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Rita Ora admits she's 'made a lot of mistakes' as she alludes to her Covid rule-breaking scandals and says she regrets 'not being more considerate'
Rita Ora has owned up to making 'a lot of mistakes' and revealed her biggest regret is 'not being more considerate' to others, as she alluded to her infamous flouting of lockdown rules during the Covid pandemic.
The singer, 34, hit headlines in November 2020 when she went against strict quarantine restrictions to hold a 30th birthday party at a west London restaurant.
The songwriter was branded 'selfish' and was fined £10,000 by British police for throwing the bash, just days after taking a trip to North Africa - in another flagrant rule break.
Five years on, and Rita has alluded to the controversy, as she confessed that she had 'made a lot of mistakes', but insisted that she had learned and grown from them.
Opening up on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, she claimed she hadn't realised at the time what responsibility she had to act as a role model to her fans.
She said: 'I've always been so honest with my fans, and sometimes that's put me in uncomfortable positions and sometimes I've learned a lot.
'I've made a lot of mistakes and I've definitely learned from them, and I feel so lucky to have a voice people actually care to listen to.'
When asked if there was one mistake she'd made that she regretted most of all, Rita alluded to her infamous Covid rule break, saying she wished she'd been 'more considerate' and didn't realise the 'responsibility' she had as a role model to fans.
She said: 'I think all in all public opinion was an important thing for me for a long time, because I came up in my twenties.
'I made money, I didn't come from money, and I just really was living every day like it was my last, with no care about what was going to happen the next day.
'I think that's what I regret - not being a bit more considerate, I would say, with myself, my body, my mental health, but also others.
'I was always respectful and appreciative of others, but I was like, "This is what we are doing and that's that'"
'And I never really understood, how much responsibility I had for other people, like my fans, how much I inspire people or the pressures we have to keep people on the right path.
'I think a lot of people were looking up at me, looking for me to give them a lot of answers, and I didn't mentally digest that. I was just living, going and going and not stopping.'
She went on: 'But it's hard for me too. I think for anyone in my position to have that responsibility, like wake up one day and you're like, "Oh, wow, I have all these people that are depending on me to really give them inspiration'. And I don't know and I'm also human.
'But now I feel like it's something that I take in pride and I'm really proud of this job and responsibility I have got now with my fans and this connection and I just want to keep it really honest and transparent.
'I've never changed my opinions or personality, and I definitely speak before I think sometimes, but i think that's the purity of artist. I never want to feel like i'm over calculated, that's just not what artists are.'
While Rita also insisted that these days her birthdays are a much 'lonelier' affair than her blowout 30th, due to her work ethic and busy schedule.
She said: 'I do sacrifice a lot of things to do that, like I don't see my family as much. I have lonely birthdays. I miss Christmases. It's a lot of sacrifices to do this.'
Rita had previously flown by private jet to Cairo on November 21 to perform at the five-star W Hotel and returned the next day, where under Government quarantine rules, she should have self-isolated for 14 days.
Instead, the former America's Next Top Model presenter threw a soiree on November 28 at the exclusive eatery in the English capital.
The Notting Hill venue was offered £5,000 from Rita's team to break Covid rules, while her security also requested they turn off their CCTV cameras before guests arrived.
The manager of the restaurant was sacked and the venue faced losing its licence for six weeks.
Rita apologised at the time, stating: 'Hello all, I attended a small gathering with some friends to celebrate my 30th birthday.
'It was a spur of the moment decision made with the misguided view that we were coming out of lockdown and this would be OK… I'm deeply sorry for breaking the rules and in turn understand that this puts people at risk.
'This was a serious and inexcusable error of judgement. Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility.
'I feel particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe. Even though this won't make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.'
In another apology about her trip to Egypt, she said: 'I recently flew to Egypt to perform at a corporate event for a private company, where my travel party followed protocol and presented negative Covid tests upon entry, as required by Egyptian authorities.
'Upon my return to Britain, I should have followed Government advice and isolated myself for the required period. As you know, I didn't follow Government advice and… I apologise again, unreservedly.
'While I realise the apologetic words of a pop star might not carry much weight, especially one who has broken the rules like I have, I do realise some might seek to follow my example.
'My message to them is simple: please don't. The guilt and shame I've carried this week for my mistake aren't worth it.
'Instead, continue to listen to the Government advice and the voices of the heroes of the NHS and take the required precautions.'
Speaking to The Independent in December 2021, Rita tearfully expressed her regret for the party and wishes it had never happened.
She said: 'I am incredibly embarrassed. I still feel embarrassed. And the regret… It's really hard for me to talk about it.
'I just wish I had made a different choice. It makes me sad because it's something I wish had never happened.
'People were making huge sacrifices at the time, and I let them down. And that hurts. It really hurts.'
Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Rita - who married the 49-year-old filmmaker Taika Waititi, 49, in 2022 - also spoke about the inspiration behind her latest racy single, Heat.
The hitmaker said: 'My last record was amazing, in my opinion, because it had depth and a storyline, and it was about love.
'I got married and I really was inspired by my relationship, and it just was where I was at in my life. And now I'm at a point where I love my partner, love my relationship.'
She continued: 'But f*** that. I just want to be in the moment and have fun and think about what I want to feel like when I'm in Ibiza with my friends, drinking a Chardonnay with ice, having the sun beaming down, SPF making me sweat.
'How do I want to feel when I'm drunk in the day? And that was how Heat happened. I had the best time making this record.
'I love the idea of the fact I'm speaking, it's like sex on sight, it's intentional, it's direct, it's kind of cheeky, it's rude, it's iconic.'
