Rita Ora cancels show in Israel

Singer cites health issues. Festival with Jason Derulo to go on as planned.

By AMY SPIRO
Updated: JUNE 27, 2018 19:31
Rita Ora performs in Kosovo, February 2018 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Rita Ora performs in Kosovo, February 2018
(photo credit: REUTERS)
British singer Rita Ora has canceled her upcoming participation in the August WOW Festival in Rishon Lezion.
According to local PR for the concert, Ora informed the Israeli production company that she would have to pull out for medical reasons. Other reports indicated that Ora told the Bluestone Group that she required surgery.
Ora was scheduled to perform on August 1 at the festival in Rishon Lezion alongside pop superstar Jason Derulo. Despite canceling the show in Israel, Ora is still slated to perform in the UK on July 28 and in Lithuania on August 3.
A representative for Ora did not respond to a request for comment.
Last month, Ora canceled a show in Bristol the day of the concert, also citing medical reasons.
Despite Ora’s cancellation, the festival is going on as scheduled, with Derulo on board and an impressive lineup of local talent.
Though names like Eliad Nahu, Axum, Arutz Hakibud and more are already lined up, local PR promised Tuesday that “in the coming days the full lineup of artists that will perform alongside Jason Derulo at the festival will be published.”
Derulo, who was last in Israel for a concert in 2016, published a video earlier this month for his local fans.
“Tel Aviv, what’s happening? It’s Jason Derulo, and I’m so excited to be coming back,” he said. “August 1, it’s going down – it’s called Coca Cola WOW Fest and it’s going to be myself, Rita Ora – it’s going down, crazy. It’s going to be an unbelievable show, I can’t wait to see y’all very soon.”
Tickets for the festival are NIS 265 and on sale via tmisrael.co.il.