Reed Dunn, Recruitment Marketing Manager:

When I heard Beyonce’s latest single “Why Don’t You Love Me” a couple of months ago, I was glad to hear some new tunes from my girl. “Single Ladies” had been stuck in my head for far too long, and a good Beyonce jam always puts me in my happy place.

Then I saw the new music video. Totally retro – Rosie the Riveter kind of stuff – complete with … you guessed it … smoking.

This is not the first time Beyonce has used tobacco in a music video. Her lesser-known “Diva” features the pop star lighting up a cigar in the final scenes and tossing the lighter back to ignite a dramatic fire in which she walks away. She also has taken promotional photos for tours and previous engagements where she prominently displays a cigarette holder.

Beyonce sells a lot of music. But she also sells her sexy image, and the use of tobacco in combination with these videos and promotions is sending a negative message. Smoking is never sexy, no matter how good it seems to look in the video.

There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors in “Why Don’t You Love Me.” I just wish there were more mirrors and less smoke.

Even more concerning about Beyonce’s latest mini-movie is that her character appears to be smoking as a result of the stress trigger. She’s visibly upset because nobody will love her, and mascara is running down her face – ever so perfectly, of course.

The Quit Coaches at Free & Clear understand the variety of triggers for tobacco, and stress certainly tops the list of reasons people give for wanting to light a cigarette. Beyonce making it look even more attractive on an international level is not helping the case that tobacco should be avoided as a stress relief mechanism.

Whether you believe it or not, tobacco use among celebrities has a strong influence. Studies have shown smoking in movies and on screen has a powerful influence on children and teenagers, accounting for 52% of adolescents who start using tobacco.

Not to come down hard on just Mrs. Jay Z - I am well aware many other musicians and celebrities are doing the same thing in their videos, promotions, and photo shoots. I am not giving a pass to those rappers, rockers, actors, and teen heartthrobs at all.

I am just saying it is time for this smoking trend to end. We are no longer living in the days of James Dean or Elvis Presley. Smoking is not sexy, no matter how short you wear your skirt.