Health experts have expressed fears that celebrities are making smoking ‘cool’ again after a number of A-listers have been pictured out puffing on cigarettes.
A variety of stars have also been seen lighting up a smoke in music videos and also on social media in recent years.
Back in August, Rosalia notably gifted fellow singer, Charli XCX, a cigarette bouquet for her 32nd birthday – with snaps of the unique present being posted on Instagram.
Addison Rae also puffed on a smoke in her music for Aquamarine which dropped last month – and actor Channing Tatum was recently pictured with a cigarette in his mouth during an outing following his split from Zoe Kravitz.
Dr. Sabrina Solt of Nouveau Wellness Concierge has weighed in to DailyMail.com on the popularity of stars smoking and the possible reasons it has been on the rise.
Health experts have expressed fears that celebrities are making smoking ‘cool again’ after a number of A-listers have been pictured out puffing on cigarettes
One of the reasons could be due to ‘trends,’ with Solt explaining, ‘It used to be very “cool” to smoke cigarettes when they first came on the market in the early 1900’s, before people realized they were detrimental to health.’
‘Due to the highly addictive nature and continued perpetuation of smoking being cool, it is a habit that has continued.’
Vaping has also been an alternative for those looking for a ‘healthier’ option and has ‘less total toxic chemicals’ than a normal cigarette.
However, Solt stated, ‘there is still an inherent risk to an individual’s health, especially because nicotine levels can be significantly higher.’
She also noted that vaping could have an ‘appeal’ to ‘younger people who may prioritize things like better flavor profiles, less of the cigarette smell, and the ability to do it in many public places where cigarettes are not allowed.’
Solt explained that while alcohol consumption among young people has slowly been ‘diminishing since the early 2000s,’ some turned to cigarettes during the Covid pandemic.
She explained that they did this ‘as a way to cope with the unprecedented stress levels, as they are legally available at a younger age.’
‘Once the addictive nature of the nicotine kicked in, it may have been difficult to stop even if they no longer required it as a stress reducing outlet.’
Actor Channing Tatum was recently pictured with a cigarette (seen above) during an outing following his split from Zoe Kravitz
‘Due to the highly addictive nature and continued perpetuation of smoking being cool, it is a habit that has continued,’ Solt added; Kate Moss seen smoking a cigarette in 2002 in London
The glamorization of smoking or stars seen puffing on a cigarette in public does not appear to be anything new.
In the 90s and early 2000s, celebrities were also often seen smoking, such as Johnny Depp, supermodel Kate Moss, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow.
And in recent years, more stars have seemingly begun to pick up the habit again – and are not concerned about hiding it.
Last year, Anya Taylor-Joy was spotted on a few occasions with a cigarette – such as during an outing with her husband, Malcolm McRae.
The daughter of Johnny Depp, Lily-Rose Depp, has also been publicly seen with a smoke. One year earlier in October, the actress was spotted smoking with a group of pals in a parking lot.
Addison Rae – who rose to fame on social media – recently dropped her music video for Aquamarine last month.
During the course of the clip, she could be seen holding two cigarettes in her hand and in another snippet, was joined by friends as they all had a smoke – despite having 88.8 million young fans on TikTok.
In August, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars collaborated on the track Die With A Smile – and in the cover art, the pair stood together in coordinating ensembles while she held a cigarette in her hand.
During the course of the clip, she could be seen holding two cigarettes in her hand and in another snippet, was joined by friends as they all had a smoke
In August, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars collaborated on the track Die With A Smile – and in the cover art, the pair stood together in coordinating ensembles while she held a cigarette in her hand
And during the music video, Gaga had a cigarette in her mouth as she played the piano and belted out lyrics.
Paul Mescal – who took on a leading role in the upcoming sequel Gladiator II – notably refused to quit smoking while filming the anticipated project.
While recently on the Graham Norton Show, the Normal People actor opened up about his physical transformation for the movie and how he worked with a trainer, per Us Weekly.
However, Mescal admitted, ‘I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned.’
Dua Lipa has also been public about her smoking habit, and in an Instagram post shared in August, she included a snap of herself holding wine, cards and a box of cigarettes in her hands.
In regards to if celebrities should be ‘mindful’ about the habit of smoking or be held accountable in any way, Solt also shared her thoughts.
‘I believe celebrities have an inherent responsibility for acting publicly in a way that allows the people who look up to them to be inspired in a positive way.’
Back in August, Rosalia notably gifted fellow singer, Charli XCX, a cigarette bouquet for her 32nd birthday – with snaps of the unique present being posted on Instagram
The singers later posed for a photo together while holding the bouquet while each had a cigarette in their mouth
‘While each and every one of us have an inalienable human right to do what we want, within the confines of the law of course, our actions are always influencing those around us, and this should not be taken lightly.’
She explained, ‘smoking is highly addictive, and that nicotine is a toxin that can have negative effects at high doses. Additionally, the thousands of different toxins in cigarettes are linked to cancers and lung disease.’
According to the American Lung Association, smoking is the ‘number one preventable cause of death in the U.S., killing over 480,000 people per year. ‘
Secondhand smoking also notably ’causes more than 41,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.’
However, Mescal admitted, ‘I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned’; seen on Thursday in Dublin
Dua Lipa has also been public about her smoking habit, and in an Instagram post shared in August, she included a snap of herself holding wine, cards and a box of cigarettes in her hands
On topic of laws or guidelines for the glamorization of smoking in the media, Solt shared, ‘There will always be people who want to push for more laws in order to get people to stop behaving a certain way.’
‘While that may be effective for some, there will always be people who will do it anyway.’
She continued, ‘I think a more constructive approach would be to truly educate on the detrimental health effects while creating broader access to addiction treatment options.’
While some celebrities have picked up the habit of smoking, some stars that have quit over the years include Gisele Bundchen, Charlize Theron and Michael Douglas.
