‘Shame on you ITV!’ Rita Ora dazzles in red during pre-recorded Dancing On Ice performance… but fans SLAM ‘outrageous’ decision to feature lockdown-flouting star

• Despite Rita putting on a dazzling display in a red suit for the Valentine’s Day-themed show many weren’t impressed with the show giving her publicity
• Rita threw a lockdown-flouting 30th birthday party on November 28 at the exclusive Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill – but was caught
• The party came amid another rule break, as she had previously flown by private jet to Cairo on November 21, and failed to isolate upon her return to the UK
• The star is now in Australia as she prepares to start work on The Voice 

Rita Ora performed her new single, Bang Bang, on ITV’s Dancing On Ice on Sunday.

Yet fans of the show were sure to hit Twitter to slam the channel’s decision to feature the star – who is still relatively freshly embroiled in scandal following her lockdown-flouting 30th birthday party just weeks ago.

Despite Rita putting on a dazzling display in a red suit for the Valentine’s Day-themed show many weren’t impressed with the primetime show giving her publicity.

Not amused: Rita Ora performed her new single, Bang Bang, on ITV’s Dancing On Ice on Sunday. Yet fans of the show were sure to hit Twitter to slam the channel’s decision to feature the star

There was also confusion given that Rita is currently in Australia, with Dancing On Ice being a live show and hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield passing the song off as if it were in real-time.

Tweets rolled in slamming ITV, with one viewer posting: ‘What the hell @ITV why are you allowing Rita Ora on TV??? Blatantly disregarding our NHS she doesn’t deserve a platform #dancingonice!’

Another penned: ‘Rita Ora – seriously?! Breaking lockdown rules over and over but still getting airtime?’

‘#DancingOnIce did we really have to listen to RitaOra tonight. COVID-19 is spreading all around us thanks to rule breakers. ITV should not promote this,’ someone else seethed.

Over it? Rita is still relatively freshly embroiled in scandal following her lockdown-flouting 30th birthday party just weeks ago

Got a new single out have you? Despite Rita putting on a dazzling display in a red suit for the Valentine’s Day-themed show many weren’t impressed with the primetime show giving her publicity

Lady in red: Viewers were left slightly baffled, given that the show is live and Rita is in Australia for The Voice, proving her performance must have been a pre-record

‘OUTRAGED to see Rita Ora perform on DOI tonight! Shame on you ITV! You should not be supporting somebody who has flouted the rules and broken lockdown. How much did you pay her for this performance?? Insensitive and not clever,’ raged another.

‘@dancingonice how you can justify @RitaOra promoting her new single when she broke lockdown rules and we are all still suffering!’ another posted, as someone else agreed: ‘@ITV giving @RitaOra a platform to further increase the wealth she abused against the NHS!’

Another penned, ‘What’s worse is that @dancingonice and ITV paid her to perform… that’s how she paid all her £10,000 fines!’ referring to the fine Rita incurred for the rule break.

Tweets rolled in slamming ITV, with one viewer posting: ‘What the hell @ITV why are you allowing Rita Ora on TV??? Blatantly disregarding our NHS she doesn’t deserve a platform #dancingonice!’

Some backed up Rita’s appearance, however, with one writing: ‘I’m not defending what she did, it wasn’t right, but I’m defending her right to perform on television and actually have a career!’

‘I thought Rita was brilliant and looked fabulous. Loved her outfit!!!’ another penned.

A third posted: ‘@RitaOra Amazing as always! So good to see you back performing on tv! You were brilliant!’  

A fourth penned: ‘You look great and your performance and new song was brilliant. Stuck in my head already!’

Rita threw a birthday party on November 28 at the exclusive Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill but was caught out. She was branded ‘selfish’ by British police as a result.

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

Centre stage: Rita wore an all-red ensemble for the performance

Chic: She wore a diamonte-studded mini-dress and red tights

Red-y to go! She added an oversized red blazer

Songstress: She showed off a strawberry blonde mane which she wore in waves around her shoulders

She returned the next day and under Government quarantine rules should have self-isolated for 14 days. Instead, she had her party.

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. 

In her defense: Some backed up Rita’s appearance, however

‘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.’ 

The infamous birthday party at Casa Cruz saw Rita branded ‘selfish’, being fined £10,000, the manager of the restaurant sacked and the venue facing losing its licence.

Making matters worse, she had previously pretended on social media that she was simply spending her birthday quietly with her parents, even quoted in a prior interview with The Times saying the same thing. 

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.

Rule breaker: It comes after Rita was branded  ‘selfish’ for holding a lockdown-flouting 30th birthday bash at London restaurant Casa Cruz in November [pictured on her birthday]

I’m sorry: Rita offered an apology on social media and said she felt ‘particularly embarrassed’ after her party was revealed

‘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.’

Rita has now jetted to Australia, where she will be filming The Voice over the next few months. 

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