As for her first name, the singer was apparently named after classic film star, Rita Hayworth. This influence may have just come from her grandfather. Yep, while Rita’s mother Vera is a psychiatrist and her father Besnik is a pub owner, her grandfather, Besim, was quite the big film director back in Yugoslavia.
And it’s clear that the 30-year-old had a touchingly close relationship with her grandfather. In 2013, the Ritual singer shared a tribute to him on Instagram, writing, "I miss you grandad....Besim Sahatciu. I love you. You made me believe this was possible. Your stories your movies we had so much fun dressing up. You believed in me before I even did. Dam you were such a Gangsta. Don't get into any trouble up there. Love Rita Pita."
When did Rita Ora move to London?
Rita’s family moved to Notting Hill in West London when she was just a baby, in the year 1991. The family fled Kosovo for political reasons – Albanians were being persecuted due to the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Speaking to The Sun in 2012, Rita was overcome with gratitude for her situation, telling the publication she was “lucky” that her parents “left early."
That same year, The Voice coach gushed to the Evening Standard about her experience growing up around Portobello Road, saying, “I love that everyone knows each other there, it’s a real community."
But Rita hasn’t forgotten her roots by any means, telling The Sun that she still speaks her birth-country’s language and that she remains a big proponent of Kosovan music.
WATCH: Rita Ora is 'fearful' about her mum being on the Covid frontline (Article continues after video)
“I can speak fluent Albanian because we spoke it in the house. I’ve been back to Kosovo quite a lot. When someone expands to do something out of our country it’s a big deal because there aren’t many opportunities, unfortunately," she explained.
Clearly proud of her heritage, Rita told the publication that she wished she “could translate Kosovan music into (her) album."
“I tried but it doesn’t work yet. I’ll do it though. And I definitely want to play shows over there in the future and raise some money.”
Why has Rita Ora gotten into trouble over her heritage?
In the past, Rita has faced backlash after being accused of “blackfishing” (changing one’s appearance via bronzer, tanning, etc. to appear black or mixed race), as well as cultural appropriation after wearing traditionally Black hairstyles like box braids, cornrows and an afro.
In 2016, American talk show host Wendy Williams told Rita that she thought she was “half-black”, to which the Black Widow singer replied, “Everybody usually does. I might as well be. But no, I’m Albanian."
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