Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 13, 2025 · Entertainment

The Rise of 'Cool': Celebrities and Smoking Make a Comeback

Cigarettes are Back in Vogue: Celebrities and Hollywood Embracing the Habit Again

In a shocking turn of events, cigarettes have made a triumphant return to the spotlight, with A-list celebrities and Hollywood stars lighting up left and right. Charli XCX, the pop sensation known for her edgy style and provocative performances, is set to headline London's Lido Festival this weekend, surrounded by 35,000 screaming fans - and yes, she'll be smoking on stage!

This newfound love affair with cigarettes has sparked a heated debate about the impact of celebrity culture on young people. With Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, and Addison Rae all spotted puffing away, it's no wonder that Gen Z is taking notice. But are they learning the wrong lessons from their idols?

Meanwhile, Dua Lipa - who last year announced she quit smoking - has been spotted more recently having a puff with her new fiance Callum Turner

The trend shows no signs of slowing down, with even some of the biggest names in Hollywood jumping on the bandwagon. Paul Mescal, the dashing star of Normal People, has been spotted smoking on multiple occasions, while Ben Affleck's love affair with cigarettes has earned him the nickname "Sad Affleck." Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy have also joined the ranks of "Cigfluencers" under the popular Instagram account @thescholarlynote.com.

But what's behind this sudden resurgence of smoking among celebrities? According to Jared Oviatt, creator of the Cigfluencers account, the trend is all about glamour and allure. "People are drawn to the romance and mystique surrounding cigarettes," he explains. "It's like they're saying, 'Hey, I'm a rebel, and I don't care what you think.'"

And it seems that Hollywood is more than happy to oblige. A recent report by Truth Initiative found that the number of movies featuring tobacco has increased for the first time since 2002 - with eight out of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars containing tobacco imagery.

Cigarettes have snuck back into pop culture, as seen when singer Rosalia gifted Charli XCX a bouquet of cigarettes for her 32nd birthday last August. Euphoria star Alexa Demie (bottom left) joined the celebrations

But what about the impact on young people? With smoking rates already at an all-time low, could this new trend be setting a bad example? According to Action on Smoking and Health, two-thirds of the British public support the "Smokefree Generation" policy, which would ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2009. And nearly half of respondents believe that the government is not doing enough to tackle smoking.

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: cigarettes are back in a big way - and it's up to us to decide whether this trend will continue or come crashing down like so many other fleeting fads.

Charli XCX is a known fan of smoking, even lighting up a cigarette while performing on stage during her Brat tour

Ben Affleck is a prolific smoker and went viral after a photograph of him taking a smoke break in Los Angeles became a meme known as 'sad Affleck'

Paul Mescal has spoken about how smoking is his vice - the actor didn't even give it up while training intensively for Gladiator 2

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

Bruno Mars drew backlash after he lit a cigarette while on stage at the Grammy Awards in 2022

Smoking is popular among the fashion set too. Bella Hadid is seen here blowing a puff of smoke with Canadian fashion designers Dan and Dean Caten at the amfAR Gala Cannes 2017

Designer Christian Cowan sent one of his models down the runway with a cigarette dangling from her mouth during New York Fashion Week

LaQuan Smith also leaned on the allure of cigarettes when he showcased his Fall-Winter 2024 collection at last year's New York Fashion Week show

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

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

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