Shaquille O'Neal questions authenticity of Blue Origin launch
- Shaquille O'Neal commented on the authenticity of Blue Origin's all-female crew flight during a podcast with David Spade.
- He raised concerns about the lack of hair movement and the safety of sending his fiancée to space.
- O'Neal concluded that the footage may have involved green screen technology, suggesting the mission may not have occurred as claimed.
In a conversation with comedian David Spade on his podcast, Shaquille O'Neal shared his doubts regarding the recent Blue Origin space flight that featured an all-female crew, including Lauren Sanchez and Katy Perry. This discussion took place a few weeks after the high-profile mission, which captured public attention and included various celebrities in attendance. O'Neal's skepticism focused on several observations he made, including his belief that Jeff Bezos would not risk sending his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, into space, demonstrating his protective nature over her well-being. Additionally, he pointed out what he perceived as unrealistic elements of the video footage from the flight, such as the lack of movement in the women's hair while in an environment that is expected to have zero gravity. O'Neal emphasized that if the mission were indeed genuine, elements like hair movement should reflect the experience of being in space. His comments suggest a broader critique of the production quality and authenticity of visual representations in commercial space travel. O'Neal further commented on a point where he noticed that once the flight was concluded, Jeff Bezos had the special key to the spacecraft, which he observed was already opened upon landing. This led him to infer that some form of deception may have taken place, likening the scenario to the effects of a green screen used in film production, as seen in attractions at Universal Studios. This expressed skepticism is not unique to Shaquille O'Neal, as a portion of the public shared similar sentiments regarding the credibility of private space travel narratives, particularly when high-profile personalities are involved. Utilization of social media and discourse about these celebrity journeys to space points towards an ongoing conversation about the boundaries of truth and spectacle in the emerging domain of commercial space tourism.