Gayle King's Space Flight Sparks Ratings, Controversy

Gayle King's 11-minute space flight with an all-female Blue Origin crew, including Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez, attracted significant attention and debate. At the TIME100 Gala, King clarified that Oprah Winfrey's emotional response to her launch stemmed from pride, due to King's longstanding fear of flying. The event led to a rare ratings win for CBS Mornings, with 3.9 million viewers temporarily surpassing its rivals, though the boost was short-lived. Critics, including celebrities and viewers, labeled the flight a tone-deaf 'PR stunt' due to its cost, environmental impact, and the fully automated nature of the mission, which some argued diminished its empowerment narrative. Skepticism also arose regarding the authenticity of Oprah's tears. Despite the backlash, King and her crew defended the mission, emphasizing its inspirational value for young women and girls.