Blue Origin, the company founded by Jeff Bezos, had to take down footage of Emily Calandrelli, the 100th female space traveler, after facing a wave of sexist comments on social media.
In response to the negativity, the astronaut stated she wouldn’t “give much time to the small men on the internet” and took matters into her own hands by reposting the video herself.
Her timeline quickly filled with supportive messages, alongside those that condemned the sexist remarks.
Emily Calandrelli, also known as The Space Gal, was one of six space tourists on Blue Origin’s ninth human test flight aboard the New Shepard spacecraft.
While many netizens congratulated her on her journey, others resorted to trolling and sexualizing her voice, inundating her with misogynistic comments.
The responses were so hurtful that Calandrelli, instead of basking in her historic feat aboard billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Origin spacecraft, said in a statement on Monday that she was in tears flying home after the mission.
“This all happened as I was flying home after experiencing the most perfect, wonderful dream-achieving experience of my life,” she wrote. “And instead of being on cloud nine, I’m crying in my seat staring out the window. Because of course this happened. Of course I should have expected this.”
She said she texted fellow “space sisters” for advice on how to handle the ugly reaction.
“But I refuse to give much time to the small men on the internet,” she wrote. “I feel experiences in my soul. It’s a trait I got from my father. We feel every emotion deeply and what a beautiful way that is to experience life. This joy is tattooed on my heart.
“I will not apologize or feel weird about my reaction. It’s wholly mine and I love it.”
After facing sexist comments and online trolling, Blue Origin removed the video. Despite this, Emily Calandrelli stood firm, refusing to downplay her significant achievement or apologize for how she expressed her joy.
Calandrelli, widely recognized online as “Space Gal,” is a New York Times bestselling author and an Emmy-nominated TV host who has built a significant following by discussing space and science.
She had been publicly sharing her preparations for the space flight, enthusiastically compiling a flash drive filled with dreams submitted by her followers, which she planned to take with her into space, all while raising thousands of dollars for children’s charities.
On Friday, she and five other “space tourists” launched from Blue Origin’s Texas spaceport for the ninth manned test of the company’s New Shepard spacecraft.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.