Rita Ora pursued a singing career to “make her parents happy”, as she wants to make "loads of money" so that her parents never have to work again.
Rita Ora pursued a singing career to “make her parents happy”.
The 30-year-old singer has admitted her parents, Vera and Besnik, are the “driving force” behind her desire to “make loads of money” from her career, because she wanted to make sure they never have to work again after sacrificing so much when they first moved to the UK from Kosovo when Rita was young.
She said: “I wanted to make them happy. I didn’t want them to ever work again. [When the family first arrived in Britain] my dad was working three jobs at once and my mum didn’t speak any English and was learning how to be a doctor and beating breast cancer all at the same time.
“I was like, ‘I want to make loads of money so I can make sure that they’re happy.’ That was my driving force for a long time. I wanted to create a world where I was untouchable, I could basically have whatever I wanted and give my parents whatever they wanted. And now they’re happy and healthy, they do not leave me alone! They call me every five minutes, I’m like, ‘Go away!’ ”
When asked what her parents last called her for, the ‘Girls’ hitmaker said they both want her to buy them the latest iPhone.
She quipped: “The new iPhone! They’re like, ‘So, Rita, the new iPhone came out … ’ I’m like, ‘I know …’.”
And whilst Rita’s parents are thankful for her chart-topping career, her friends don’t think she’s famous.
Asked by The Sunday Times’ Style magazine if she’s the only famous one in her friend group, she said: “Well, they don’t think I am. They’re like, ‘Oh my God, shut up!’ I’m like, ‘Guys, look what I did today.’ Don’t care. I’m like, ‘This person is cute.’ Don’t care. That’s what I love about them.”
Olly Alexander shows off his journey of self-love in the video for Years & Years' newest single 'Starstruck'; the lead track from his forthcoming...
Eight songs about female power that you definitely need to hear right now.
Shirley Manson is well known for her vocal political views, and she takes no prisoners with Garbage's latest single 'The Men Who Rule The World'.
The biggest names in music royalty.
Why has pop-punk made a 2020s resurgence?
One of the most diverse line-ups we've seen for a major awards show in a while.
They say that marriage can sometimes destroy a couple's sexual chemistry - but that is...
When Ana and Christian had their first fateful meeting, neither party knew much about the...
Slick direction and meaty performances may be enough for some viewers, but this boxing drama's...
The life of a boxer has never been easy, but for heavyweight champion, Billy Hope...
After all the hype, it's impossible not to expect steam from this adaptation of E.L....
When reserved college girl Anastasia Steele meets mysterious businessman Christian Grey for an interview, she...
Sometimes, a single favour to a friend can end up changing you entirely. When a...
Budding journalist and college student Anastasia Steele has never been the adventurous type in any...
Anastasia Steele is a shy college student who is forced to interview an enigmatic entrepreneur...
When young college student Anastasia Steele meets a mysterious wealthy businessman named Christian Grey, she...
Made in America Festival is an annual music event founded by rapper and businessman Jay-Z...