Wendy's defends Katy Perry dig after controversial spaceflight

Wendy’s is doubling down after catching heat for mocking Katy Perry’s Blue Origin spaceflight.

In a statement to Peoplemagazine on Thursday, April 17, the fast-food giant stood by its viral tweets, saying, “We always bring a little spice to our socials.” Still, the brand insisted it “has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world talent.”

The drama kicked off earlier this week after Perry and her all-female flight crew — including Lauren Sánchez and Gayle King — safely returned from a 10-minute trip to space.

As the pop star kissed the ground post-landing, Wendy’s tweeted, “Can we send her back,” followed by a cheeky “I kissed the ground and I liked it,” referencing Perry’s 2008 hit.

Kesha, who’s had public tensions with Perry due to the latter’s work with Dr. Luke, quickly joined the pile-on, posting a smiling selfie while sipping from a Wendy’s cup.

Now, sources close to Perry say the jabs didn’t land as playful. One insider told Page Six she was hurt by the “targeted hostility,” adding, “This was a billion-dollar brand using its platform to publicly demean a woman.”

Though Perry hasn’t responded publicly, backlash continues to grow — especially as several celebrities, including Jessica Chastain and Olivia Munn, have already criticised the Blue Origin mission itself.