Rita Ora and Laurence Fox have been warned to follow lockdown rules by Downing Street today after they have been found to be in breach of the current restrictions.
Pop star Rita was pictured outside Notting Hill restaurant Casa Cruz on Saturday night, where she was joined by her sister Elena and celebs including Vas Morgan and sisters Cara and Poppy Delevigne.
While Laurence told his Twitter followers that he’d invited friends round to lunch on Sunday where they ‘hugged, ate and put the world to rights.’
When asked if celebrities should be setting an example by following the rules, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The PM has been clear of the need for everybody across the country to continue to abide by the rules to reduce the transmission of the virus. It’s up to the police to decide what action to take.”
Asked about Ora’s party, they added: “Throughout the pandemic we have been clear that it’s vital for everyone to abide by the rules in order to suppress the virus and reduce the transmission.
“Enforcement… is for the police and they will enforce the rules in an appropriate and proportionate manner.”
After pictures emerged of Rita’s rule-breaking bash, the star volunteered to pay a £10,000 fine and issued a grovelling public apology on her Instagram.
The Prime Minister’s comments also came in response to the actor Laurence Fox who bragged about breaking the lockdown restrictions on his social media.
Current lockdown rules have banned social gatherings and mixing of households between November 5 and December 2 following a surge in infections of Covid-19.
Laurence, who describes himself as a ‘fierce liberal’, took to Twitter on Sunday to boast about his flouting of the restrictions.
The dad told his 255,000 followers that if the NHS couldn’t cope then it was not ‘fit for purpose’.
He penned: “Just had a large group over to lunch and we hugged and ate and talked and put the world to rights.
“It was lovely. You’ll never take that away from people.
“Stay out. Protect your rights.
“If the @nhs can’t cope, then the @nhs isn’t fit for purpose. Compliance is violence,” he shared.
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Laurence’s brag was slammed by Twitter users who branded the actor ‘irresponsible and selfish.’
While Rita Ora’s name was also trending on the social media site today as user shared their disgust at her party.
“30-years-old and behaving like a spoilt child! You don’t think the COVID lockdown rules apply to you? You’re happy to risk spreading the disease for your own selfish vanity? Shame on you!!!”
Following the backlash, Rita issued an apology on Instagram.
She penned: “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.”