Alicia Keys, multi-platinum recording artiste, knows that one of the biggest investments one can make in themselves is leading a healthy lifestyle. Over the year she has made changes to her eating habits and has incorporated a workout regimen in her daily schedule.
Alicia Keys doesn’t smoke and is unequivocal in her stance on the subject of smoking. She has very plainly stated that she neither condones nor does she endorse smoking, and has given a very strong public statement on the matter.
Alicia went so far as to request international tobacco conglomerate, Philip Morris to pull promotional material and marketing from one of her concerts that they sponsored in 2008.
Smoking Controversy
Philip Morris International was forced to pull its branding and promotional material when the company sponsored a concert featuring Alicia Keys in Indonesia in July 2008.
This came about as a result of protests from anti-smoking advocates who registered their disagreement with the tobacco giant in potentially marketing their products to children. The action also stemmed from Alicia herself requesting Philip Morris to stop the branding.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids had written to the singer personally outlining the devastating effects of cigarette smoking on the Indonesian populace and their concerns that the has been inadvertently sending the wrong message to children.
In the letter thanking her for her support, Alicia was also invited to work with Tobacco-Free Kids to help with stemming tobacco use among children worldwide.
Alicia was in Indonesia at the time on a promotional tour for her album “As I Am”.
Public Anti-Smoking Sentiments
Alicia Keys was apparently “horrified” at the revelation of how Philip Morris was actually sponsoring the concert.
After requesting them to take the appropriate corrective action, Philip withdrew their sponsorship and removed the associated billboards promoting the singer’s appearance.
Alicia Keys later acknowledged the possibility of misleading advertising and apologized to her fans in Indonesia. She further reassured fans that she was “an unyielding advocate for the well-being of children around the world and [does] not condone or endorse smoking”.
Pop Culture
Although Alicia does not smoke, it seems she cannot escape being associated with the practice.
In the Urban Dictionary, her name seems to double for a few definitions. In one of the entries from 2011, Alicia Keys is listed as a “code word for weed.”
In particular, the name is associated with a strain of marijuana called AK47.