British pop star Rita Ora has come under fire this week following revelations that she held her 30th birthday bash while the UK was in lockdown and over a period she was meant to be isolating after returning from Egypt where she held a private concert.
According to the Mail on Sunday magazine, the singer was paid to fly to Egypt in November for a private performance attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
After returning to the UK, Ora did not observe the mandatory 14-day self-isolation rule. Instead, she celebrated her 30th birthday with a party at a London restaurant and was subsequently fined £10,000 ($13,319) by UK authorities for flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules.
“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,” Ora siad.
“Upon my return to Britain, I should have followed government advice and isolated myself for the required period…and I apologise again, unreservedly.”