Rita Ora is making a number of major career moves.
Rumors hit the wire last night that the singer had departed The X Factor UK judging panel.
The explanation given? Ora is on the cusp of signing a lucrative new record deal and that the recording of her new album doesn’t align with the show’s shooting schedule.
Fast forward to this morning and the 25-year-old has confirmed the news – in part.
Details below…
Moments ago on Twitter, the five-time chart-topper shared the following:
I had a ball on @TheXFactor last year and will miss the team.
— Rita Ora (@RitaOra) May 10, 2016
After a successful debut last year, she follows fellow panelist Cheryl Fernandez-Versini in leaving the hit ITV show.
Sources close to the situation report that the ‘Body On Me’ belter is specifically about to sign with Warner Music (home to Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran).
The news suggests she’s nearing the end of her legal wrangle with Jay Z‘s Roc Nation, who she sued in December for neglecting her music career. They have since countersued, though that was said to be more of a legal necessity to cover a number of backs.
Seemingly omnipresent in the media, the star attributes much of that to her management team – which never was the Roc.
Still, in making lemonade out of the situation, she’s carved out a successful acting run.
Word has it she’s wrapping up filming of ’50 Shades Darker’ in Vancouver, Canada and will thereafter push music with a renewed vigour.
A source summed up the situation as such:
“Music is Rita’s number one passion and the new record deal which she is in the final stages of agreeing will enable her to finally release new music.
Her plan is to record immediately, have music released for later this year and then tour the album. That means Rita is unable to do X Factor this year.
Rita loved working with Simon and learned a lot from him. She hopes they’ll work together again in the future.
But it’s just not logistically possible as Rita’s music and film career is now taking up the rest of her year.”
Sounds like a plan.
We’re excited to see a focussed music roll-out from her.
With an equal balance of fans and critics, now really is the time for her to show, prove, and impact in a way that isn’t debatable.
The ball’s in her court.
Good on her.
Wow, Calvin was correct! She really is a fighter and hard worker despite the messiness. Well, you can’t keep a woman like that down for too long, so I’ll be waiting for the new pop jams.
It’s never gonna happen for this h**.
Sign to Warner for what? She’s just gonna flop.
Rita, YOU WILL NEVER HAPPEN! I have nothing against her and I’m far from being a “HATER”. However it doesn’t matter who she is signed to the public is more interested in your (public persona, romance, and looks… Superficial things). It’s been at least 4 years now and you have yet to deliver on any level. Thumbs me up or down.. I spoke the truth!
No Rita and no Cheryl, I can finally watch XFactor again.
Factor has been rubbish since 2009 when we were blessed with the best duet and winner (although had glimmers with Hannah Barrett) i’m also not a fan of Ora.
I’m surprised that she’s being signed in the U.S as she has no real fanbase and now only known for the “Becky” and met gown promo
ok Becky
Who cares about this TRASH?
You do Flopie that’s why you’re here
for the life of I’ve never seen it for her and I want too but I just don’t
Come through Queen Rita, get that album out with all the fire songs you have been hiding from Sony and Roc Nation. C Factor is dead, you gave the format live when you mentored Queen Louisa.
she was better off getting paid for xfactor, safe money. no one is checking for her music and she will never make it in the states.Dumb part on her move honestly but good luck
Good for her
She can SANG! She had so much soul in her voice. She’ll be an established artist yall messy miserable f****** can shut the hell up