A Complete Timeline of Rita Ora and Taika Waititi's Romance

Updated on 10/12/2023 at 4:45 PM

Rita Ora wasn't always sure that her relationship with Taika Waititi would work, though all the signs were there from the start. "We clicked straight away," Ora recalled in a July 10 interview with The Line of Best Fit, referencing when they first met. "We just really connected on our families and our work ethic. It was like there was no one else at the party, and then it was like, 'Oh my gosh, the sun's coming up. What's going on?'" Still, the pair didn't get together until years later. "We remained really good friends, but I had butterflies — it was a surprise, but I felt comfortable. Safe," she continued.

Eventually, though, they found their way to one another, and today, they seem to work well creatively in addition to romantically. In July, Waititi directed Ora's music video for her song "Don't Think Twice," which Ora said "is about not thinking twice and just jumping in, romantically. You only live once." She added, "So it's really about seizing the moment, and not being held back by thoughts of what might or might not happen."

Back in January, Ora confirmed her marriage to the "Thor: Love and Thunder" director, who has two children from a previous relationship, after sparking rumors of their nuptials in August 2022. She showed off her emerald wedding ring during a Feb. 1 appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon."

The two first met in 2018 and began dating in 2021, when they were both filming in Australia, per an August interview with Vogue. They then went public with their relationship in April 2021. Since then, they haven't shied away from flaunting their love at red carpet appearances, award shows, and in sweet social media posts.

The two generally didn't speak much about their romance in its early days, and it took five months for Ora even to confirm their marriage, but it seems they've slowly become more open about sharing details about their relationship. In May, Waititi complimented his wife in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "I love working with her," Waititi said, reflecting on collaborating with Ora on the "Don't Think Twice" video. "It's just a good laugh. It's nice being married to and working with someone who's extremely talented. We've got a similar sense of humor and we listen to the same stuff."

Previously, during a Feb. 6 appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Ora said of their marriage, "I can't believe I can say it. It's so interesting to me because I loved the whole experience but I kept it super private for a little bit, just kept it to myself. So it's nice to share it and just be open about it. It feels great."

The singer, whose new album "You & I" dropped on July 14, teased that she and Waititi, 47, met each other "long before we decided to ruin everything," revealing that they were friends for six years before their romance blossomed. According to Barrymore, the couple "refound each other" later in life when Ora was working on "The Voice" in Australia and Waititi was working on his Marvel film.

"I don't even know how to explain. Everything just went . . ." Ora said, motioning her hands colliding with one another. "It genuinely just went like that," she added, snapping her fingers. "I mean, honestly, he put his hand on my back and then — low back — and that's when I knew, this is a different type of stroke."

Ahead, read everything we know about Ora and Waititi's relationship timeline.

2018: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi First Meet

In an August interview with Vogue, Waititi revealed that they first met at a barbecue he hosted at his house in Los Angeles in 2018.

In 2022, Ora hinted at a long-term friendship with Waititi when she shared a since-deleted Instagram photo of the pair and captioned it "Us. 4 years ago. To now," per People.

April 21, 2021: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Spark Dating Rumors

Dating speculation about the couple began when Ora posted a photo of the two hugging in a since-deleted Instagram photo series. "Good times, memories, random things on my phone and the ones I love..❤️ #midweekupdate," the singer captioned the post. The pair later confirmed that they did indeed start dating in 2021 when they were both filming in Australia, per Vogue.

Aug. 2, 2021: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Make Their Red Carpet Debut as a Couple

Just a few short weeks after making their public couple debut at Próspero Tequila's Fourth of July rooftop party in Los Angeles, Ora and Waititi graced the red carpet together, for the first time, at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Suicide Squad."

Aug. 18, 2021: Rita Ora Celebrates Taika Waititi's 46th Birthday

Waititi's 46th birthday was a star-studded affair attended by celebrities like Ashley Benson, Rami Malek, Jodie Turner-Smith, Charli XCX, Paris Jackson, and Kristen Stewart, per People. In celebration of the event, Ora shared a since-deleted carousel of candid photos from the director's party on Instagram, including one of her smiling and carrying his birthday cake.

Sept. 12, 2021: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Attend Their First Met Gala Together

Ora and Waititi had a fun night out together at the 2021 Met Gala, showing off their matching outfits in line with the event's "Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion" theme. They even posed for goofy red carpet photos with late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon.

Jan. 10, 2022: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Appear on "The Tonight Show"

The couple were a dynamic duo when they appeared together on "The Tonight Show" and played host Fallon's "Slay It Don't Spray It" game with Normani and Taraji P. Henson.

Aug. 12, 2022: Sources Reveal Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Are Married

On Aug. 8, Ora and Waititi sparked marriage rumors after the Daily Mail reported that the pair were spotted out wearing gold bands on their ring fingers. The Sun was the first to break the news of the couple's wedding, but on Aug. 12, People confirmed that the two got married in a "very small" ceremony, per a source. Reps for the pair did not respond to POPSUGAR's requests for comment at the time, but People noted that Waititi was seen wearing what appeared to be a wedding ring in social media posts.

Nov. 13, 2022: Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Co-Host the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards

Months after news of their wedding surfaced, the couple had a glamorous date night as co-hosts of the 2022 MTV EMAs, marking their first joint appearance together since their marriage was confirmed. "Thank you for doing this with me, Taika," Ora told the director onstage, per E! News, to which he jokingly replied, "Thank you for bringing me!"

Jan. 27, 2023: Rita Ora Confirms She and Taika Waititi Are Married

Five months after their wedding was reported, Ora finally confirmed that she and Waititi did, indeed, tie the knot during a Jan. 27 appearance on the "Heart Breakfast" radio show, People reported. "They say everything happens for a reason. I am officially off the market, people!"

June 30, 2023: Taika Waititi Directs Rita Ora's "Don't Think Twice" Music Video

Waititi directed the music video for "Don't Think Twice" from Ora's album "You & I." "Baby, when you saw me naked / I've never felt more alive," Ora sings as she dances around the woods in the music video, seemingly having the time of her life. "Baby, don't think twice / One second can change your life / Trust the way you feel tonight," she continues in the refrain.

Aug. 4, 2023: Taika Waititi and Rita Ora Celebrate Their First Wedding Anniversary

The pair marked their one-year wedding anniversary by sharing photos from their wedding with Vogue and opening up about the private Los Angeles ceremony. "There were about eight people there — just close friends and family, and parents on Zoom," Waititi told the outlet. Ora, meanwhile, said that the occasion "was almost like another day. We just all dressed up and got married."

Waititi also shared that Ora was the one to propose to him, and she popped the question during a Palm Springs vacation in 2022. "I said 'yes' instantly," he said.