Featured Image Credit: Broadimage/Toby Hancock/Shutterstock
Topics: Space, Celebrity, Katy Perry, Music
Jake Massey
Topics: Space, Celebrity, Katy Perry, Music
What do you buy for the person who has everything?
That is a question many of us have asked when contemplating presents for a dad that already has loads of socks and a beer machine, but for the rich and famous, it must be really tricky coming up with something they really want and don't already have.
And hence, back in 2010, Katy Perry reportedly splashed out $200,000 on Russell Brand's 35th birthday present, buying him a ticket to space.
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The actor and comedian was set to undertake three days of training before embarking on the Virgin Galactic voyage, with the company's representative Louella Faria confirming: "It is true. We are very excited to have him onboard.
"There will be 17-inch diameter windows to look out onto. Passengers will be able to view Earth around 800 miles in any direction from space."
Perry and Brand were married for little over a year, and as such, the cosmic gift was never cashed in.
It's a pity looking back, as 'E.T.' singer Perry said she was excited for the trip to space with Brand.
Speaking to MTV News back in 2011, she said: "I'm so into extra-terrestrial stuff. ... It's very difficult for me to look up into the sky in the middle of the night and not think that our planet is one of ... a bajillion. It's really, really small.
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"And Russell and I are interested in anything extra-terrestrial. I mean, we're going to space!
"We're really excited... There's a group of people that work with Richard Branson, and he does the Virgin flights, and for Russell's birthday, I got him a flight to space. Because I just thought, 'What else can I give this man? He's had every experience in the world, but not a trip to space!'
"And so he's also always searching for what is beyond this world, and we both kind of have this same vision and are always looking for more.
"It will be really exciting. It's like a half-a-day trip. I think there's a lot of people who are signed up for this experience."
Reflecting on why they divorced, Brand said it was largely due to practical reasons.
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Opening up about the relationship on a In Conversation With..., hosted by comedian John Bishop, Brand said: "Katy was obviously very, very occupied and busy. I was occupied and busy but not to the same degree.
"The marriage didn't last for a very long time and I think that is due to the undulating nature of fame, living in those conditions."
He went on to say he still had 'warm feelings' about his ex.
He added: "I have come away from that experience and I still feel very warm towards her. When I hear about her or see her, I think, 'Ah, there's that person, that person in the world'."