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Emily Calandrelli slams men who sexualize her reaction to seeing Earth

Emily Calandrelli slams men who sexualize her reaction to seeing Earth

Emily Calandrelli, the Netflix and YouTube host and MIT engineer known as the “Space Girl,” was overcome with tears when she witnessed Earth from space during Blue Origin’s recent flight—and she makes no apologies to any online trolls trying to “belittle” her. for this.

The astronaut, who became the 100th woman in space, wrote on Instagram on Nov. 24 that a video showing her emotional reaction during the roughly 10-minute flight had been removed “from all platforms” due to many negative comments. TODAY has reached out to Blue Origin for comment.

Calandrelli wrote that she watched “hordes of men sexualize” her reaction to viewing the Earth from space, “because to be a woman achieving something monumental is to expect men to try to humiliate her.” Calandrelli was one of six space tourists who flew on November 22 from Blue Origin’s facility in Texas.

Calandrelli described her disappointment after seeing some of the comments on the video.

“This all happened while I was flying home after having the most perfect, wonderful dream-achieving experience of my life,” she wrote in the Instagram caption. “And instead of being on cloud nine, I’m crying in my seat, looking out the window. Because of course it happened. Of course I should have expected it.”

She said she messaged other “space sisters” to get advice on how to deal with the horrific reaction.

“But I refuse to give much time to little people on the Internet,” she wrote. “I feel the emotions in my soul. This is a trait I inherited from my father. We feel every emotion deeply and what a wonderful way to experience life. This joy is tattooed on my heart.”

“I won’t apologize or feel weird about my reaction. She’s completely mine and I love it.”

Calandrelli said she has received words of encouragement since her journey.

“As I was getting off the plane, a Southwest flight attendant who recognized me and I suspect saw me crying whispered as I got off the plane, ‘don’t let them dull your shine,’” she wrote. “And I immediately felt a sense of camaraderie with her, with all the women.”

Calandrelli told her followers: “When I can, I will share this with you all myself.”

She also received positive comments on Instagram.

“I think your emotional reaction is beautiful,” one commenter wrote. “I haven’t been to space or given birth to a child, but I immediately understood the parallel you drew. I hope that in a month or someday the reaction of the weird shit will just disappear into the ether.”

“Your reaction gave me chills,” wrote another. “I can only imagine the absolutely pure and sincere emotions I would experience seeing such a view. Thank you for allowing us to experience this with you. You should be so proud.”

“I can’t stop crying!!” another person commented. “Watching you achieve the dreams you have worked so hard for is incredibly inspiring and so wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The next day, November 25, Calandrelli shared a video on Instagram of her reaction to Earth and space as she looked out the window in awe.

“This is our planet,” she says, her voice breaking. “Oh my God, this is space.”

“I’m here. I did it,” she says later in the video. “We’re in space now. Oh, my God.”

In the caption, she expressed gratitude for Blue Origin and the opportunity to see Earth from space.

“Our planet 🥺 I left it. I saw her,” she wrote. “A dream that has been decades in the making. The only thing I can compare it to is the first time I held my children in my arms after they were born. It’s like knowing someone for a long time, loving someone for a while, but seeing them with your own eyes. for the first time.

“It struck a chord with me and will remain in my heart forever,” she continued. “How lucky I am to be one of 100 women who have experienced this point of view. I don’t take this for granted and plan to share this thrill with everyone I can.”