Rita Ora‘s mother Vera was pictured visiting her daughter’s London home on Tuesday, a day after the singer apologised for hosting a 30th birthday party in defiance of lockdown rules.
Vera, 56, is a psychiatrist who returned to the NHS in March 2020 to support A&E doctors during the coronavirus pandemic.
It was during the UK’s second national lockdown on Saturday that singer Rita hosted a party in a Notting Hill restaurant to celebrate her 30th birthday.
Mum: Rita Ora’s mother Vera was pictured visiting her daughter’s London home on Tuesday, a day after the singer apologised for hosting a 30th birthday party during lockdown
On Monday Rita publicly apologised for what she called a ‘serious and inexcusable error of judgment’ and has been issued with a £10,000 fine.
Vera wore a mask as she walked to Rita’s house on Tuesday morning to see her daughter.
Rita has frequently spoken of her pride for her mother, who announced during the first lockdown in the Spring that she was returning to work, helping out on the frontline in A&E.
On Tuesday morning’s Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan pointed out Vera’s work with the NHS as he asked if the star had considered her mother’s sacrifice when she broke the lockdown rules.
Party: Rita hosted a party in a Notting Hill restaurant to celebrate her 30th birthday on Saturday night and has since been slapped with a £10k fine (Rita pictured outside the restaurant on Saturday)
NHS worker: Vera, 56, is a psychiatrist who returned to the NHS in March 2020 to support A&E doctors during the coronavirus pandemic
Piers said: ‘This Rita Ora thing annoyed me because suddenly she’s “deeply sorry” and volunteered to pay the £10,000 fine – which will barely touch the sides of her pocket money.
‘What is she “deeply sorry” about? She knew what she was doing, we are in a national lockdown – it’s not a secret!
‘She’s a very rich pop star and she deliberately planned a 30th birthday party – I don’t know what the restaurant was thinking, so how are you able to do that? And why were you doing that?’
He added: ‘You plan a 30th birthday like that, you turn up, invite all your famous buddies, you party and have a great night – the police come and bang on the door.
Visit: Vera wore a mask as she walked to Rita’s house on Tuesday morning to see her daughter
“‘I’m deeply sorry’, what about? You’re not deeply sorry – you’re deeply sorry you got caught! That’s what you’re “deeply sorry” about.
Piers later said: ‘Her mother’s a health worker! She spent most of the first wave of the pandemic speaking about her pride for the health service.
“She even launched a coronavirus range of clothing saying “stop the spread”… And then she invites [30] of her mates for her lockdown-breaking 30th birthday.
‘It’s exhausting keeping up with these people, it’s just so selfish.’
I’m sorry: On Monday Rita apologised for what she called a ‘serious and inexcusable error of judgment’ in going to the party during national lockdown, where no social mixing is allowed indoors.
Work: Rita has frequently spoken of her pride for her mother, who announced during the first lockdown in the Spring that she was returning to work, helping out on the frontline in A&E
Police were called to Rita’s party and the Met Police gave a statement to MailOnline.
They penned: ‘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.’
Lockdown is set to end on Wednesday, with London entering a slightly more relaxed Tier Two system which will allow people to return to pubs and drink if they order food.
Error of judgement: Rita pictured joining friends at a swanky London restaurant for her 30th birthday on Saturday night
The venue: Francois Perrodo, 43, who with his mother Carrie are among Britain’s richest business bosses with their £5.8billion fortune, is the majority shareholder in Casa Cruz
On Monday Rita apologised for what she called a ‘serious and inexcusable error of judgment’ in going to the party during national lockdown, where no social mixing is allowed indoors.
Writing on Instagram, Rita said: ‘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.
Letting her hair down: Miss Ora, who had on a white satin dress and a fur-lined coat, wore a mask as she left after ‘partying into the early hours’ with her sister Elena
‘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.’
In pictures obtained by The Sun, Cara and Poppy Delevingne as well as TOWIE star Vas Morgan, 31, and Rita’s sister Elena, 32, are seen at the venue.
It was reported that there were 30 guests at the party but MailOnline understands there were seven.
A source told the publication: ‘Rita and her sister came to the restaurant first, all dolled up and clearly looking forward to a good night.
‘There were a number of guests, all dressed up very glamorously, and everyone entered the building through the back, with security watching the front to make sure no one else went in. It went on until the early hours.’
The restaurant’s director Nicholas Fallows also told The Sun that he hadn’t been aware of any plans for an event and the restaurant was ‘owned by shareholders’.
Current government guidelines say that people ‘minimise the time spent outside their home’ and avoid meeting others who they do not live with.
People should also avoid physical contact; being close and face-to-face; and shouting or singing close to others who do not share a home with you or who are not in the same support bubble.
Guidelines brought in with the national lockdown on November 5 also state that people must ‘not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household, meaning the people you live with, or your support bubble’.
Restaurants are also currently closed except for takeaway meals, with any breaking of these guidelines possibly ending up with a fine.
The rules are set to change on December 2, with many restrictions being dependent on which Tier the location ends up being in.
In London restaurants and cafes will be able to open from Wednesday. Pubs and bars