Wendy’s is once again proving that no celebrity is safe from its snarky, Gen Z-infused Twitter account. This time, the fast-food giant has aimed its sarcastic barbs at pop star Katy Perry after she returned from her historic spaceflight with Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos. In a move that left many scratching their heads, Wendy’s took to Twitter to throw shade at Perry, despite the mission being an all-female venture that was hailed as a step forward for women in space.
On Monday, Perry, along with television personality Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez (fiancée of Jeff Bezos), and a group of scientists, including NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and bioastronaut Amanda Nguyen, participated in the first all-female crew mission to space since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight in 1963. This milestone was celebrated by many as a historic moment for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
However, not everyone was impressed. After the crew’s return to Blue Origin’s West Texas base, Wendy’s Twitter account took a direct jab at Perry, with a sarcastic remark following the news that she had returned from space. “Can we send her back?” the official Wendy’s account quipped, referencing the brief duration of the mission, which lasted just 10 minutes.
The fast-food chain wasn’t done there. It also reposted a photo of Perry kissing the ground upon her return, cheekily referencing her 2008 hit song “I Kissed a Girl” with the tweet, “I kissed the ground and I liked it.”
When one user pointed out that the mission only lasted 10 minutes, Wendy’s, in typical fashion, responded with even more snark: “Don’t short change her, it was 11 minutes.” And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more humorous, Wendy’s added, “I’m a woman, send me to space.”
The chain also took a jab at the women in STEM movement with the tweet, “When we said women in STEM, this isn’t what we meant.”
It’s unclear exactly why Wendy’s singled out Perry in particular, but the company’s social media team has built a reputation for its quick-witted, often sarcastic commentary. Fans of Wendy’s were quick to appreciate the humor, with one fan writing, “Good one, Wendy,” to which the account responded, “I’m a woman send me to space.”
The celebrity spaceflight wasn’t just met with criticism from Wendy’s. Perry and her fellow astronauts faced backlash from multiple high-profile personalities, including comedians Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde, and actresses Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski. Their collective criticism centered around the perceived absurdity of wealthy celebrities taking a space trip while the world faces pressing issues.
Despite the backlash, the mission was historic, marking the first all-female crew to venture to space with a commercial space company. Each astronaut’s spacesuit featured nods to their respective careers, with Perry’s suit adorned with a firework icon in honor of her famous song “Firework,” and a daisy flower symbolizing her daughter, Daisy. King’s suit featured a microphone in tribute to her career as a CBS anchor, while Sánchez’s suit had a fly, a reference to her children’s book, *The Fly Who Flew to Space.*
While the mission was certainly a momentous occasion for women in space, Wendy’s has once again made it clear that no one is immune to its sarcastic humor. Whether you love it or hate it, the fast-food chain’s tweets are undeniably effective at keeping the conversation alive. As for Perry, it seems she’ll have to put up with the jabs, all while keeping her head high—maybe even in space next time.
