Singer Rita Ora to pay RM55,000 fine for birthday party during lockdown

Rita Ora said on Instagram that she had held 'a small gathering with some friends to celebrate my 30th birthday'. Photo: AFP

British singer Rita Ora apologised Monday (Nov 30) for breaking lockdown rules by holding a birthday party, saying it was "a serious and inexcusable error of judgment.”

The Sun newspaper ran photos of Ora and others, including models Cara and Poppy Delevingne, arriving at the Casa Cruz restaurant in London’s Notting Hill area on Saturday (Nov 28).

Under lockdown rules that end Wednesday (Dec 2), all pubs and restaurants in Britain must close except for takeout and delivery, and people are barred from meeting indoors with members of other households.

Police in Britain can issue fines of up to £10,000 (RM55,000) for breaches of the lockdown curbs.

Ora said on Instagram that she had held "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,” she wrote.

Ora said she now realised "how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility".

Reports of the party attracted widespread criticism.

Asked about the event, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman, Jamie Davies, said it was "important that everybody in society sets an example by following the rules. That is for every member of the public, including celebrities.”(backslash)

Britain has Europe's worst coronavirus death toll, at over 58,000 people. – AP