Kardashians Spark Tone Deaf Drama Yet Again
Lauren Sanchez at Little Market Mother's Day event, 2022. Photo by Angela Kohler under CC BY-SA 4.0.
It was meant to be a celebration of female empowerment and billionaire space ambition, but it ended in a digital dogpile over tone-deaf luxury, cosmic ego, and one seriously sparkly handbag.
Lauren Sánchez, fresh off her 11-minute Blue Origin space jaunt on April 14, 2025, proudly posted a photo on Instagram showing off a gift she'd just received from the Kardashian trio — a $7,000 Judith Leiber Couture UFO-shaped clutch, dripping in crystals and cosmic glam, according to PEOPLE.
"Out of this world!" Sánchez wrote, as reported by SheFinds.
But the internet was quick to launch a rocket-fueled backlash of its own.
A Clutch, a Flight, and a Firestorm
The bag, shaped like a flying saucer and covered in baguette and geometric crystals, was a gift from Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kris Jenner — all of whom were in West Texas cheering Sánchez on during the Blue Origin launch.
According to Judith Leiber Couture, the now sold-out "Orbiter" purse was "destined to turn heads in any orbit," as reported by Page Six.
It didn't disappoint — but the heads turning weren't all impressed.
On Instagram and X, users were swift and scathing. "Why is she getting gifts for spending 15 minutes in a spaceship?" one commenter wrote, as reported by SheFinds.
Another chimed in, according to SheFinds, "That money could have been used to feed several families in need."
And then, according to SheFinds, there was this stinger, "She basically went on a roller coaster ride."
The mood online was clear. The purse — and the launch itself — landed hard.
When Luxury Meets Optics
Sánchez's Blue Origin flight, featuring an all-female crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King, was meant to mark a milestone. But critics were quick to point out that the trip, which lasted less than 12 minutes and barely crossed into space, served more as a billionaire joyride than a scientific breakthrough.
And the gift from the Kardashians only made things worse. Sánchez has a known affinity for Judith Leiber bags, having carried an astronaut-shaped version earlier this year — also met with criticism — and a rocket-ship model for fiancé Jeff Bezos's 60th birthday.
Critics argue that these displays of wealth not only feel excessive but insultingly out of touch during times of global instability, environmental crisis, and deepening wealth gaps. Billionaires already emit over a million times more carbon pollution than the average person, according to a 2023 Oxfam report cited in The Cool Down.
As one Instagram user said, according to SheFinds, "Just throwing money everywhere while the world struggles. So tone-deaf."
Jet Fuel and Crystals: A PR Problem?
The Kardashian gift wasn't just a thoughtful gesture — it was a statement. But that statement, to many, read more like a parody of luxury living on a dying planet. Even some celebrities have expressed discomfort with the optics of space tourism, including Olivia Wilde, Emily Ratajkowski, and Amy Schumer, who criticized the Blue Origin flight as wasteful and indulgent.
Sánchez, for her part, pushed back during a press conference after the flight, inviting critics to visit Blue Origin themselves. "So when we hear comments like that, I just say, 'Trust me. Come with me. I'll show you what this is about, and it's, it's really eye-opening,'" she said, according to PEOPLE.
Celebrity Friendship or Elite Echo Chamber?
Supporters, including Kris Jenner and Khloé Kardashian, praised Sánchez's achievement as history-making and inspiring, saying they were proud to support an all-female crew in space.
But for the many social media users watching from Earth, the moment didn't feel empowering — it felt alienating. From the matching violet space suits to the crystal-covered bag, the entire episode came across as another example of elites celebrating each other in a world where most people are still trying to make rent.
In an age of performative philanthropy and public scrutiny, even luxury has its limits. This time, the sparkle couldn't outshine the outrage.
References: Details about Jeff Bezos' partner Lauren Sánchez's lavish gift from the Kardashians spark outrage: 'This feels like a nightmare' | The Kardashians gifted Lauren Sánchez an out-of-this world $7K purse after Blue Origin space flight | Lauren Sánchez Receives $7K Crystal-Covered UFO Clutch from Kardashian-Jenners After Blue Origin Flight | The Internet Slams The Kardashians For Gifting Lauren Sánchez A $7K UFO-Shaped Clutch After Her Controversial Spaceflight
