Rita Ora is left speechless as her husband Taika Waititi is unmasked in shock semi final twist on The Masked Singer US

Daily Mail​

01-05-2025

Rita Ora has been a judge on both sides of the Atlantic for The Masked SInger, but on Wednesday's US edition of the hit show she had her biggest shock to date.
The singer, who has sat on the US judging panel alongside Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong and Jenny McCarthy for two seasons, watched on as her own husband Taika Waititi was unmasked during a dramatic semi final.
Viewers were waiting to see which trio would make it through to the series 13 final with only Coral, Boogie Woogie, Mad Scientist and Pearl left in the running.
But there was a twist as host Nick Cannon was interrupted by a new character - Lucky Duck, who announced that instead of one of the semi finalists he would be unmasked after a surprise dance performance.
The new mystery celeb had the judges guessing his identity with a series of clues. as he told them: 'I've been bringing luck since the beginning, and during my time here, I've left no stone unturned. But one mystery still remains: Who am I?'.
'As good as I am, this detective-ing thing is only a hobby. I spend most of my time on massive movie sets. Yes, even bigger than The Hangover. There's not an Oscar I don't know.'
Lucky Duck then impressed viewers with a choreographed dance to Queen's I Want to Break Free surrounded by backup dancers.
Rita, 34, in particular was desperate to uncover Lucky Duck's identity admitting 'it's completely killing me!'
To the show chant of 'take it off' Lucky Duck was then unveiled as Rita's husband, 49.
The Marvel universe director quipped 'I'm a pop star, America!' with a flabbergasted Rita rendered speechless.
Taika joked that he wanted to take part in the show because it was 'the only way' he was able to see his wife, admitting: 'You guys got her working so hard, I never get to see her.'
He added, 'How I kept the secret? She's always here.'
Rita and her husband wed in a secret ceremony in August 2022, after the singer bucked tradition and popped the question.
Their low-key Los Angeles ceremony wasn't confirmed by the couple until a year later, which Rita told Grazia they 'winged with zero planning'.
Viewers were waiting to see which trio would make it through to the series 13 final but there was a twist as host Nick Cannon was interrupted by a new character - Lucky Duck
The Marvel universe director quipped 'I'm a pop star, America!' with a flabbergasted Rita rendered speechless
Rita and her husband wed in a secret ceremony in August 2022, after the singer bucked tradition and popped the question
After years of not being in the right relationship during her 'messy twenties', Rita said that when she got together with Taika it felt 'right and safe'.
Reflecting on her past, she told the publication last year: 'My love life has been colourful, to say the least. But how wicked is it that we can make those choices for ourselves?.
She added: I was groggy all the time [during her twenties]. I wanted to feel awake and that my brain was switched on.
Rita continued: 'What makes me go 'urgh' is when people pour so much responsibility into somebody else to make themselves feel how they want to feel.
'That's a disaster, a car crash. You'll always be unsatisfied, I was that person.'