IIRC, there was more that happened before that bit, in which Bezos came off as more empathetic and sharing the moment with Shatner, and then only later also engaged more with the people there who wanted to pop champagne.

People who saw only the footage from a videographer who missed much of it, or which was edited cynically, got an inaccurate impression.

(Shatner was understandably moved by the space flight experience, maybe by something like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect )

> there was more that happened before that bit

It was after this bit. Probably when Bezos realized the optics.

> or which was edited cynically, got an inaccurate impression

Ironic to be posting an inaccurate comment, while lamenting inaccuracy...

Here, you can see just how early this happens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSNXBvpLb9o

Maybe I saw a deceptive edit at the time.

But note that, in CNN video you linked, there's a cut shortly after 1m26s, before the audio and then video of Shatner&Bezos. I can't tell how much of the interaction was missed.

This ABC footage feels different than the outrage edit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTxbq7MTQYY

Bezos listens to an overwhelmed Shatner for close to 10 minutes, hugs, etc.

It may be that he was suddenly thinking of "optics", as someone said, or maybe he wasn't.

You were right.

Yep, that's our Bezos. One for the ages, that clip.

Poor William, though ...

Yes! My all time favourite, its almost seems too scripted to believe its real. Opening up the champagne infront of the recovered alcoholic and spraying it over Lauren haha

Yes it looks like something out of that Silicon Valley TV show