Rita Ora Dropped From iPhone Ad After Violating Lockdown Rules
It’s been more than a month since Rita Ora’s flouting of lockdown rules in the United Kingdom happened, but the fallout from her actions is still happening. Most recently, Ora was dropped from the ad campaign for the Apple iPhone 12 Pro.
The Daily Mail reports that the 30-year-old singer has been “quietly dropped” from the ad that was first aired in November last year. Quoting a source, the publication says Ora was dropped by the carrier running the campaign because of her breach of the lockdown rules.
The advertisement involved augmented reality technology, with a digital double of Ora seen wearing a gold jumpsuit and dancing among London’s famous buildings and skyscrapers. At the time of the campaign’s launch, Ora expressed her excitement at how it showed the future of live performance.
According to the Mirror, Ora’s management was approached by the carrier for discussion after news broke out of her holding a birthday party that involved 30 of her friends partying at London’s Casa Cruz restaurant.
The decision to end Ora’s time as the face of the carrier’s iPhone 12 Pro campaign was made after the meeting. The carrier reportedly did not want to be seen as a company that supported Ora’s breach of the lockdown rules.
Even before the loss of this ad campaign, Ora was already facing backlash when news of her clandestine party broke out. The public furor over her breach resulted in her having to post an apology on her Instagram account.
Calling the party “an error of judgment,” Ora said that what she did was inexcusable. She also explained that the celebration was something that was decided at the spur of the moment and that she had intended it to be a small gathering.
Ora also shared that her mistake was doubly embarrassing because her mother is a healthcare worker on the frontlines of the United Kingdom’s fight against the global coronavirus pandemic.
Aside from saying that she recognized the risk that she has brought upon the people around, Ora also had to pay authorities a £10,000 fine.
Across the pond, Kardashian sisters Kim and Kendall were also subjected to similar public outrage after holding parties just like Ora’s.
A hundred guests attended the 25th birthday party held by Kendall Jenner. Among the celebrity guests were Justine Bieber, The Weeknd, Winnie Harlow, Saweetie, Jaden Smith, and Doja Cat.
Meanwhile, Jenner’s sister Kim Kardashian West was pilloried by the public after revealing that she brought family and celebrity friends to a private island to celebrate her 40th birthday.