Tobacco & Hollywood: Headed Toward a Breakup

Sadly, despite the fact that we now know that tobacco kills 400,000 American smokers and 53,000 non-smokers every year, smoking in Hollywood today is no different than it was back in the Golden Era of Hollywood. Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Colin Farrell and even Reese Witherspoon have all smoked in films. Why is it that celebs who are totally into being fit and healthy in their personal lives show up smoking on screen? Why is it that even though smoking rates for real life people have gone down in the last 30 years, smoking rates among characters in Hollywood have gone up? 1 And, what exactly has Big Ole’ Tobacco’s role been in all this? Is Big Tobacco the real Hollywood player?

The relationship between Hollywood and Big Tobacco is a complicated one. It goes back more than 50 years and involves money, written and verbal contracts and hidden persuasions. For years, Big Tobacco worked with public relations firms, product placement agencies and studios in order to get their products in films. They knew that if they got their product in a film more people were likely to pick it up and try it themselves. RJ Reynolds’ PR firm even called this their “subliminal product campaign.” 2 These are all documented facts.

The origin of any of the statements in this document can be traced right back to Big Tobacco’s marketing departments. We know that for years Big Tobacco has been targeting teens through any means possible. We are as determined as ever to catch them in their act and call them out. That is why Reality Check is battling Hollywood and its transparent glamorization of tobacco in films this year, during our second statewide Youth Action Project called Tobacco & Hollywood: Headed Toward a Breakup.

As you continue to read, think about the different ways the tobacco industry has used Hollywood to manipulate you and your friends. We guarantee that after you finish reading this you’ll never see another movie in the same light. Regardless of age, gender or background, the teens of New York State need to be aware of the measures the tobacco industry and Hollywood have used to glamorize tobacco use and get them to smoke. Join us in making this happen.