Prior to the all-women space flight on the Blue Origin aircraft, which launched on April 14, the crew, including Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez, excitedly rang a silver bell before boarding.
When it was Gayle King’s turn, however, she looked unhappy and quickly rang the bell before looking downward, Access Hollywood shared.
In a clip shared by CBS after the crew safely descended, King explained, “I was so afraid, I just wanted to get into my seat because I just wanted to let the training kick in.
She continued, “I just wanted to get inside the capsule and sit down, so the process of walking up there was a little daunting for me.”
Despite her initial fear, King said in the press conference, “I know I will never forget it. I walked out of there thinking, ‘Gosh, I can do anything.’ I’m so proud of us, I really am proud of me because I never in a gazillion years thought I could do this.”
King’s Dejected Face Has Gone Viral
Gayle King made history as one of the women aboard a Blue Origin space shuttle, but fans couldn’t stop talking about her terrified face.
“I’m howling. Poor Gayle King — she really doesn’t wanna go to space — how tight is that contract??” an X user posted before the launch.
Another posted screenshots of King looking scared and joked, “If I send you this, just know that I am STRESSED!”
One tweeted, “#GayleKing has just created a perfect meme, re-thinking life decisions. But I’m glad they all made [it] back safe!!”
King Bravely Faced Her Fear of Flying for the Blue Origin Flight
When King arrived at the Blue Origin launch site in Van Horn, Texas, on the morning of April 14, she was spotted crying, the Daily Mail reported.
Oprah, who was present, explained, “I’ve never been more proud. This is bigger than just going to space for [Gayle]. Any time we’re on a flight, she’s in someone’s lap if there’s the slightest bit of turbulence.”
The former daytime talk show host added, “She has real, real, real anxiety flying. This is overcoming a wall of fear, a barrier, I think it’s gonna be cathartic for her.”
Oprah later praised her friend in an Instagram post, saying, “It is the true definition of courage. You can’t have courage without having some fear, some hesitation, some reluctance.”
“This girl was terrified. I know how terrified she’s been because I’ve been hearing it since October,” Oprah continued.
Following the short journey into space, King said she felt “bonded” with the other Blue Origin crew. “You can’t go through what we went through, to look out for each other, to help each other, and not be changed by that,” she told CBS Mornings.