Are celebrities in danger of making smoking fashionable again?

Daily Mail​

27-04-2025

When UK songstress Becky Hill shared snaps of her recent adventures across the Pond, including at Coachella and in LA, there was one image that evoked more comments than the rest.
The Crazy What Love Can Do singer, 31, shared an image of herself and DJ Charlie Boon lighting up during the transatlantic trip - only to be chastised by some of her followers.
Some expressed surprise that the singer was a smoker, while others suggested the unhealthy habit would damage her award-winning vocals.
One fan wrote: 'I think you are awesome but please don't glamourise smoking', while another added 'Can't believe you smoke' with a sad-faced emoji.
A concerned commenter added: 'It can ruin your singing voice too - be careful Becky.'
Others defended Hill's right to drag on cigarettes if she wants to, saying: 'Why is everyone so sour about the smoking? Let her do what she wants.'
Hill is far from alone though, last week Harry Potter author J K Rowling shared a photo of herself celebrating the recent Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women by puffing on a large cigar, with a cocktail in hand.
The 59-year-old writer captioned the post with the words: 'I love it when a plan comes together.'
Actor Paul Mescal and J K Rowling are also fans of smoking; the Harry Potter shared this image to reflect her joy at the recent Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women
There are less smokers than ever in the UK - with 11.6% of adults aged 18 years or over considering themselves regular smokers in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2011, the figure was at 20%.
Campaigns raising awareness into the dangers of smoking - the habit remains the most common cause of preventable disease in the UK, raising the risk of cancer, heart disease and strokes - aim to try and make England 'smoke free' by 2030, with less than 5% of people smoking.
Perhaps it's the stress of life in the spotlight but a surprisingly high proportion of famous faces seem to enjoy a cheeky cigarette, including the famous faces below...
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa surprised fans last month as she was spotted smoking with fiance Callum Turner as they packed on the PDA in Paris despite her proudly declaring that she'd kicked the habit last year.
Sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower, Dua, 29, and Callum, 34, didn't seem to have a care in the world as they only had eyes for one another while puffing on the cigarettes.
However, during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers the pop star explained that she initially gave up smoking for her Future Nostalgia tour in 2022.
The singer revealed she had kicked the habit in order to make sure her vocal health was at its best - before announcing she had stopped altogether.
She told host Seth: 'I was smoking ­cigarettes at the time... But I've stopped. I've quit, guys.'
It is not clear exactly when the Houdini hitmaker began smoking, but after suffering from laryngitis in December 2021 she felt the need to quit for the sake of her tour and later gushed about how much 'confidence' quitting had given her.
Speaking on her At Your Service podcast, she revealed: 'I had laryngitis in December and that kind of kickstarted me quitting smoking a month earlier than I was supposed to. But I did it and I have stuck to it.'
Singers often go to great lengths to protect their voice — drinking plenty of water, avoiding caffeine and even steering clear of air conditioning.
Smoking raises the risk of infections in the voice box, which can cause inflammation in the area — changing someone's voice and making it harder to sing.
The star said on her podcast: 'I had laryngitis in December and that kind of kickstarted me quitting smoking a month earlier than I was supposed to. But I did it and have stuck to it.'
Doctors warn that smoking can cause the vocal cords to become irritated and dried out, which can lead to shifts in how they vibrate — and the sound that's produced.
Other famous singers who were previously smokers include Lana Del Ray, Adele and Rihanna.
Jennifer Aniston
Despite her good-girl image, Jennifer Aniston has a long history of smoking, which she has said she's since quit.
But in 2022, the actress and wellness advocate was pictured lighting up amid her birthday celebrations.
Her ex-husband, Justin Theroux, posted a video of the actor lighting a cigarette before it was quickly deleted off his Instagram story.
Jennifer, 56, has admitted she was a chain smoker for years early in her career, regularly making her way through a pack of cigarettes a day.
But in 2007, three years after finishing her hit show Friends, she decided to quit — saying the habit was affecting her health, energy and even relationships.
It doesn't appear she's regularly picked up the habit again, but it also seems she hasn't put away her lighter for good.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid is famed for her beauty and being one of the most recognisable faces in modelling.
But despite her glamour, reports suggest she may be partaking in the not-so-stylish habit of smoking cigarettes.
Last year, Bella was photographed with a cigarette in her mouth while attending the Cannes film festival in France.
Fans were quick to respond, with one writing: 'Throw away your vapes, Bella Hadid just made smoking cigarettes cool again!'
Bella has not addressed the photographs or commented on her smoking.
The model has, however, admitted in the past she started smoking at the age of 14 when she said she would regularly get through a pack a day.
'Whether it was eating disorders or smoking... I'm like, "Oh, this is what all of the kids are doing,"' she said.
The model says she resolved to quit in 2017, and then made it her New Year's resolution to also quit her JUUL vape in 2019.
Many smokers have moved to e-cigarettes as a way to kick the habit, although some then end up hooked on the devices.
Doctors have previously said e-cigarettes are better than smoking, but research is limited and long-term effects have not been documented yet because the devices are so new.
Cigarettes can help to dampen appetite, helping someone to lose weight — making them more popular among aspiring models.
But they can also cause damage to the skin, leading it to age or sag prematurely and have a greyish appearance. Cigarettes can also cause a yellowing of the fingernails and discoloration of the teeth.
Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon was spotted smoking a cigarette with her morning coffee during a family day out in north London last March.
The Sort Your Life Out star sneaked in a moment of silence and sparked up a cigarette while husband Joe Swash played with their youngest children.
The presenter previously discussed the unhealthy habit back in 2012, when she broke down on This Morning and revealed her guilt at continuing to smoke while pregnant.
Although she said she had cut down from her 10 a day, she has struggled to quit altogether.
She said on This Morning: 'At the end of the day, nothing that I can say makes it right. All I can say is that from the day I found out that I was pregnant, I have tried my best to give up. I completely understand why people would be angry, because for some people it's incomprehensible.
'As soon as you get pregnant, you think you need so stop. I did smoke between 5 and 10 a day, but I completely cut down and from there on I have been trying to stop.
'I'm smoking between one and three a day, if that... I just thought I would be able to quit. And some days I've done really, really well and had none but there are some days when I have had some. I'm doing my best to just go without, but sometimes it's not just as easy to cut it out.'
Holly Willoughby
TV's golden girl Holly Willoughby enjoyed a cigarette back in her twenties as the star was seen having a drag while at V Festival back in 2009.
As Holly, who is believed to have quit in the years since the snap, had fun at the festival she appeared carefree with a cigarette in hand as she donned a pair of stylish shades.
The appearance goes against the presenter's clean-living public image which helped her secure her role on This Morning for many years up until her departure.
Holly has gone on to found lifestyle and guidance brand WYLDE MOON in 2021 and encourages you 'to value reconnecting with yourself'.
Though it seems Holly's brand has just £1,885 in reserves – almost three years after it was set up.
Accounts reveal that although the company has assets of £585,633, it owes creditors £583,748 - meaning it is only just staying in the black.
Selling exotic candles, 'wax melts' and 'diffusers', the brand has been compared to Goop, the brand launched by Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008 and has been valued at £200million.
The TV presenter said that the idea to launch her own lifestyle brand came to her in 2018 when she was in Australia hosting I'm A Celebrity alongside Declan Donnelly.
Emily Atack
Emily Atack was last seen puffing on a cigarette as she partied with a whole host of England footballers back in October 2023.
The actress was seen smoking after heading from the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards to Chiltern Firehouse in London.
The TV personality has previously opened up about how she first turned to smoking and drinking after her parents divorce when she was younger.
During a chat with the Sunday Times magazine in 2020, Emily explained: 'My idyllic childhood came crashing down dramatically when Mum and Dad divorced.
'I didn't talk to Dad for months and was angry with both of them.
'I pulled away from Mum, started hanging out with lads and smoking and drinking.'
Rochelle Humes
Rochelle Humes is known for her healthy lifestyle and incredible physique.
The singer turned businesswoman is even founder of wellness matcha brand Cloudcha and regularly shares her Pilates classes on social media.
However on a night out it seems Rochelle is also partial to a cigarette after she was snapped enjoying a smoke with the This Morning crew back in 2021.
Joined by Phillip Schofield and Dermot O'Leary, the group all looked in very good spirits as they congregated outside for a smoke.
Rochelle was seen exhaling clouds of smoke while having a laugh with her showbiz pals.
Abbey Clancy
She's known for her jaw-dropping figure and toned physique.
But when she isn't posing up a storm for fashion and lingerie campaigns Abbey Clancy is partial to a cigarette.
The model has been snapped numerous times over the years enjoying a smoke while out and about with friends.
Abbey was most recently seen in February 2023 as she smoked between takes as she filmed her Paddy Power advert in Cheltenham.
The star was seen outside her trailer as she indulged in a cigarette while looking stylish in a beige trench coat and tweed hat.
Previously Abbey had been spotted getting through a fair few cigarettes to steady her nerves in 2011 ahead of her wedding to Peter Crouch.
Abbey has also been seen puffing on cigarettes during night outs with Pete and her girl friends.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has long been a proponent of smoking and legalising marijuana.
In 2020, Miley left fans speculating that she might be pregnant after she said she 'won't be smokin' in an Instagram post celebrating the annual, unofficial cannabis-centric holiday 4/20.
There is a much simpler explanation however, as the star revealed in the fall that she had been sober for several months.
The singer has never been shy about her love for pot and typically, those who 'observe' 4/20 do so by consuming marijuana in some form, which is recreationally legal in Miley's home state of California.
Back in the fall, Cyrus took to social media in a now-deleted video where she told fans that she was feeling 'the best' she had ever felt after being four months sober.
Ant McPartlin
ITV presenter Ant McPartlin has in recent years swapped his bad smoking habit for an e-cigarette.
The I'm A Celebrity host has been spotted out and about puffing on the a vape while out walking his dogs near his home in south west London.
Ant sported a long-sleeved top underneath a navy gilet, which he was wearing with a pair of blue joggers with walking boots.
Previously Ant had been seeing lighting up cigarettes while taking a break on set filming Britain's Got Talent and his former hit show with co-host Declan Donnelly, Saturday Night Takeaway.
After an exhausting few takes, the Geordie duo enjoyed a quick break - with Ant layering a chunky coat over the top of his costume as he enjoyed a cigarette away from the camera.
Johannes Radebe
Strictly professional dancer Johannes Radebe also enjoys a cigarette, and admitted he smokes even more during Strictly Come Dancing due to stress.
Appearing on Jessie and Lennie Ware's podcast Table Manners last year, Jessie revealed she was shocked when she performed on the show and learnt that the professional dancer smokes.
She exclaimed: 'The thing that blew my mind was when you came in for a cuddle, and I was like "Sorry you smoke!"
'Sorry I didn't think dancers smoked and you had had a power fag before we'd done the bl***y run through! And you are still the fastest, it blew my mind.'
As Johannes laughed hysterically he admitted that a lot of dancers smoke.
As Jessie probed: 'Do you smoke more when you are doing Strictly?' He replied: 'Yes. I am weaning myself off it at the moment because I am like "you are not stressed, why are you smoking so much", but it's a lot honestly.'
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell has been attempting to quit smoking for years now.
But according to his good friend Sinitta, the music mogul is finally keen to kick the habit for good, with the help of his family.
Sinitta revealed in 2022 that Simon's son Eric has become the 'cigarette police' in his bid to stop his dad smoking.
In 2013, ahead of his son Eric's birth, Simon said he would be giving up his cigarettes and not be smoking in front of his son, after he was criticised for puffing away near his pregnant partner Lauren Silverman.
'I won't do that,' Simon told LBC 97.3 at the time. 'I've learnt that. I'm trying to do electronic cigarettes, they're not bad. But moderation would be better.'
Later, he reportedly made his home a 'smoke-free zone' after his son's birth.
In 2015, it was reported that Simon paid £100 per cigarette for lighting up at The X Factor studios... after refusing to smoke outside.
Due to the judge's tight time schedule during filming, and his love of tobacco, he had been forced to light-up in the studio during the advert breaks - despite it being classed as a place of work.
Previously Simon admitted he had his first drink and smoked his first cigarette at just eight years old as he revealed he was a 'nightmare' child.
Speaking to The Sun in 2022, Simon admitted how bad he was when he was his son Eric's age, then eight.
'I was so bad when I was Eric's age. I was a nightmare. I was drinking and smoking at eight, and I once nearly burned the house down'.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe was last seen smoking a cigarette in Coffs Harbour, on the NSW north coast in 2023.
The Les Miserables star admitted he tried to quit smoking back in 2010 after his then-six-year-old son, Charlie, caught him having a smoke.
'I have been smoking for 36 years,' he said at a press conference for Ben Hurr in 2010, revealing that he was 'smoking 40' on an easy day.
Russell then admitted that 'on a day when I would be up at 4am and still up at midnight, then it was 60-plus and it just got to the point where my body was telling me I had to stop.'