Taika Waititi's Surprising Love Story: How Rita Ora Swept Him Off His Feet with a Proposal

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora. Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora, who got married a year ago, decided to reveal some information about their private wedding. On August 4, 2022, they celebrated their first anniversary and Waititi described the experience as "beautiful." He mentioned that they opted for a small gathering with close friends, avoiding the typical wedding complications such as table settings. They preferred a simple and stress-free ceremony.

Waititi clarified that the previous speculation regarding his and Ora's engagement was inaccurate. Contrary to reports, the proposal did not take place in London or France. Instead, it happened in L.A. among a close-knit circle of friends.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Waititi was not the one who initiated the proposal. Rather, it was Ora who took the initiative. Waititi happily accepted her proposal without hesitation. This romantic moment occurred while the couple was enjoying a vacation in Palm Springs.

In early 2021, Ora and Waititi were first linked when they were seen hanging out with Idris Elba and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, in Sydney, Australia. Later that same year, the couple made their first public appearance together on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of The Suicide Squad.

When asked about her relationship with Waititi in September 2021, Ora shared with Vogue Australia, "I'm in a really good place in my life, and that's all I'll say on the matter. I believe privacy is important and I've learned a lot in my twenties."

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora. Rob Latour/Shutterstock

While keeping their romance relatively low-key, Waititi recently unveiled a new tattoo of the letter "R" as a tribute to his wife. In February, he shared a video of the tattoo being done on his hand, followed by a photo of the final result. In a playful manner, Waititi joked in the post, "I love Rugby."

In the comments section, Waititi's friends engaged in playful speculation about the meaning behind the letter "R." Samba Schutte, his Our Flag Means Death costar, humorously suggested, "R for 'Roach.' Truly appreciate that." Luke Hemsworth, on the other hand, playfully guessed, "Racketball? Rounders? Robin Hood?"

Another social media user pointed out that Waititi's tattoo was on his right hand, jokingly saying, "I mistakenly thought it was meant to indicate your right hand."

Prior to marrying Waititi, Ora had been romantically linked to Rob Kardashian, Calvin Harris, and Andrew Garfield. Her relationship with filmmaker Romain Gavras ended in March 2021 after over a year together. As for Waititi, he divorced Chelsea Winstanley in 2018 after a seven-year marriage, and they have two daughters together.