In a world grappling with lockdowns and travel restrictions, the actions of celebrities have come under increased scrutiny. For pop sensation Dua Lipa, whose album Future Nostalgia became an unexpected soundtrack to the pandemic, her public stance on safety guidelines appeared initially aligned with global health recommendations. However, as time progressed, a different narrative unfolded, revealing a disconnect between her public messaging and private actions when it came to travel during the pandemic.
Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia was poised for global domination in early 2020. With meticulously planned promotional activities scheduled around its April release, the album was set to cement her status as a global pop icon. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, throwing the traditional album rollout into disarray. Lipa and her team pivoted swiftly, adapting to virtual promotion and online performances. She even incorporated public health messages into her performances, famously urging viewers to “stay home, save lives” during a virtual appearance on The Tonight Show.
This message of solidarity and responsible behavior resonated with fans worldwide. It seemed Dua Lipa was embodying the collective spirit of sacrifice and adherence to guidelines. Yet, as restrictions began to ease in some regions, and the promotional cycle for Future Nostalgia demanded continued visibility, Dua Lipa’s actions started to paint a different picture. Her travels, while perhaps necessary for her career, increasingly appeared to disregard the very guidelines she had publicly endorsed, raising questions about the authenticity of her earlier messaging.
This article delves into a detailed timeline of Dua Lipa’s travels during the pandemic, documenting instances where her actions seemed to deviate from public health recommendations. This is not intended as a condemnation, but rather an observation of the contrasting realities experienced during the pandemic – one for those under strict limitations, and another for those with the resources and privilege to navigate restrictions with greater ease.
March 10, 2020 – Pre-Lockdown Dinner
Just days before widespread COVID-19 restrictions were implemented, Dua Lipa and her boyfriend Anwar Hadid were photographed dining out at The Ivy Asia in London. This marked one of the last moments of pre-pandemic normalcy before lockdowns began to reshape daily life.
Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid at The Ivy Asia in London before lockdown restrictions.
March 14, 2020 – Lockdown in London
As the UK confirmed a significant rise in COVID-19 cases and travel bans expanded, Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid found themselves staying in London as lockdowns commenced. This period marked the beginning of widespread restrictions and a shift to home-based activities for many around the world.
March 27, 2020 – Future Nostalgia Arrives Early
Amidst the growing global crisis, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia was unexpectedly released a week ahead of schedule after an online leak. The album quickly became an uplifting soundtrack for many in lockdown, with Vulture dubbing Dua Lipa the “quarantine queen.” In a subsequent interview with High Snobiety, Lipa responded to this title, expressing hope that the album would evoke “happy memories of the time we’re spending indoors.”
April 8, 2020 – Virtual Performance and “Stay Home” Message
Dua Lipa delivered a virtual performance of “Break My Heart” on Fallon, concluding with a direct plea to viewers to “stay home, save lives.” This message reinforced her public image as someone advocating for responsible behavior during the pandemic and aligning herself with public health guidelines.
Dua Lipa performing "Break My Heart" virtually on Fallon with a "stay home, save lives" message.
April 11, 2020 – Public Service Announcement
Dua Lipa further emphasized her commitment to public safety by posting a “STAY AT HOME” PSA on social media. This public endorsement of lockdown measures was in line with global efforts to flatten the curve and control the spread of the virus.
[DUA LIPA @DUALIPA
PSA – STAY AT HOME 💔
Image](https://twitter.com/DUALIPA/status/1248971246798278665)[1:48 PM ∙ Apr 11, 2020139,218Likes29,859Retweets](https://twitter.com/DUALIPA/status/1248971246798278665)
April 15, 2020 – Family Longing
In an interview with Elle, Dua Lipa spoke about Anwar Hadid’s longing to see his family, hinting at future travel plans to reunite with them in the United States. This interview foreshadowed the transatlantic travel that would soon become a recurring theme.
May – July 2020 – London Lockdown and “Levitating” Video
For several months, Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid remained in London, sharing images of their time in isolation. In late June, they participated in a socially distanced video shoot for the “Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix).” Notably, Anwar was cast as Dua’s love interest in the video, reportedly due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting close contact on set to real-life couples.
July 4, 2020 – Island Escape to St. Lucia
After months of lockdown in London, Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid embarked on their first vacation during the pandemic, traveling to St. Lucia. They posted photos from a resort, describing their stay as “island isolation.” This trip marked a shift from strict lockdown to international travel, even as the pandemic continued globally.
Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid in St. Lucia during their "island isolation" vacation.
July 7, 2020 – Arrival in the United States
Just days after their St. Lucia getaway, Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid were seen at the Hadid family farm in Pennsylvania. Photos posted by influencer Leah McCarthy showed them attending a birthday picnic alongside Gigi and Bella Hadid, who had reportedly been isolating together on the farm. Despite Dua and Anwar’s recent international travel, the photos suggested social distancing was being observed at the family gathering.
Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid at the Hadid family farm in Pennsylvania with Gigi and Bella Hadid.
July 8, 2020 – “Hallucinate” Hypocrisy Accusation
Following the announcement of an animated music video for “Hallucinate,” Dua Lipa responded to a fan’s comment about the choice of animation by asking, “Did you guys forget that we’ve been in the middle of a pandemic for the past 3 months???” This tweet drew criticism, given her recent travels and seeming departure from strict lockdown measures, just after advocating for staying home.
[DUA LIPA @DUALIPA
Did you guys forget that we’ve been in the middle of a pandemic for the past 3 months??? 😂😂
Karnan @karnangomez
Ok dua I didn’t wait so Long for hallucinate to get an animated MV](https://twitter.com/DUALIPA/status/1280873070480306178)[2:35 PM ∙ Jul 8, 202080,787Likes5,817Retweets](https://twitter.com/DUALIPA/status/1280873070480306178)
July 16, 2020 – New York City Visit
Dua Lipa shared photos of herself in New York City. While pictured maskless in an elevator, it remained unclear if this was a private setting.
Dua Lipa pictured maskless in an elevator in New York City.
July 17, 2020 – SoHo Outing
Dua Lipa was spotted maskless in SoHo, dining outdoors with Anwar and friends. While dining outdoors was permitted, her maskless appearance in public spaces raised eyebrows, particularly in a city with mask mandates.
July 18, 2020 – Park Gathering
Dua Lipa was seen at a park with model Maya Stepper and a group, removing their masks while seemingly distanced from others. However, the fact that Maya Stepper was not reported to be part of Dua’s established “pod” raised questions about adherence to social bubble guidelines.
Dua Lipa and Maya Stepper maskless in a park with a group of friends.
July 30, 2020 – Los Angeles Arrival
Dua Lipa traveled to California, posting photos from Los Angeles. This marked another instance of domestic air travel during the pandemic.
Dua Lipa in Los Angeles after traveling to California.
August 5, 2020 – Studio Session with Miley Cyrus
Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus shared photos of themselves maskless in a recording studio, presumably during the creation of their collaboration “Prisoner.” Producer Watt, who worked on Future Nostalgia, was also present, none of whom were wearing masks in the shared indoor space.
Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus maskless in a recording studio session.
August 23, 2020 – 25th Birthday Party
Dua Lipa hosted a 25th birthday party with an estimated 15-20 guests. Social media posts from attendees, including iPhone case designer Devon Lee Carlson, singer Savannah Hudson, and costume designer Johnny Wujek, depicted a maskless gathering, further deviating from recommended guidelines for social events.
Dua Lipa celebrating her 25th birthday with a maskless group of friends.
September 8, 2020 – Palm Springs Trip
Dua Lipa and Savannah Hudson were again seen partying maskless with a group of 8-10 friends in Palm Springs. This continued pattern of maskless socializing in group settings contrasted with public health recommendations.
Dua Lipa and Savannah Hudson in Palm Springs with a maskless group of friends.
September 12, 2020 – James Corden Parody
Dua Lipa recorded a COVID-themed parody of “New Rules” with James Corden in Los Angeles. This collaboration, while intended to be humorous, occurred amidst her travels and social gatherings that seemed to disregard pandemic protocols.
September 17, 2020 – Pennsylvania Farm Visit
Dua Lipa returned to the Hadid family farm in Pennsylvania, marking another instance of travel between states.
Dua Lipa back at the Hadid family farm in Pennsylvania.
September 19, 2020 – New York Return
Dua Lipa arrived back in New York City. This marked a return to the city after travel to Los Angeles and Pennsylvania, raising questions about quarantine practices, even though domestic travel guidelines were recommendations rather than mandates in many places.
September 30, 2020 – Sushi Outing
Following a day filming the “Prisoner” music video with Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid went out for sushi. Dining out, while potentially permitted with restrictions, was categorized as a nonessential activity and another instance of public engagement.
October 11, 2020 – London Return
Dua Lipa returned to London, while Anwar Hadid remained in the United States. Her return to London indicated continued international travel amidst fluctuating global pandemic conditions.
October 16, 2020 – Legal Action Over COVID Claims
News emerged that Dua Lipa was taking legal action against The Sun after the tabloid claimed a music video shoot she was involved in violated COVID regulations and prompted police intervention. Dua Lipa defended herself on Instagram, arguing that other British celebrities had set worse examples, highlighting a sensitivity to public perception of her pandemic behavior.
Dua Lipa's Instagram story responding to claims of COVID violations on a music video shoot.
November 22, 2020 – AMAs Performance
Dua Lipa performed at the American Music Awards, although the performance was filmed in London. This transatlantic production highlighted the complexities of international events during travel restrictions.
December 16, 2020 – New York for SNL
Dua Lipa traveled back to New York City to film promotional content and rehearse for her Saturday Night Live appearance on December 19th. Notably, she was not publicly seen maskless during this trip, occurring as a new COVID strain emerged in the UK, from where she had traveled.
December 24, 2020 – Christmas with the Hadids
Dua Lipa spent Christmas Eve with Gigi Hadid, making gingerbread houses, and Christmas Day at the Hadid family farm in Pennsylvania. This indicated continued holiday travel and family gatherings during the pandemic.
December 26, 2020 – Anwar Hadid’s Anti-Vax Stance
Anwar Hadid expressed anti-vaccination views on his Instagram story, stating he would not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This statement further fueled public perception of the couple’s relaxed approach to pandemic safety measures.
Anwar Hadid's Instagram story expressing anti-vaccination views.
December 30, 2020 – Cancel Culture Comments
In an interview with Attitude magazine, Dua Lipa spoke out against cancel culture, describing it as “dangerous and toxic.” This comment came amidst ongoing public discussion about celebrity responsibility and accountability during the pandemic.
January 1, 2021 – Tulum New Year’s Trip
Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid traveled to Tulum, Mexico, for a New Year’s celebration with a group of approximately 14-15 people, all pictured maskless. This international vacation during a surge in cases sparked further criticism online.
January 12, 2021 – Fan Backlash on Social Media
Dua Lipa faced fan criticism on Twitter after posting vacation photos, with many questioning the appropriateness of international travel during the pandemic, especially after her earlier public health messaging.
Fan criticism on Twitter directed at Dua Lipa for posting vacation photos during the pandemic.
January 13, 2021 – Return to Los Angeles
Dua Lipa arrived back in Los Angeles, concluding this documented period of extensive travel.
Reflections on Celebrity Pandemic Travel
Dua Lipa’s pandemic travels, as detailed in this timeline, highlight a broader trend of celebrities navigating restrictions in ways often inaccessible to the general public. While the necessity of some travel for work purposes is understandable, the frequency and nature of leisure trips and social gatherings raise questions about the consistency of public messaging and private actions.
For many, the pandemic meant prolonged isolation, cancelled plans, and strict adherence to local guidelines. The contrasting experience of celebrities, able to travel internationally and socialize in large groups, underscored the disparities in pandemic experiences. This is not to deny anyone the right to travel or work, but rather to observe the complexities of navigating public health crises when privilege and resources create different sets of realities and choices. Ultimately, this timeline serves as a record of a specific period, prompting reflection on celebrity influence, pandemic ethics, and the varied ways individuals experienced a global crisis.
