Jeff Bezos has thanked his Amazon employees for their efforts in helping him and the crew of the New Shepard reach space yesterday.
According to Insider, the 57-year-old billionaire spoke on the subject of his staff in a press conference held after the capsule containing him and the other members of the Blue Origin rocket's crew touched down in the West Texas desert.
Wearing his flight suit and a large cowboy hat, the world's richest man told the assembled crowd at one point:
"I want to thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all of this."
However, Bezos' statement has been savaged by a number of critics on social media; who have accused the businessman of spending his money on frivolous space tourism while his workers labor under alleged restrictive conditions.
For example, New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to write:
"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."
Congressman Andy Levil agreed, writing: "Tomorrow, Jeff Bezos will ride around on a rocketship for a little over 10 minutes.
"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 [Bezos'] wealth."
Journalist Oliver Willis tweeted about the lack of press scrutiny, writing: "'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."
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders staffer Warren Gunnels added: "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."
Per The Guardian, Bezos has stepped down as Amazon CEO earlier this year, following his divorce from his wife.
However, his net worth has increased by a shocking $70 billion during the pandemic, with many people around the world dependent on deliveries for subsistence during lockdown.
Meanwhile, Bezos incurred further controversy after a ProPublica investigation published secret IRS records showing that the wealthiest Americans have managed to avoid paying fair levels of income tax.
