“I never see her” — Taika Waititi reveals the real reason he went on The Masked Singer 

In a touching turn of events on The Masked Singer, Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, husband of judge Rita Ora, was unmasked as wildcard competitor "Lucky Duck" during Season 13’s “Semi-Finals: Head-To-Head Battles.” As he removed his elaborate costume to thunderous applause, Ora’s shock was written all over her face.

The surprise appearance wasn't just for entertainment value; Waititi had a surprisingly sweet motivation behind his decision to join the celebrity singing competition.

"The main reason I wanted to do this is because it's the only way I was going to see my wife, because you guys got her working so hard I never see her," Waititi explained when host Nick Cannon asked how he'd kept his participation secret.

With disarming honesty, he added:

"How I kept it a secret? She's always here, so it was easy."

Celebrities perform in lavish costumes in the well-liked Fox series, and judges try to determine who they are by analysing their performances and carefully chosen hints. Few of the show's bombshell revelations have been as intimate as this one, despite its reputation for doing so.

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Taika Waititi surprises Rita Ora on The Masked Singer

When the mask came off, Ora couldn't contain her astonishment.

"Are you kidding me?!" she exclaimed.

Before playfully shouting, as fellow judges Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy cheered the couple on:

"I hate you!"

The shock quickly gave way to affection as Ora rushed to embrace her husband on stage. The moment caught viewers by surprise, especially since Ora had failed to recognize her own spouse despite his performances.

After recovering from the initial shock, Ora playfully teased that appearing on The Masked Singer fulfilled her husband's secret ambition.

"This is a dream come true for you because you've always wanted to be a pop star," she joked.

Waititi, whose directing credits include Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, humbly responded:

"This is as close as I'm getting."

Beyond wanting to spend time with his busy wife, Waititi revealed another touching motivation for joining the show.

"My kids love the show," he explained, and Rita confirmed this statement.

The difficulties faced by many well-known couples balancing demanding occupations are brought to light by the filmmaker's considerate gesture. Given Waititi's hectic schedule as a filmmaker, writer, and actor, plus Ora's singing business and judging responsibilities, finding quality time together obviously calls for ingenuity.

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Rita and Taika’s love story in the spotlight

Since the first reports of Waititi and Ora's relationship surfaced, the world has been interested in their romance. Since then, they have gained popularity in the entertainment industry as a couple because of their chemistry and support for one another.

Their bond even influences their creative work. Ora's album "You & I" features the title track inspired by their wedding day. Waititi directed music videos for the album's first two singles, with one song even incorporating actual voicemails from him.

The Masked Singer surprise adds another memorable chapter to their relationship story. It demonstrates that even for celebrities, making time for loved ones sometimes requires unusual measures – in this case, donning a duck costume and performing on national television.

While judges failed to guess Waititi's identity before the reveal, the moment provided one of the season's most genuine and touching eliminations. Rather than disappointment at leaving the competition, the unmasking celebrated the lengths to which people will go to be close to those they love.

As The Masked Singer continues building toward its finale, Waititi's brief but memorable appearance reminds viewers that behind the elaborate costumes and performances are real people with authentic connections – sometimes even to those sitting at the judges' table.

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The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and streams the next day on Hulu.