01/11/2011

Smoking Rihanna Riles Cancer Group

Rihanna’s latest video for her hit, We Found Love, has been slammed by an Ulster Cancer charity, because of the amount of smoking depicted.

The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) said artists such as Rihanna were held in high esteem and regarded as role-models by millions of young people and were upset by her regular smoking in the video.

The music video for We Found Love (In a Hopeless Place) was filmed in Northern Ireland and attracted a lot of controversy over the pop star's scantily clad shoot in a farm belonging to a DUP councilor who objected.

Now, the UCF are saying they are "very concerned" that young people watching the video will see smoking as glamorous and want to copy Rihanna's behaviour.

Doreen Regan, Cancer Prevention Officer at UCF, said: “After so much hype around the filming of the video it was very disappointing to see Rihanna so blatantly smoking throughout it.

“Three-quarters of adult smokers start the habit as teenagers which is why it is so irresponsible of Rihanna to influence her young fan base in this way.

“Too many young women are smoking and there is now a rising trend in lung cancer rates among women. There are almost 400 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in women in Northern Ireland with 380 deaths each year.

"That means there are more local women dying from lung cancer than from breast and cervical cancer combined."

The UCF said that tobacco remains the biggest preventable cause of death and disease in our society killing 2,500 people here every year, which is seven local people each day.

“Young people who experiment with tobacco can become quickly addicted. The earlier a young person begins to smoke the worse the impact on their health including wheeziness and shortness of breath compared to those who do not smoke, and impaired lung growth and function which may lead to lung cancer in later life.”

(DW)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 September 2004
Smoking ban should lower lung cancer rates, report says
The Republic of Ireland's smoking ban should profoundly lower the rates of lung cancer, a new report has claimed. The 'All Ireland Cancer Statistics Second Report 1998-2000' says that prevention initiatives need to be implemented right across the island in a bid to target urban areas which have the highest incidence.
07 November 2008
UCF Targets Cancer Awareness
The signs and symptoms of Northern Ireland's biggest cancer killer are being highlighted by a local charity this week with the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) using national 'Lung Cancer Awareness Month' as a springboard to target local people.
04 November 2011
November's Lung Cancer Month Launched
Smokers are again being targeted this month with the launch of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The November initiative highlights that cigarette smoking is the major cause of preventable ill health and premature death in Northern Ireland, killing around 2,300 people each year.
22 May 2019
NI Cancer Patients May Rise By 60%
The number of new cancer patients in Northern Ireland could rocket by over 60% before 2035 if rigorous action is not taken now, Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has warned.
09 September 2011
Yellowhammer Portraits Are Framing Success
Two local cancer charities, the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) and Friends of the Cancer Centre, have announced a unique fundraising initiative - the opportunity to buy a highly collectable piece of art by acclaimed Irish artist, Nicola Russell, while making a significant contribution to the work of both charities.