Rita Ora had an awkward moment during Friday’s BBC breakfast when she accidentally said ‘thank you Huw’ instead of ‘thank you’ during an interview.
The singer, 32, appeared on the morning chat show to promote her latest album You & I and made an awkward blunder while chatting with Charlie Stayt.
The hitmaker accidentally mentioned the name of presenter Huw Edwards, who was revealed as the broadcaster accused of paying £35,000 to a ‘vulnerable’ teenager in exchange for explicit photos.
During the interview Charlie said: ‘You do publicity here, this is the world you live in and at the same time you clearly guard your privacy.’
Rita then replied, “Yes, thanks Huw.” When she realized what she was saying, she added, “Thanks Huw?” Thanks for noticing that.’
Mistake: Rita Ora had an awkward moment during Friday’s BBC breakfast when she accidentally said ‘thank you Huw’ instead of ‘thank you’ during an interview
Awkward: Rita accidentally said the name of presenter Huw Edwards, who was revealed as the presenter accused of paying £35,000 to a ‘vulnerable’ teenager in exchange for explicit photos
Blunder: The singer, 32, appeared on the morning chat show to promote her latest album You & I and made an awkward gaffe while chatting with Charlie Stayt
The gaffe quickly sparked comment on social media as viewers reacted to the awkward moment.
One viewer said: ‘Not Rita Ora saying ‘thank you Huw’ on BBC Breakfast FFS’, while another added: ‘Who keeps rewinding the Rita Ora interview? @BBCBreakfast’.
A third viewer wrote, “Rita Ora saying ‘thank you Huw’ quickly turns it into ‘thank you’ made me laugh.”
A fourth said, “Soooo Rita Ora thanks Charlie by saying ‘thanks Huw’ hilarious @BBCBreakfast.”
Charlie didn’t respond to Rita’s gaffe and the interview moved on to discuss her album and marriage to filmmaker Taika Waititi.
Mr. Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind broke the news of his behavior in a statement in which she also said her husband had been taken to hospital because the controversy was having a “serious” effect on his well-being.
She added that the 61-year-old suffers from “serious mental health issues” and “he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.”
Mr Edwards is facing an internal investigation as reporters from BBC News, Radio 4 and Newsnight uncovered more allegations about his behaviour, alleging ‘inappropriate behavior towards past and present BBC staff’.
Response: The gaffe quickly sparked comment on social media, and viewers reacted to the awkward moment
Good looks: Rita wore a black cropped blazer and matching pants for the interview
A colleague told the national broadcaster last night that he made flirty messages that “shuddered” them and constituted “abuse of power”.
The company is facing serious questions about how much it knew about allegations that the broadcaster sent flirtatious messages to junior employees and young people outside the organization.
They have also been accused of being ‘too slow’ to respond, having taken seven weeks to confront him over claims he paid a drug-addicted teenager £35,000 for sexually explicit photos.
Director General Tim Davie said he was only told that last week – and he has not spoken to Mr Edwards, one of his highest paid stars.
There is also open warfare at the BBC after Jeremy Vine urged him to make himself known to prevent others from being wrongly accused on social media and to limit the damage to the BBC.
Speculation is mounting that Edwards will never return to the BBC – although he has not resigned – as the company launched its investigation into the news anchor after police said he had committed no crimes.
Suspended: Huw Edwards was last seen on screen on July 5 when he covered King Charles’s visit to Scotland, he was taken off the air on July 6 and suspended days later
Allegations: The BBC anchor was named by his wife Vicky Flind as the BBC presenter accused of paying for sexually explicit images
Since The Sun broke the story, journalists from BBC News and Newsnight have discovered at least six former and current employees who have complained about his behaviour.
PR guru Mark Borkowski told MailOnline: ‘It’s a total mess. It is hoped that the BBC did the right thing or else their defense will be shaky and heads will roll. I hope they learned from Saville and of course Cliff Richard’.
The Met Police confirmed on Wednesday that it was no longer investigating allegations against the seasoned BBC anchor as a ‘misdemeanor’, shortly before Flind revealed his identity.
A police statement read: “Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have now completed their assessment and have determined that there is no information to suggest that a criminal offense has been committed.”
The Met’s statement on the allegations said that a number of parties, including the BBC, the alleged complainant and their family had been spoken to ‘through another police force’ and that there would be no further police action.