News March 21, 2018

English pop star Dua Lipa slams Richard Wilkins over ‘Today’ story

Dua Lipa has hit out at Channel 9 entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins over a report this morning in which he appeared to claim that the singer lied about her recent cancelled Australian performances.

Last week it was announced that English singer Dua Lipa was being forced to cancel two of her Australian concert appearances due to needing some emergency dental surgery back home. This meant that Lipa had to cancel her two performances in Brisbane as the support act for Bruno Mars’ 24 Karat world tour.

“I’m so sorry to have to cancel some of my support shows with Bruno Mars,’ Dua Lipa wrote on Twitter at the time. “I’ve been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth and as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have had to have them imminently removed.”

“I have been enjoying this tour so much and i’m so upset that life has gotten in the way but hopefully i’ll have a speedy recovery and make it back as soon as possible.”

I have been enjoying this tour so much and i’m so upset that life has gotten in the way but hopefully i’ll have a speedy recovery and make it back as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding xx
— DUA LIPA (@DUALIPA) March 14, 2018

However, Richard Wilkins seemed to take issue with this explanation, noting on Channel 9’s Today this morning that Lipa seemed to have double-booked her engagements.

“Well get this, she was supposed to be in Australia opening up for Bruno Mars at his 24 Karat world tour, and had to cancel due to having her wisdom teeth out,” Wilkins explained. “But here she is on Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Of course, Dua Lipa did indeed appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but she has since taken to Twitter to call out Wilkins for his inaccurate reporting, while also revealing the world ‘live’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘live’.

https://twitter.com/DUALIPA/status/976257741634273280

“Lol Richard Wilkins if you were a good journalist you would’ve done proper research instead of talking out of your ass,” Lipa wrote on social media. “Jimmy Kimmel was shot in Feb in La and aired yesterday. I’ve been in Australia on bed rest and wouldn’tve cancelled my Bruno shows if I didn’t have to.”

Richard Wilkins has since apologised for this error, taking to Twitter to set things right with the singer. “Sincere apologies Dua Lipa. Didn’t mean to misinform. Assumed you were live with Jimmy K. your fans and my son have severely castigated me!”

Sincere apologies @DUALIPA. Didn't mean to misinform. Assumed you were live with Jimmy K. your fans and my son have severely castigated me!
— Richard Wilkins AM (@RichardWilkins) March 21, 2018

Dua Lipa actually had performed in Sydney last night, making an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! an impressive feat if she had indeed been there for a live broadcast.

Lipa is set to perform a headline show in Sydney tonight, before playing with Bruno Mars on Friday and Saturday. The 24 Karat tour is set to move over to Adelaide on March 26th, before wrapping up in Perth on the 28th and 29th.