Negative publicity continues to accumulate for singer Rita Ora. After being castigated for flouting lockdown rules, a publication has dug up an old interview of hers. She claims she would be spending her birthday with her parents -- only to end up partying with 30 people instead.
In the old interview dug up by The Sun, Ora claims that her 30th birthday party would “literally” be just her and her parents. The singer also claimed that she had been persevering through the United Kingdom’s lockdown just “like everyone.”
The 30-year-old singer also tried to play down her party-loving persona, sharing in the interview that the people she likes hanging out with the most are her parents. Ora says she was actually looking forward to hanging out with her parents.
But as was recently reported, Ora did not spend her birthday with her parents but with 30 celebrity friends instead, holding a party that violated the United Kingdom’s lockdown rules.
Some of the celebrities present during the birthday bash were model sisters Poppy and Cara Delevingne, reality star Vas Morgan, and Ora’s own sister Elena. The party was held at upscale London restaurant Casa Cruz.
Ora had to apologize for the incident, posting on Instagram that the party was an inexcusable “error of judgment.” She minimized the party as something spur of the moment and expressed her awareness that her actions would likely put other people at risk.
The singer also expressed embarrassment and said she is aware of the work that healthcare workers do on the frontlines. She was also made to pay a £10,000 fine after being visited by police at her home once news of her party began to spread.
The Daily Mail adds that Ora has also been visited by her mother, 56-year-old Vera Sahatçiu, who is herself a healthcare worker back in the frontlines to contribute in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom.
The paper described Sahatçiu as a “stern figure” after leaving her daughter’s home. Her visit comes after Ora found herself in another situation after it was revealed she had violated lockdown rules even before her birthday party.
According to the Daily Mail, Ora had been to Egypt a week before her birthday party to perform at a private event. As per the United Kingdom’s health and safety protocols, the singer should have quarantined for two weeks after her return.
Once that incident surfaced, Ora once again had to apologize, releasing a statement that says she has been guilty and ashamed over the past week because of her compounded mistakes. Ora also said that the fee she received for her Egypt performance would instead be donated to charity.