Olivia Rodrigo’s Visit to Llandudno: Uncovering the Reason

Singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has been observed in a coastal town in north Wales. The 21-year-old American pop sensation, known for popular songs such as Drivers License and Good 4 U, was photographed during a shopping trip at Marks & Spencer in Llandudno. According to Rose Ann Bituon-Thomas, a Marks & Spencer employee who captured a selfie with Rodrigo, “She’s been walking around Llandudno for weeks.” Rodrigo reportedly informed Ms. Bituon-Thomas, “She told me that she’s been having a good time.” Ms. Bituon-Thomas recounted, “We saw her last Tuesday just walking around the store wearing a scarf.” She added, “I said ‘can I help you?’ and she just smiled. ” Ms. Bituon-Thomas further stated: “Then yesterday [Thursday], she came to my conveyor belt – she’s so natural. No bodyguards whatsoever. I just talked to her. The first thing I said to her was ‘kumusta’ which means ‘hello’ in Filipino.” Rodrigo, who is half-Filipino, identifies as Filipino-American. Ms. Bituon-Thomas observed, “Because she’s half-Filipino, she lit up,” adding, “It’s one of those things where you try to connect with someone.” She further described the interaction: “She was very welcoming and talking so calmly. We had a normal conversation, she seemed very relaxed with me, so I did ask if I could have a selfie with her and she was very happy to have one with me.” The reason for her presence in Llandudno was then explored. Her Instagram profile displays recent photographs from a trip to London, showing Rodrigo with fellow artist Conan Gray and Joe Locke, known for Agatha All Along, on the London Underground. Louis Partridge, Rodrigo’s boyfriend and an actor, was born and grew up in London; however, local residents indicate he has previously visited Llandudno with his Welsh relatives. Ms. Bituon-Thomas explained, “His family has been travelling around Llandudno and north Wales.” She elaborated, “It’s such a beautiful place. When he was young, his family came here for their holidays. So, he was just showing her around north Wales.” Partridge is recognized for his performances in Paddington 2 and Enola Holmes, in which he portrayed Viscount Tewkesbury alongside Millie Bobby Brown. A spokesperson for M&S Parc Llandudno commented on Facebook, “Olivia Rodrigo visiting our store was not on our 2024 bingo card.” The pair was also seen frequenting various local establishments, including bars and restaurants, such as Da Venezia. Bituon-Thomas noted, “They’ve been going to some of the restaurants in the town every single night,” adding, “She actually sang Happy Birthday in Da Venezia, one of the Italian restaurants, but the people in the restaurant didn’t recognise her.” Rodrigo is presently considered a prominent figure in pop music, with a sold-out tour scheduled for 2025 and a headline performance at BST Hyde Park on 27 June 2025. Ms. Bituon-Thomas concluded, “I think she had a really good time.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.