.

Speaking at the TIME100 Gala, King defended the mission's goal of making space travel more accessible despite criticism.

Gayle King also addressed rumors about Oprah Winfrey's emotional reaction to her space trip, clarifying it was genuine pride.

During a chat with Fox News Digital on Thursday, King hinted at her next plans with the all-female space crew she joined for a trip to space.

She shared that the crew, which compromises of Lauren Sanchez, Kerianne Flynn, Katy Perry, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and herself, have stayed close after their historic April 14 space journey and are now planning to trade their flight suits for concert outfits, setting their sights on attending one of Perry's upcoming shows together.

The journalist said: "We were on a text chain today saying, we need to all go to Katy's concert. Which city can we go to and when? That's our next group activity."

Reflecting on the space trip, King called the experience "unforgettable."

She explained: "It was Katy, and it was Lauren, it was names you know. But to me, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, Carrie Anne Flynn, these women who were rocket scientists… astrophysicists... filmmakers, and all their backstories, that to me was such a bonding experience for all of us. We'll never forget it."

King's revelation about the group's next mission came as she was being celebrated at the 19th annual TIME100 Gala at New York City's Frederick P. Rose Hall.

When asked which celebrity she'd like to see head to space next, the 70-year-old pivoted, choosing instead to highlight the mission behind the program.

"The beauty of what they're trying to do there is to make it more accessible, to encourage people," she explained. "Just think about this… when they built the plane years ago, nobody thought that we would be getting on a 747 these days and thinking nothing about it. Nothing."

Although the 11-minute space flight has been widely criticized, King emphasized the positivity she and her fellow crewmates are holding onto.

"The goal, I know, is to one day [make sure] that everybody can experience it, who wants to, and I don't think that's such a far-fetched idea," she noted.

Meanwhile, King recently addressed the controversy surrounding Winfrey's emotional reaction during her Blue Origin spaceflight, clearing up rumors that the tears were anything but genuine.

During the April 14 launch, cameras captured Winfrey removing her sunglasses and appearing emotional as she watched her best friend blast off. The footage quickly sparked skepticism online, with some accusing her of "fake crying."

However, speaking at the TIME100 Gala on Thursday night, King set the record straight during a chat with E! News.

King said, "She was so welled up. I know she said at one point [that] she was proud of me. When people saw her crying, people said, 'Oh, she's so worried. She thinks something's gonna happen.'"

The journalist continued: "That wasn't it at all. She was crying because she knew what it took for me to do that, and so when I came [back] she was saying, 'I'm so proud of you. You did that and I'm so proud of you.'"

In response to the criticisms of her trip to space, King became the first crew member to address the backlash publicly.

Appearing on CBS Mornings alongside fellow astronaut Aisha Bowe, the journalist pushed back against claims that the mission lacked scientific value or meaningful impact.

"This is what bothers me, I've certainly read some of the stuff being said online and it's coming from people I know, people I consider friends," she said. "They call it a ride, which I find very irritating because they never say men went for a ride."

King added: "It's called a flight or a journey. A ride implies it's something frivolous or lighthearted. There's nothing frivolous about what we did."

Despite the negative press, King emphasized the significance behind the flight: "I'm very disappointed and saddened by [the hate]. What it's doing to inspire other women and young girls - please don't ignore that."

Now that she has successfully traveled to space, King has revealed that "getting married" is the next goal on her bucket list.

She previously opened up about her dating life during a May 2024 appearance on "The Tamron Hall Show," sharing the challenges that come with looking for love while in the public eye.

"If I could go on a dating app and people didn't know it was me, but I think it's hard when you're a public person," she noted at the time, per People Magazine. "I do think that's hard. So, you just hope a friend of a friend."

The TV personality also joked about her preference for a younger partner, but noted that she doesn't want to "date somebody I could have given birth to."

Above all, King emphasized she's looking for a partner who brings positivity into her life: "You want somebody who celebrates you, who is excited for you, who is very comfortable in their own skin," she said.