Unraveling the Allure: How Charli XCX and Addison Rae Are Igniting a Controversial Smoking Comeback
Lady Gaga’s promotional artwork for her single “Die With A Smile,” featured prominently on a mural in Los Angeles, shows her holding a cigarette, echoing a growing trend where smoking seems to be making a fashionable comeback. Despite the well-documented health risks—smoking is still the UK’s leading preventable cause of death, accounting for nearly 78,000 fatalities annually—celebrities like Charli XCX and Rosalia, and even fashion shows at New York Fashion Week, have been glamorizing the habit.
Celebrities and influencers, dubbed “cigfluencers,” play a significant role in this revival. Instagram accounts highlight stars like Dua Lipa and Anya Taylor-Joy with cigarettes in hand, creating a nostalgic connection to the carefree, hedonistic days of the noughties. Actress Kate Moss embodied this aesthetic in the ’90s and ’00s, often seen with a cigarette, just as modern stars do today. Smoking seems to serve as a symbol of rebellion and sophistication, reminiscent of a time when indoor smoking was commonplace, as depicted in movies like Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn.”
This glamorization is permeating pop culture, with movies and music videos frequently including tobacco imagery. Smoking was present in nine out of the ten films nominated for the Oscars’ top prize, and new music from artists like Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga keeps the imagery alive.
Despite this, UK smoking rates among young people are declining, with fewer than one in ten young adults smoking, a significant decrease over the past decade. However, vaping is on the rise, though some are transitioning to cigarettes as vaping becomes ubiquitous and loses its edgy appeal.
US health expert Dr. James Hook suggests that rebelliousness against stricter government regulations might be contributing to this trend. Yet, with impending legislation aimed at gradually banning cigarette sales, the current cigarette resurgence might be more of a fleeting fashion statement than a lasting cultural shift.
Original Story https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8dy5v1kpno
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