PIERS Morgan has slammed Rita Ora’s apology, insisting that she is “only sorry she got caught” after the singer flouted lockdown rules to throw a 30th birthday party with a group of friends at a Notting Hill restaurant.
The Good Morning Britain presenter also asked: “What does her mum think about this?” as he pointed out that the star had previously shared her pride in the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic after her doctor mother had returned to the frontline.
Speaking on today’s instalment of the ITV breakfast show, 55-year-old Piers seethed: “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?”
Continuing his rant, Piers 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.
“If they’re all doing that, if the rules aren’t for them, then what’s the point of the rules?
“‘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. If you hadn’t been caught would you be issuing a statement saying: ‘I’ve just woken up and realised what I did was terribly wrong and I’m deeply sorry’?
“She said: ‘I thought lockdown was about to end and it’d be fine… So you knew there was a lockdown, otherwise you wouldn’t have thought it was about to come to an end.”
Susanna Reid agreed: “Also, even when lockdown comes to an end it’s still against the rules to have 30 people come together.”
Later in the show, Piers continued: “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.
“What does your mum think about this?”
Piers concluced: “It’s exhausting keeping up with these people, it’s just so selfish.”
The TV favourite isn’t the only one to have been left unimpressed by Rita’s statement, which she issued yesterday, with fans slamming the apology as “ridiculous and fake”.
Trending In The News exclusively revealed that Rita had offered to pay a £10k fine after throwing an “inexcusable” birthday bash – but it hasn’t appeased her followers.
Writing on Instagram yesterday, the singer had 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.
“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.”
Thirty people attended the secret bash at a restaurant in West London on Saturday [28 November].
Showbiz pals were among those gathered at posh Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill, including Cara Delevingne .
Rita’s sister Elena, 32, Towie pal Vas Morgan, 31, and others were seen sneaking through the back exit clutching bottles of alcohol including Rita’s own-brand tequila.
At one stage, police visited the restaurant, with officers seen peering through the windows and trying to open a heavy-duty security door.
A source said: “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.”
Nicholas Fallows, who is listed as the sole director of Casa Cruz London Ltd, insisted it was the first he’d heard about it. He said the restaurant was “owned by shareholders”.
The Government imposed a national lockdown from November 5 until December 2 in a bid to prevent social gatherings and mixing of households.
Rules state people must stay at home and avoid meeting others they do not live with.
Restaurants should remain closed except for takeaway meals. Breaches can result in hefty fines.
