Rita Ora jets to Australia for a 14 day hotel quarantine before The Voice

418

View
comments

Rita Ora was pictured jetting into Sydney International Airport on Monday as she prepares to undergo a 14 day hotel quarantine ahead of working on The Voice Australia. 

The singer has been permitted to leave the UK during lockdown as she flew to Sydney for work commitments, and will become a coach on the Australian version of the hit singing competition.

The work trip comes after Rita was branded ‘selfish’ by British police for holding a lockdown-flouting 30th birthday bash at west London restaurant Casa Cruz in November.

Rita – who is also said to be struggling in her relationship with boyfriend Romain Gavras – will now isolate in a Sydney hotel for two weeks after landing, to adhere to the country’s strict travel regulations amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to her trip, a source told The Sun: ‘It’s obviously a bit of a pain but she knows she will have to do it just like everyone else. She’s excited to start work on The Voice but nobody is going to let her do that until she has done the quarantine, so it’s one of those things.’

They added: ‘She’s had enough controversy after the birthday incident so just wants to keep her head down now and get back to work.’

Ensuring that visitors touching down at Sydney airport adhere to the country’s strict rules, the Australian army and police service were on hand to greet the singer, and kindly helped with her luggage.

There was no missing the star, who stood out in a pair of neon orange trousers, but she concealed her face with a balaclava style face mask and wrapped up in a camel coat. She was accompanied by her sister Elena, who works as part of the singer’s team. 

The Hot Right Now hitmaker would have had to travel directly from the airport to her designated quarantine hotel.

She is believed to be staying at the five star Meriton Suites Pitt Street hotel, which is one of Sydney’s tallest hotels and has a choice of Studio Suites 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites and indulgent Penthouse Collection Suites.

The Meriton Suites Pitt Street hotel has a ranking of #25 out of the 204 Hotels in Sydney according to TripAdvisor.

Testing takes place on day two and 10 of the isolation period, with a negative test allowing people to leave on day 14. While 14 days is the standard amount of time in isolation, if anyone refuses to comply they could be held for up to 24 days.

Amid the scandal of her rule-breaking birthday bash, Rita is also said to be struggling in her relationship with boyfriend Romain Gavras. It’s reported that the couple are ‘under strain’ following Rita’s controversial slew of lockdown rule breaks.

Adding to this, as Rita then appeared to be following the rules – it kept her apart from Romain, 39, due to travel restrictions and lockdown. She will now be apart from her love even longer as a result of her work in Australia.

While a source told MailOnline that ‘Romain has been really supportive of Rita over the last few months’, another told The Sun: ‘They are struggling being apart from each other. 

‘It’s difficult not knowing when restrictions will ease. It feels as if they are on the rocks!’

Reports of relationship woes came as the singer’s lockdown-flouting 30th birthday bash in November came back to haunt her once more, as she was branded ‘selfish’ by police.

The party came amid another rule break, as she has previously flown by private jet to Cairo on November 21 to perform at the five-star W Hotel. 

She returned the next day and under Government quarantine rules should have self-isolated for 14 days. Instead, she threw a birthday party on November 28 at the exclusive Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill.

The infamous birthday party at Casa Cruz saw Rita branded ‘selfish’, the manager of the restaurant sacked and the venue facing losing its licence.

A hearing of Kensington and Chelsea Council’s licensing sub-committee on Thursday heard how representatives for the singer offered the since-sacked manager £5,000 for the illegal opening – and the Notting Hill venue now faces losing its licence. 

Charles Holland, who is representing the Met Police’s application, said at the hearing, held online due to COVID-19 restrictions, that Rita ‘selfishly wanted to flout the lockdown for financial gain and selfish pleasure’.

He said at the hearing: ‘Police were advised that a party was being held on November 28 at the venue, Casa Cruz.

‘They were told large groups of people had arrived via the back door of the club, there was security and loud music was being played and this was all during the second national lockdown.

‘At the time venues had to close and stop providing food and drink,people were told to stay at home and it was unlawful to gather in groups of two or more.

‘What transpired was that the premises was hosting a party for a Ms Rita Ora, a well known celebrity.

‘The then manager at the time Scotti Bhattarai had been contacted and offered £5,000 for the use of the premises, he agreed and has admitted he was being greedy.’

With most of the venue’s staff on furlough during a time that the country was locked in a second lockdown, he travelled to the venue himself to ‘facilitate’ the bash – an action for which he has since admitted he was ‘greedy’.

It has been claimed that security for the entourage wanted ‘no recordings of the attendees’ with CCTV said to be turned off at between 6pm and 6:30pm at the upscale London eatery on 28 November.

Police found that the CCTV hard drive had been reformatted on the 30 November at 3:15pm, two days after the party, with ‘no stored footage available’ before or the preceding 31 days.

In a statement to police on 1 December, publicly available in a licence review for Casa Cruz, former boss Scottie Bhattarai also claimed that Rita’s team allegedly offered £5,000 to use the venue.

The document claims: ‘The security for the entourage wanted no recordings of the attendees – Rita Ora etc, to be made, hence the DPS decided to turn off the CCTV in the premises at between 1800 & 1830.

‘He also stated that CCTV was faulty prior and scheduled for repair.’

In the report, police found that the CCTV hard drive had been reformatted on the 30 November at 3:15pm with ‘no stored footage available before that time, or the preceding 31 days.’

Mr Bhattarai also claimed that he was contacted by representatives of Ora on Saturday 28 November at 5:30pm in ‘relation to holding an event inside the premises for “drinks and nibbles”‘ where they allegedly offered £5,000 to use the venue.

He said that due to staff being furloughed, he ‘attended the restaurant to facilitate the event’, admitting that he was ‘greedy’.

Mr Bhattarai added that the group attended the venue at 7pm with a planned 7-8 guests, however, by around 9pm, there were about 17 people, who brought their own alcohol to the restaurant, including bottles of Ora’s tequila brand.

He added that guests who attended the bash were supermodel Cara Delevingne and her actress sister Poppy. They were also both pictured at the event.

The document adds: ‘Mr Bhattarai was aware of the breach in COVID laws, taking full responsibility for facilitating this event without the knowledge of the licensee.’

Mr Bhattarai also stated that at the the time no payment had been taken, he was unwilling to pass on the organiser’s details.

Also in the document, police said that they arrived at the scene at 11:32pm after receiving allegations of a breach of Covid regulations.

Officers were unable to get a ‘clear view’ through windows, which were blacked out, but were able to spot through gaps mask-free attendees and glasses.

Police say that they knocked on windows and doors but got no response although music is said to have stopped.

Rita was caught twice flouting lockdown rules in November. The Mail On Sunday revealed that prior to her birthday bash, the singer flew by private jet to Cairo on November 21 to perform at the five-star W Hotel.

She returned the next day and under Government quarantine rules should have self-isolated for 14 days.

Instead of this, she threw a birthday party on November 28 at the exclusive Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill, West London.

For this she apologised with the following statement: ‘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.’

She paid the hefty £10k fine for breaching these protocols, having been reported to the police, who investigated the restaurant, which, to any passers-by, looked to be closed up.

She was also forced into another grovelling apology for breaching strict coronavirus rules by flying to Cairo and not isolating on return.

Rita 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.’

She added: ‘I hope to one day make it up to the public who have given me so much support over the years and, in particular, make it up to the heroes of the NHS…

‘In the meantime, I will be donating my fee from Egypt to charity. Be better than I have been and learn from my mistakes so you don’t have to learn the hard way yourselves.’

A spokesman for the star, estimated to be worth £10 million, said she and her team had all subsequently tested negative for coronavirus.

The apology did not go down well with stars such as Piers Morgan and Lorraine Kelly, who mocked her rule breaking antics on Good Morning Britain.  

Wishing Lorraine a happy birthday, co-host Susanna Reid said: ‘It’s a shame we can’t come give you a hug and a kiss, although you’re probably glad you can’t get one from Piers. Are you having a small get together?’

‘Yeah, it’s just what everyone is doing apart from Rita Ora,’ Lorraine replied.

Evidently appalled by Rita’s decision to host a party for people outside her immediate social bubble, Piers carped: ‘These celebs, I’ll do what I want and no one else matters, I don’t get it… what’s the restaurant doing allowing all those people in?’

Lorraine, who admitted she will celebrate her special day at home with husband Steve Smith, added: ‘I could have 61 people for 61? That would be quite nice when it’s all over.’

Police were called to Rita’s party in November and the Met Police gave a statement to MailOnline at the time.

They said: ‘Police were called at 21:10hrs on Saturday, 28 November to reports of a potential breach of Covid regulations at a commercial premises in Clarendon Road, W11.

‘Officers attended and carried out enquiries at the scene. They found no record of any offence being committed.’

Rita has not commented publicly on the new details that have been reported surrounding her birthday, but has courted the press with interviews about her new film, Twist, which has been universally panned by critics.  

Rita will now have two weeks in isolation ahead of her role on The Voice Australia. 

Although Rita is expected to follow Australia’s hotel quarantine rules, Hollywood stars, Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, were said to have been exempt, and instead spent the mandatory 14 days isolation in rented properties.

7News reported in September that Hanks, 64, who has been in Australia filming Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic, and film crew were allowed to isolate in a luxury resort at Broadbeach. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also confirmed Hanks was exempt from quarantine under the film industry’s COVID-safe plan.

While Damon’s, 50, immigration lawyer explained earlier this month that the actor had ‘privately arranged and funded’ his two-week isolation with his wife and children so as not to create ‘any burden to the Australian taxpayer whatsoever’.

The star, who is preparing to film Thor: Love and Thunder, is said to have initially quarantined for two weeks in a ski lodge in America, where he was tested for Covid-19 every three days.

Damon and his family then jetted to Australia in a private jet and moved into a rented house, where they are paying for their own private security, police monitoring, hospital-grade cleaning, staff, meals and regular medical checks.

Recently, a hoard of tennis players jetted to Australia and were in isolation ahead of the Australian Open, which will kick off in Melbourne on February 8. 

More than 1,000 players, coaches and officials were holed up for 14 days of isolation after jetting into the largely coronavirus-free country, with most allowed out for five hours of daily supervised training.

But 72 players were confined to their hotel rooms 24/7 after virus cases emerged on their flights over, forcing them to improvise training methods indoors – leading to a mini-rebellion spearheaded by Novak Djokovic which attracted little sympathy from Australians.

Djokovic was among a select group including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal who served their time in Adelaide rather than Melbourne ahead of exhibition matches in South Australia.

Seven-time Australian Open winner Serena, who needs one more Grand Slam title to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24, spent her two weeks indoors with her three-year-old daughter Olympia

‘I’m so glad the quarantine is over because to be in a room with a three-year-old and being her best friend is definitely difficult, especially after training and working out and then it’s like, oh my gosh, it never ends,’ she said.  

Aggressive restrictions on incoming travel have helped keep the coronavirus at bay in Australia, making it one of the few countries that is still able to have fans at sports events.

With thousands of Australians stranded abroad, the players’ arrival prompted some disquiet among the public, especially when some complained about their quarantine.

Some players claimed they had never been told that the two-week confinement was a possibility, while others complained about the food at their hotels.

Djokovic’s reported list of demands for the 72 confined players included a shorter quarantine period, permission for players to visit their coaches, and access to courts where they could train for the tournament.

But state premier Daniel Andrews said authorities would not bend the rules, telling the players that ‘there’s no special treatment here… because the virus doesn’t treat you specially, so neither do we.’

While Djokovic has been able to train in Adelaide, the 72 players confined in Melbourne were stuck in their hotel rooms 24 hours a day, after eight positive Covid-19 cases were detected on their charter flights to Australia.

Melbourne suffered a major resurgence of the virus during the Australian winter, but has since beaten it back, and Australia now sees only a handful of local cases a day.