British singer Rita Ora apologized Monday for hosting a party to celebrate turning 30 – a party which was in breach of England’s current COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
On her actual birthday, Thursday 26 November, she stated that she would be spending most of the day eating cake, “Me and cake and some trousers I couldn’t breathe in. Thank you for all the love it felt weird not doing anything for my bday so being me I dressed up and ate cake also clock the hairspray on the table lol anyway thank you for everyone who showed me, endless love, on my born day I’m forever grateful you all know who you are. Today I’m going to finish the rest of my cake for breakfast lunch and dinner. Byeeeeeeeeee." And we believed her!
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Then it emerged in an Instagram story that she had in fact attended "a small gathering with some friends" to celebrate her birthday.
This was a complete violation of Britain's current lockdown restrictions that includes the closure of pubs, restaurants, gyms, non-essential shops and places of worship. The lockdown also prohibits people from different households from mixing indoors, unless they are part of the same household.
British media reported that the party took place at a top-notch restaurant in west London's trendy Notting Hill neighbourhood. Ora will have to pay a fine, some say to the tune of R210 000.
She has subsequently apologised for her behaviour saying, "This was a serious and inexcusable error of judgement. Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility."
The lockdown is set to end on Dec 2 but much of the country is set to remain under tough restrictions as Boris Johnson and his government try to curb the spread of the virus.
