The Unconventional Love Story of Rita Ora and Taika Waititi: A Fascinating Relationship Journey

In February 2022, Taika Waititi, the director of Thor: Ragnarok, shared a photo on Instagram of himself and girlfriend Rita Ora, revealing that they fell in love after choosing to take their friendship to a new level. Waititi described the photo as the first snapshot from the night they met four years ago, expressing their ongoing friendship. However, a year ago, they decided to complicate things, only to find that it made their relationship even more effortless. Waititi ended the caption by wishing his bestie a Happy Valentine's Day.

Waititi and Ora were first rumored to be dating in early 2021 when they were seen spending time with Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina in Sydney, Australia. According to The Sun, they had reportedly been together since March. Additionally, Ora was frequently seen with the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder, leading to speculation that she had a role in the film. However, it was later confirmed that she did not appear in the movie.

Their relationship remained low-key for several months until May 2021 when they were caught cuddling and kissing Tessa Thompson during an outing in Australia, garnering media attention.

Although she did not publicly address the PDA-filled trip, the "For You" singer had previously disclosed her bisexuality in June 2018. In an interview with Porter magazine, she stated, "I am attracted to both men and women." The situation becomes complex as both Janelle and I value our privacy, but also want to utilize our platform and influence while maintaining personal space.

Ora further expressed, "I desire for others to experience the freedom and support that my loved ones have given me. Unfortunately, many people do not have that same privilege. Therefore, is it my responsibility to discuss this publicly? Is it my duty to reveal that this person is my significant other?"

The director of JoJo Rabbit, on his part, dismissed the significance of the photos. In June 2021, one month after they went viral, he expressed that in the realm of the internet, things quickly fade away. "No, it's not really a big deal," he stated. "I was not doing anything wrong. It's completely fine."

After two months, Ora and Waititi appeared together as a couple for the first time on the red carpet at The Suicide Squad premiere in Los Angeles. When questioned about their relationship in September 2021 by Vogue Australia, the Westworld actress responded, "I am in a fantastic place in my life, and that's all I'll say about it. I believe privacy is important and I have learned a lot in my 20s."

Scroll down to see a comprehensive timeline of Ora and Waititi's relationship.

Credit: Ash Knotek/Shutterstock

From 'Bestie' to Beau: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi's Relationship Timeline

Taking their relationship to the next level. Taika Waititi and girlfriend Rita Ora fell in love after deciding to "complicate" their friendship, according to the director.

"This is the very first photo taken on the night we met four years ago," wrote the director of Thor: Ragnarok on Instagram in February 2022. The picture shows the director and the singer happily posing with one leg against a wall. "We have been friends ever since. Then, a year ago, we decided to complicate things, but it ended up making everything easier. Happy Valentine's Day to my best friend."

Waititi and Ora were first romantically linked in early 2021, shortly after they were seen spending time with Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina in Sydney, Australia. The Sun reported at the time that the couple had been together since March. Ora, who is a judge on The Voice Australia, was also often photographed with the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder during that period. Although there were rumors that she had a role in the blockbuster film, Ora does not appear in it.

The couple had been keeping their relationship under the radar for several months. However, in May 2021, their romance caught the attention of the media when they were spotted affectionately cuddling and kissing Tessa Thompson during an outing in Australia.

Although the "For You" singer chose not to publicly address their PDA-filled trip, she had previously revealed her bisexuality in June 2018. During an interview with Porter magazine, she stated, "I'm attracted to both men and women." She also expressed the challenges of maintaining privacy while utilizing her platform and influence, as both she and Janelle value their personal space and being private individuals.

Ora expressed her desire for others to experience the same freedom and support she receives from her loved ones. However, she acknowledged that many individuals do not have this privilege. She questioned her responsibility to discuss this matter publicly and whether she should openly acknowledge her relationship.

In contrast, the JoJo Rabbit director dismissed the significance of the photos, stating that they were not a major issue. In June 2021, one month after the images gained widespread attention, he commented that in the realm of the internet, things tend to fade away swiftly. He emphasized that he had done nothing wrong and considered the situation to be inconsequential.

Two months later, Ora and Waititi publicly appeared as a couple for the first time on the red carpet at The Suicide Squad premiere in Los Angeles. When asked about their relationship in an interview with Vogue Australia in September 2021, the Westworld actress stated, "I'm in a happy place in my life, and that's all I want to say about it. I believe privacy is important and should be respected... I've learned a lot during my 20s."

Before being romantically involved with the Oscar winner, Ora had been linked to Rob Kardashian, Calvin Harris, and Andrew Garfield. Her relationship with filmmaker Romain Gavras ended in March 2021 after more than one year together. Waititi, on the other hand, ended his seven-year marriage to Chelsea Winstanley in 2018 and they have two daughters together.

Keep scrolling to see Ora and Waititi's complete relationship timeline:

Credit: Courtesy of Rita Ora/Instagram

2018

The duo originally hit it off in 2018 and, as the What We Do in the Shadows creator wrote in February 2022, "We've been mates ever since."

Credit: Courtesy of Rita Ora/Instagram

April 2021

The Sun initially broke the news about the romance between the well-known singer of "Your Song" and Waititi during the spring of 2021. In that very same month, Ors publicly shared an Instagram photo, capturing an intimate moment with the accomplished screenwriter.

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May 2021

Ora and Waititi were spotted engaging in public displays of affection (PDA) alongside Thor star Thompson during an Australian outing. Captured by the Daily Mail, photographs depict the director embracing both women and exchanging kisses with each of them. In an additional snapshot, the trio seemed to lean in for a group kiss.

Credit: Courtesy of Rita Ora/Instagram

August 2021

The couple had their first public appearance together on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Suicide Squad. Later, Ora took to Instagram to share various photos from her boyfriend's 46th birthday celebrations, where she can be seen presenting Waititi with a birthday cake and enjoying the company of famous friends such as Rami Malek and Kristen Stewart.

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

September 2021

The musician known as "R.I.P." affectionately embraced Waititi and exchanged multiple kisses with him as they gracefully walked down the red carpet at the esteemed 2021 Met Gala. In a subsequent interview with Vogue Australia, Ora expressed her profound contentment and satisfaction with her current life situation.

Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

November 2021

Waititi played the role of Instagram boyfriend at the 2021 MTV EMAs in Budapest, taking photos of Ora on his phone as she posed on the red carpet.

Credit: CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

February 2022

"Wow! I am incredibly proud of this individual!" Waititi expressed his enthusiasm on Instagram, attaching screenshots that revealed Ora's recent appointment in Disney+'s Beauty and the Beast prequel series. (Unfortunately, the series was later canceled.)

Credit: Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

February 2022

Later that month, he made it official, revealing that the couple had been together for a full year. In a heartfelt Valentine's Day Instagram post, he poured out his love for Ora. In response, Ora also expressed her affection, sharing a collection of sweet snapshots from their time together and captioning it with a grateful message: "Thank you for always being amazing. You never fail to entertain me. Happy Valentine's Day, my bestie ❤️."

Credit: Evan Agostini/AP/Shutterstock

March 2022

The Our Flag Means Death star was photographed carrying and arranging the train of his girlfriend's dress as they arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in late March. 

Credit: Ash Knotek/Shutterstock

July 2022

Congratulations to @taikawaititi and the entire team of Thor on their well-deserved success! Ora shared her excitement via Instagram before the premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder, accompanied by some adorable photos from the event. Witnessing the immense effort put into this project, I urge everyone to watch it on Friday and experience the magic firsthand.

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July 2022

Two days after the fourth Thor film was released, Ora and Waititi celebrated by enjoying the final matches at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in England. 

Credit: MEGA

August 2022

The couple secretly got married in an intimate wedding ceremony after one year of dating, according to multiple outlets. In a Vogue interview a year later, the twosome confirmed that they tied the knot on August 4, 2022, in a ceremony held at their Los Angeles home. It was revealed that Ora was the one who proposed to Waititi. "She asked me during our vacation in Palm Springs in the summer of 2022, and I immediately said yes," he reminisced.

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

September 2022

During an episode of the "Greatest Night Ever" podcast, Ora expressed her adoration for her husband. She exclaimed, "I am deeply in love, truly in love," and described the Thor: Love and Thunder director as a "wonderful" individual.

The singer of "Let You Love Me" also shared her lifelong desire for a fairytale-like love story, which she happily found with Taika. She concluded by giving a shoutout to her beloved husband, saying, "I love you, Taika! Much love to you!"

Credit: Ian West/PA Images/INSTARimages./Cover Images

November 2022

The happy couple cohosted the 29th MTV Europe Music Awards in Dusseldorf, Germany, after walking the red carpet together.

Credit: Courtesy of Taika Waititi/Instagram

November 2022

“Happy Birthday Bird,” Waititi captioned an Instagram tribute to his partner in Albanian, a nod to the “Your Song” artist’s upbringing in Kosovo.

Credit: Courtesy of Vogue/YouTube

November 2022

The couple divulged details about their initial encounter during an interview with Vogue. Ora elaborated, stating, "We were introduced in L.A. through mutual friends, and it was truly incredible." The Our Flag Means Death actor chimed in, explaining that they were actually "friends for several years" prior to embarking on a romantic relationship. "It started off quite casually. We remained friends for about four or five years... It just happened naturally. While both working on separate projects in Australia, we spent time together and everything fell into place." They attended a friend's birthday celebration, which solidified their connection.

Waititi, on his end, couldn't help but express his admiration for his partner's romantic nature. "Rita has an extraordinary talent for giving thoughtful gifts and anticipating the needs of others," he shared.

Credit: Courtesy Rita Ora/Instagram

January 2023

"I'M BACK! You Only Love Me XX/01/23 #RO3," exclaimed the singer in a joyful Instagram video. Amidst the mesmerizing fireworks display, the artist shared a passionate kiss with Waititi, while her captivating new song set the perfect backdrop.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock; Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock; CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

January 2023

In an interview with GQ Hype, Ora revealed her decision to remain silent regarding the photographs of her in a close and casual setting with Waititi and Thompson. She deemed the situation as absurd and chose not to acknowledge it. Ora explained that when faced with such extreme circumstances, it is best to disregard them. She emphasized her approach of diverting energy away from situations that are nonexistent, as attempting to explain something that never occurred only fuels nothingness.

Ora continued, "Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you've had numerous drinks and suddenly everyone around you becomes your best friend? And then the following day, you're left pondering, 'I must have talked to this individual in the smoking area for hours, but I have absolutely no recollection of who they are?' It was exactly like that - the [photo] depicted a group of friends simply having a wonderful time. Taika and Tessa had a hectic schedule, and everyone was just letting loose. I absolutely adore that. Everyone has their own way of enjoying themselves."

Credit: Youtube

January 2023

The British singer, who portrays a bride in her music video for "You Only Love Me," verified that she and Waititi have indeed gotten married, thus confirming previous rumors. "Yes, I am married. I am now officially off the market, everyone!" she announced during a guest appearance on Heart Breakfast radio. "I opted for a more private approach and decided to keep it to myself. However, in my new video, I explore the concept of what might have been."

Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

February 2023

During her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ora revealed her ring for the first time, expressing her love and considering Fallon a significant part of her relationship. "I haven't actually shown anyone my ring, it's my first time showing my ring and because I love you and I feel like you're a part of our relationship … ​Look here it is," she said proudly, displaying her stunning emerald and gold wedding band. Playfully, the singer also joked about possibly guiding her husband in choosing the ring, stating, "You know what you want and I felt like I really knew I wanted to be with this person and I just wanted it to feel really right. So I may have taken him to the shop and pointed out exactly what ring I wanted."

Credit: NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

April 2023

The “Praising You” songstress recalled how meeting Waititi helped her regain self-confidence after years of struggles.

After struggling to assert myself and be heard throughout my journey in the industry, I found that my confidence and hope began to dwindle. I was in a really low place. However, I faced a pivotal moment where I had to make a choice: either let my circumstances consume me or rise above them. I chose the latter. Determined to overcome these challenges, I embarked on a journey to Australia to join The Voice. It was there that I encountered someone who would forever change my life - Taika, who is now my husband.

Experiencing a love like I had never felt before, I found solace in putting pen to paper and documenting my emotions. It was at that moment I realized it was time to return to my passion for making music. And now, here we are.

Ora’s third album, You & I, is scheduled for a July 2023 release.