Lockdown-breaking Rita’s TV ‘snub’
She won’t join the panel on The Masked Dancer
As The Masked Singer has become an absolute television staple for the country in just two series, it’s no wonder that ITV are apparently planning to launch The Masked Dancer as soon as possible. And while the judging panel for the original show seems to have been popular with viewers, Rita Ora is the only one who won’t be working on the new spin-off.
The show, which already airs in the US, sees celebrities perform dances wearing elaborate costumes and – you guessed it – masks. Rapper Ice-t and singer Jordin Sparks are among the names who have taken part across the pond, where Ken Jeong, Paula Abdul, Brian Austin Green and Ashley Tisdale are on the panel.
And while Jonathan Ross, Davina Mccall and Mo Gilligan look set to be the dance detectives here, bosses are apparently hoping to sign up Strictly’s Oti Mabuse as a replacement for Rita Ora. The 30-year-old singer is apparently unable to take part due to scheduling conflicts, as she is currently filming The Voice Australia, but some have questioned whether Rita’s recent bad behaviour has been the cause of the snub. Back in November, Rita hosted her 30th birthday party at a restaurant in Notting Hill with around 30 guests in attendance, despite the fact that the country was in the midst of lockdown 2. Police were called to the venue in an attempt to shut it down, and the singer later apologised for her actions. On Instagram, she wrote, “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.”
The singer also came under fire when it was revealed that, having performed at a private gig in Egypt a week before her 30th birthday, she should have, in fact, been quarantining for 14 days. After arriving in Australia for her work on The Voice earlier this month, Rita was pictured being taken by armed police to make sure she complied with the mandatory two-week hotel quarantine there.
On hearing the news that Rita wouldn’t be joining her fellow judges on The Masked Dancer, one TV fan wrote online that Rita “should have been fired anyway”, and another agreed, writing, “[She] shouldn’t be on The Voice, either, she knowingly broke the law.”
To top off Rita’s start to 2021, her relationship with French filmmaker boyfriend Romain Gavras is reportedly “on the rocks”, as the pandemic – and Rita’s travels – have been keeping them apart. A source said of the couple, “They are struggling being apart from each other. It’s difficult not knowing when restrictions will ease.” ■
‘This was a serious error of judgement’