Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, has thanked his employees and customers for ‘paying’ for his trip to space. The Amazon CEO successfully completed an 11-minute ride to the cusp of space on Tuesday aboard a rocket built by his company Blue Origin. After his historic space flight, Mr Bezos, wearing a blue space suit and a ten-gallon hat , attended a press conference where a number of his remarks drew swift backlash on social media.
“I also want to thank every Amazon employee and each Amazon customer because you guys purchased all of this,” Mr Bezos said during the press conference after his space flight. “So seriously, for each Amazon customer out there, and each Amazon employee, many thanks from rock bottom of my heart, very much. it’s extremely appreciated.”
Though his comment seems to possess been in jest, many on Twitter were but amused. Critics acknowledged that Amazon workers have repeatedly complained of dangerous work conditions and grueling hours that force them to skip meals and even bathroom breaks, while the company’s founder – Mr Bezos – is that the world’s richest person.
Yes, Amazon workers did pay for this – with lower wages, union busting, a frenzied and inhumane workplace, and delivery drivers not having health insurance during a pandemic.
And Amazon customers are paying for it with Amazon abusing their market power to hurt small business. https://t.co/7qMgpe8u0M
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 20, 2021
“Yes, Amazon workers did buy this – with lower wages, union busting, a fanatical and inhumane workplace, and delivery drivers not having insurance during an epidemic ,” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter. “And Amazon customers are paying for it with Amazon abusing their market power to harm small business,” she added.
US Senator Elizabeth Warren repeated her involve a “wealth tax” as she accused the Amazon CEO of not paying taxes.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party , echoed the sentiment. “Jeff Bezos’s space flight lasted 11 minutes. During the pandemic, every 11 minutes, he got about 1.6 million dollars richer,” Mr Singh acknowledged .
Jeff Bezos's space flight lasted 11 minutes
During the pandemic, every 11 minutes, he got about 1.6 million dollars richer
All while, Justin Trudeau allowed Amazon to pay $0 in taxes
It's time the ultra-rich pay their fair sharehttps://t.co/uhILFSSfxw
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) July 20, 2021
Jeff Bezos and his brother, Mark, were joined on the space flight by the oldest also because the youngest astronauts ever. Pioneering woman aviator Wally Funk, 82, and up to date highschool graduate Oliver Daemen, 18, were the 2 others who visited space along side Mr Bezos and his brother. Blue Origin plans for 2 more New Shepard passenger flights this year, reports Reuters.
Mr Bezos said his company is functioning “ferociously” toward having the ability to reuse New Shepard vehicles a minimum of 100 times. The one used on Tuesday, twice previously flown to space, scored a bulls-eye landing on a close-by pad.
