Bezos gave the term “tone deaf” a whole new meaning.
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Jeff Bezos is being blasted — both into outer space and by people who think he should keep both feet placed firmly on Earth and focus on more important things, like Amazon employees’ well-being.
The Amazon founder has attracted criticism for taking to space via rocket New Shepard, owned by his company Blue Origin, in light of the long-running complaints regarding working conditions at Amazon. Seeing as he is literally the richest person on Earth — worth an estimated $206 billion — he could undoubtedly resolve the workplace issues at Amazon and not even notice a dent in his fortune.
Tomorrow, Jeff Bezos will ride around on a rocketship for a little over 10 minutes.
— Andy Levin (@Andy_Levin) July 19, 2021
Amazon warehouse workers on “megacycle” shifts will be on their feet for 10 hours.
I’m fighting for an economy that values the dignity of their work, not the multiplication of his wealth.
But today, following the billionaire’s short jaunt to the edge of space, Bezos gave the term “tone deaf” a whole new meaning: He quite literally thanked Amazon employees for funding his trip.
Jeff Bezos: "I wanna thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all this." pic.twitter.com/HTLORzbfnY
— The Recount (@therecount) July 20, 2021
“I wanna thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all this.”
If the phrase "shit-eating grin" hadn't already been coined, I'd invent it for this oleaginous display.
— Li’l (@marontheweb) July 20, 2021
Amazon has been criticised for years over the conditions for its workers, with reports of staff urinating in bottles for fear of missing delivery rates and regularly working 14-hour days. Meanwhile, Bezos, who has stepped down as Amazon CEO, saw his net worth increase by $70 billion during the pandemic. And then, of course, he sent himself to space whilst society continues to collapse around him.
"Jeff I know we're here to talk about your space ship but can we discuss how you're the richest man in the world and you're making your drivers pee into bottles?" - something you probably won't see today while he's talking to literally every network
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) July 19, 2021
Jeff Bezos is going into space tomorrow.
— Charles Preston (@_CharlesPreston) July 19, 2021
Yesterday, on earth, I saw a man search for food in a trash can.
Class warfare is Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson becoming $250 billion richer during the pandemic, paying a lower tax rate than a nurse and racing to outer space while the planet burns and millions go without healthcare, housing and food. #TaxTheRich
— Warren Gunnels (@GunnelsWarren) July 18, 2021
Quick while jeff bezos is in space let's bring Amazon into public ownership and pay workers a living wage
— Northern Independence Party 🟨🟥 (@FreeNorthNow) July 20, 2021
Guess it’s time for Amazon employees better to get to work on funding the next one…
Jeff Bezos had this message for his Amazon team after he successfully returned from space. pic.twitter.com/0KqhI5hMH2
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) July 20, 2021
