Taika Waititi flies solo without wife Rita Ora as he rubs shoulders with A-listers at prestigious Peabody Awards

Taika Waititi made a rare solo appearance without wife Rita Ora on Sunday as he attended the prestigious Peabody Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.

However, the 48-year-old filmmaker was in good company at the event, walking the red carpet alongside the likes of Rose Byrne, Shailene Woodley, Patrick Stewart and Mel Brooks.

He cut a dapper figure at the event in a navy blue suit paired with a light blue Fendi shirt and patent brown brogues.

Although Taika was not nominated for the event this year, his film Reservation Dogs won an award in the Entertainment category last year.

Rita was not at the event and was no doubt enjoying a night out after partying with Demi Lovato at Vas J Morgan’s star-studded mental health charity dinner for Pride on Saturday.

Last week Rita spoke about the difference between herself and Taika’s social circles, admitting that the music world was ‘wilder’ than that of film (pictured at the Met Gala last month)

Last week, Rita spoke about the difference between herself and Taika’s social circles.

Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, she revealed how their friendship grew into romance, explaining: “I liked him but I just didn’t think he liked me because I thought it was just too crazy for him , too much for him. it. Don’t know.

‘I think the film world is just different from the music world. I think pop stars and musicians are a bit wilder, but then I met him and he’s just wilder than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Rita married the New Zealand filmmaker in August 2022 after starting their relationship last year.

The couple have a house in New Zealand and Rita has another house in London.

Elsewhere in the podcast, she said she also feels uncomfortable sharing a bed with her husband in New Zealand because his children are in the house.

Taika has two daughters: Te Hinekāhu, 11, and Matewa Kiritapu, eight, from his previous marriage to film producer Chelsea Winstanley.

Rita explained: ‘I think it’s just the kids, it’s always weird I think. Maybe just for me.’

The filmmaker, 48, was in good company at the event (L-R), pictured with Sterlin Harjo, Bobby Wilson, Tazbah Chavez and Garrett Basch

The likes of Rose Byrne and Patrick Stewart graced the red carpet at the event

Discussing how she and Taika juggle their lives in New Zealand, she added: “You know, half of my family and his kids go to school in New Zealand and so, yeah, we’re always there.

‘Auckland, we have a place literally on the water. It’s really fun. I feel like New Zealand is clearly at that point: if you do your best together, it’s a game changer.

‘I’ve obviously done The Voice there for a few years and so I’ve been there for a big, big part of my year.

“I haven’t done it now – I mean, I haven’t done it last year now, but yeah, it’s like a home away from home for me. I really liked Australia and of course I met my husband there.

‘It was in Sydney. I was doing The Voice and he was filming Thor Ragnarok and it was just where we clicked.”

When asked if she and Taika were “set up,” the singer said, “I wouldn’t say it was set up, but we definitely met through a friend, innocently.” For example, he was having a barbecue, and my husband likes to just cook.

“He’s a meaty person, so he’s put all the meat in there and it’s just meat and salads and stuff like that. He’s great at steak and stuff, and so he had a barbecue, and a friend of ours, we had a joint meeting, said, Hey, my friends are having a barbecue, do you want to come with me?

‘I thought, OK, if he’s okay with it. It’s at his house, we go there and that’s where we met, and then we became friends.”

Rita was not at the event and was no doubt enjoying a night out after partying with (L-R) Demi Lovato, Vas J Morgan, Chloe Sims and Sinead Harnett at a charity dinner for Pride on Saturday