From Beyonce lighting up on stage to Dua Lipa dangling a cigarette between her fingers in a holiday snap shared on Instagram, celebrities are entering a new era of outright flaunting the dirty habit they were once at pains to keep a secret.
Pop stars with a young fan base went through a long phase of keeping any penchant for cigarettes as private as possible, for fear of being accused of promoting bad habits – but that era appears to be at an end.
Stars including Paul Mescal, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams have all been spotted smoking in public – and crucially they’ve opted for traditional cigarettes rather than vapes or e-cigarettes.
While nicotine is known to increase the risk of at least 16 types of cancer and contributing to 20 per cent of preventable deaths, vaping has equally disasteful problems of its own – that have nothing to do with the health risks.
Last month, the sale of disposable vapes was banned in the UK to discourage children from taking up the habit and to try to mitigate the environmental impact.
Vaping is also closely associated with teenagers, who would have in previous generations experimented with smoking, and middle aged addicts trying to quit cigarettes, with the the 45-54 age group seeing the largest increase in vaping rates.
Dua Lipa and Chali XCX have been seen smoking cigarettes despite health warnings
Stars including Paul Mescal (pictured), Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Dua Lipa and Beyonce have all been spotted smoking, as vapes and other quitting aids dwindle in popularity – having been deemed designed for middle-aged people or teens
So perhaps it’s no surprise that smoking cigarettes has enjoyed renaissance over the past year with superstars resuming smoking in an apparent bid to ‘look cool’.
It’s a habit celebrated by the Instagram account ‘Cigfluencers’ documents stars smoking alongside the bio: ‘aka HOT PEOPLE keeping the art of SMOKING & BEING COOL alive…’.
One of the world’s leading lung oncologists, Dr James Wilson, told that after an explosion in popularity for vaping, a return to traditional smoking is not surprising.
‘Vaping now has a curious allure, appealing to two very different groups, young and old,’ he explained. ‘We have traditional smokers attempting to stop using cigarettes, and teenagers attracted to the novelty of e-cigarettes. Vaping has become associated with image rather than health.
‘So, much like the 1950s, when smoking was regarded as trendy, today’s young people are attracted to vaping for its perceived coolness. And of course failing to see the risks associated with addiction. A simple image-driven appeal can lead some back to smoking cigarettes, perhaps when the novelty of vaping wears off.
‘Society is beginning to acknowledge that while vaping may assist some in quitting smoking, it also risks normalising tobacco use for our vital younger generation. The benefit of quitting cigarettes versus the adoption of vaping is something we must honestly address in this country.
Paul is known to rub shoulders with fellow A-list puffers, as he was recently spotted enjoying a cigarette with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (pictured) and Natalie Portman
‘Education on the risks involved is key. Oddly, this echoes the kind of cyclical nature of smoking’s desirability. From the mid-20th century to today, it is a history we need to discuss.
‘The reality is that there’s nothing glamorous about nicotine addiction, no matter how it is delivered. Both ultimately take a toll on general health, skin, lungs, heart, lifestyle, and overall vitality. That doesn’t sound too cool to me.’
In addition he warned that celebs who favour smoking over vaping are taking a serious risk with their health.
‘Smoking is very simply more harmful than vaping,’ Dr Wilson said. ‘This is due to the specific toxic substances involved and the subsequent biological effects.
‘The promotion of smoking, especially by huge stars like Beyoncé, does two things, it reinforces its acceptance and normalises a dangerous habit to vulnerable young people. Research shows us that early exposure to smoking imagery does increase the likelihood of smoking initiation.
‘When tobacco is combusted, we know it unleashes thousands of harmful chemicals, from tar to carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and various carcinogens. These substances damage lung tissue directly and also impact the cardiovascular system.
That means an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Tar is particularly worrying as we know it accumulates in lung tissue, leading to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and emphysema, conditions that severely impair lung function.
‘Vaping is simply heating a liquid solution, usually with propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. Vapes are not without risk, but we know they contain fewer harmful substances than cigarettes. It is the absence of combustion in the vaping process that means many of the dangerous byproducts are significantly reduced. The latest research shows that vaping presents health risks. But cigarette smoking delivers a far greater level of toxic compounds.
‘The biological impacts of smoking, particularly on adolescent lungs, can hinder growth and development and also long-term respiratory issues, plus a potential addiction to nicotine.
‘The long-term consequences from smoking are indisputable. In my clinic in I see cancer, cardiovascular diseases, a reduced quality of life, all directly because of cigarette use.’
GRACIE ABRAMS
Gracie Abrams, who is the daughter of Star Wars titan JJ Abrams, came under fire last weekend for being spotted with a cigarette at Glastonbury (pictured with boyfriend Paul Mescal)
The singer and nepo-baby, who is the daughter of Star Wars titan JJ Abrams, came under fire last weekend for being spotted with a cigarette at Glastonbury.
Fans took to social media to blast the star, 25, with references to her 2021 song Camden at the helm of the critique over her smoking.
In the song, Gracie utters: ‘At least I’ll never turn to cigarettes / My brother shielded me from all of that / He said that smoking was a killer.’
Taking to X, users penned: ‘Let’s think about our choices, Gracie… Can’t afford to smoke with that voice… Smoking? This explains her out of breath performances… She takes her career as seriously as we would imagine nepo babies to.’
PAUL MESCAL
Gracie’s boyfriend Paul meanwhile is also a fan of puffing on a nicotine stick
Gracie’s boyfriend Paul meanwhile is also a fan of puffing on a nicotine stick.
The Irish hunk is often seen smoking and even gave an interview in which he detailed his inability to quit while bulking up to star in last year’s Gladiator 2.
Despite honing his buff body with a strict diet and gruelling gym routine, he admitted he refused to sacrifice his two main vices.
He said: ‘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’.
Paul is known to rub shoulders with fellow A-list puffers, as he was recently spotted enjoying a cigarette with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Natalie Portman.
CHARLI XCX
As the founder of the ‘Brat Summer’, Charli XCX (right) is a strong promoter of smoking, and was presented with a cigarette bouquet by her pal Rosalia at her birthday party in LA last year
As the founder of the ‘Brat Summer’, Charli XCX is a strong promoter of smoking.
The British star described the concept of ‘Brat’ as ‘a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra’.
Such is her passion for smoking that at her 32nd birthday party in LA last year, her fellow pop star Rosalía gifted her a bouquet of cigarettes.
DUA LIPA
Dua Lipa publicly stated that she quit smoking, yet there were late instances in which she was seen with cigarettes after this announcement
Dua Lipa publicly stated that she quit smoking, yet there were late instances in which she was seen with cigarettes after this announcement.
In December 2021, she mentioned quitting due to laryngitis and for her ‘Future Nostalgia’ tour.
However, in the summer of 2023, she was photographed smoking. More recently, she posted photos on Instagram where she is seen holding a cigarette, seemingly in defiance of a no-smoking sign.
DOJA CAT
Last year, Doja Cat was seen puffing on a cigarette – despite extensive discussion of her plans to quit both vaping and traditional smoking
Last year, Doja Cat was seen puffing on a cigarette – despite extensive discussion of her plans to quit both vaping and traditional smoking.
The musician enjoyed a smoke despite previously claiming she was ‘nicotine free’ through the help of hypnotherapy, and undergoing tonsil surgery to remove an abscess in 2022.
In April 2023, Doja spoke about smoking nicotine-free vapes during a conversation with Interview Magazine: ‘I haven’t smoked nicotine in like 10 weeks…
‘And then Elle just came out with a shoot where I’m smoking a cigarette, but it was when I was smoking. They’ve had these photos in this interview for a thousand years, and now people are like, ‘Oh my God, she’s smoking again.’…
‘But I don’t smoke. I’m nicotine free. And I love nicotine free vapes. Any zero nicotine vape doesn’t hit, it just feels like you’re breathing and it’s like, ‘What is this?’ It feels pointless. But this thing really feels… It hits, it has the same effect.
‘I also got hypnotherapy. And it worked, like immediately. I did it and then just didn’t smoke after that, forever’.
The next month she was blasted for vaping at the Met Gala, despite Anna Wintour banning smoking and it being nearly a year after she had an abscess surgically removed from her throat.
BEYONCE
Beyonce surprised her fans when she started smoking a cigarette during her Cowboy Carter concert tour stop in Paris, France over the weekend
Although seemingly simply part of her stage act, Beyonce proved cigarettes are certainly the accessory du jour at her Cowboy Carter tour stop in Paris last month.
The superstar pulled out a cigarette mid-performance and started pretending to puff on the prop during her show.
As seen in fan-taken footage at previous shows, she takes ‘smoking hot’ literally during the gig and goes onstage to theatrically light a piano on fire.
SABRINA CARPENTER
Sabrina Carpenter – known for her sizzling, oversexualized image – used a fork as a cigarette holder in the music video for her latest single Manchild
Sabrina Carpenter – known for her sizzling, oversexualized image – used a fork as a cigarette holder in the music video for her latest single Manchild.
The song, which was released last month, saw her sparking up a cigarette in a petrol station while sitting on a retro car with a fur coat.
She has also been pictured puffing on cigars at various times
KIRSTEN DUNST
Kirsten Dunst , Jesse Plemons , Justine Triet, Swann Arlaud, and Sophie Mas backstage at the 2024 Academy Awards
Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Justine Triet, Swann Arlaud, and Sophie Mas backstage at the 2024 Academy Awards.
It was reported in 2022 Kirsten and Jesse had kicked the habit for their children, however recent snaps appeared to indicate other ways.
She is a long time smoker and has even been accused of losing her voice due to her habit.