Sometimes it takes a few hard lessons to really understand what it means to grow up in the spotlight.
For Rita Ora, that moment came during the pandemic when one controversial decision made headlines around the world—and left her with a weight of regret that she’s still unpacking years later.
Owning Up to Past Mistakes
Now 34, Rita Ora is reflecting openly on the choices she made during her twenties.
Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, the pop star admitted she’s made “a lot of mistakes,” but none as impactful as the night she broke strict COVID rules to celebrate her 30th birthday.
The event—an illegal party at a posh west London restaurant in November 2020—sparked public outrage and earned Rita a £10,000 fine.
What made things worse? She had just returned from a trip to Cairo and skipped the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
A Moment That Changed Everything
Looking back, Rita acknowledged that she didn’t fully grasp the responsibility she had as a public figure.
“I was just living every day like it was my last,” she said.
“I didn’t really think about what could happen the next day.”
At the time, she says she didn’t realise how much people looked up to her.
“I think a lot of people were expecting me to guide them, or inspire them,” she admitted.
“And I wasn’t ready for that pressure. I was just going and going.”
A Regret That Still Lingers
When asked what she regretted most, Rita was honest: “Not being more considerate,” she said, referring not just to the party, but also to how she handled her health, her mental wellbeing, and her impact on others.
She described how, in hindsight, she didn’t understand the scale of her influence or how her actions could affect people who were making real sacrifices at the time.
“I feel proud now to take responsibility for my fans,” she said. “But it’s taken time to grow into that.”
Trying to Make Amends
Rita has publicly apologized several times over the years, including in a heartfelt statement shortly after the party.
She admitted it was “a serious and inexcusable error of judgement,” adding that she felt deeply embarrassed knowing how many lives were affected by COVID-19.
In a separate apology about the Egypt trip, she said she should have self-isolated but didn’t, acknowledging that her actions were selfish.
“Please don’t follow my example,” she urged fans.
“The guilt and shame I’ve carried aren’t worth it.”
Behind the Scenes: What Really Happened That Night
According to reports, Rita’s team offered £5,000 to the restaurant in Notting Hill to quietly host the party.
Security even asked for CCTV cameras to be turned off.
The fallout was swift: the restaurant manager was fired, and the venue faced a six-week license suspension.
All of this, Rita says, still stings. In a 2021 interview with The Independent, she broke down in tears.
“I still feel incredibly embarrassed,” she said.
“I let people down who were doing the right thing, and it really hurts.”
Lonely Birthdays and Sacrifices of Fame
These days, Rita’s birthdays look very different.
No more blowouts or rule-breaking soirées.
“They’re a lot lonelier now,” she admitted. “I work so much that I don’t see my family as often.
I miss Christmases. There are a lot of sacrifices.”
While she says her ambition and drive haven’t faded, the pop star has clearly shifted into a more reflective phase of life.
“I’ve learned the hard way what matters,” she said.
From Controversy to Creativity
Despite the ups and downs, Rita’s not slowing down when it comes to music.
She also opened up on the podcast about her newest single, Heat, and the mindset behind it.
After exploring themes of love and marriage in her last album—fueled by her relationship with filmmaker Taika Waititi, whom she married in 2022—this new track takes a much cheekier direction.
Channelling Summer Energy in ‘Heat’
“This one’s for the girls’ trip,” Rita laughed. “It’s about being in Ibiza, sun on your face, Chardonnay in your hand, sweating in SPF.
It’s fun, sexy, and all about living in the moment.”
She describes Heat as “intentional, cheeky, and a little rude”—everything she loves about unapologetic pop music.
“It’s like sex on sight,” she said, “and that’s iconic.”
Still Unfiltered, Still Honest
Rita also made it clear she has no plans to start filtering herself anytime soon.
“I speak before I think,” she laughed. “But that’s the purity of being an artist.
I don’t want to be over-calculated. That’s just not me.”
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: Rita Ora isn’t pretending to be perfect.
She’s just trying to be real—mistakes, missteps, and all.