Addison Rae leaves fans in disbelief as she smokes cigarette with her foot

A video has gone viral of TikTok star Addison Rae smoking a cigarette with her toes - a move that hasn't gone down too well with some of her fans.

For those in need of a reminder - or, basically for, non-Gen Z readers - the online star shot to fame all the way back in 2019, and is often credited as one of the first 'TikTok dancers' to regularly post routines on the app to much-loved musical tracks.

According to L'Officiel, Addison's popularity sky-rocketed the following year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic - with millions of people trapped at home with plenty of access to their mobile phones - and has continued rising ever since.

Now the fifth-most followed person on the video-sharing app (according to Hot New Hip Hop), she has since gone on to become somewhat of a US socialite and is often seen hanging out with the likes of Kourtney Kardashian and her famous sisters.

In August 2021, she also made her movie debut in Netflix's He's All That - a remake of the Freddie Prinze Jr 1999 hit - and began focussing her attention on music-making, now having had several hit singles.

As we say, however, Addison has seemingly rubbed some of her fanbase up the wrong way, with a controversial snap of her smoking once again doing the rounds online.

The professionally-shot image in question sees the 24-year-old posing cross-legged on a beige carpet, donning a metallic silver coord set consisting of hot pants and a matching bralet.

Wearing a tiara on her head while she looks at the camera, Addison can also be seen holding up her own leg, so that her foot is close to her face, with a lit cigarette being balanced between her toes.

A video from the same shoot - which was recorded in July 2024 as a promo for the fashion brand Ssense and captured by filmmaker brand campaign - has also gone viral online.

The picture and clip later caught the attention of music video director Mel Ottenberg, who told British Vogue that he 'really loved it', and used it as a means of inspiring the star's 'Diet Pepsi' video, which was released in August 2024, crediting her for 'giving off' a 'chill vibe'.

Unfortunately for the social media star, however, her antics have seemingly left others in disbelief, with one hitting out: "Nooo she cant be smoking please tell me she isnt."

Another asked: "Why? Who does that? For what reason? Is it considered a skill?"

While a third added: "Let’s just hope it’s one of those fake ones they use in the movies."

Someone else questioned: "I’m not a hater but what is this????"

This isn't the first time that Addison has come under scrutiny for her cigarette use.

In October of last year, the music video for her then-new track 'Aquamarine' landed on several music streaming sites, with one scene in particular showing her holding two lit cigarettes in her hand.

Another segment of the clip also saw her and her friends smoking, which prompted backlash, being that the star has a staggering 88.6 million followers on TikTok.

Amid the backlash Addison faced, Dr Sabrina Solt spoke to the Daily Mail about the risks posed if celebrities continue to 'glamourise' smoking - a trend which was previously prevalent in the 90s prior to a media-influenced trend surge in wellbeing-focussed practices.

"It used to be very 'cool' to smoke cigarettes when they first came on the market in the early 1900's, before people realised they were detrimental to health," the medic - who works at the Nouveau Wellness Concierge - told the publication.

"Due to the highly addictive nature and continued perpetuation of smoking being cool, it is a habit that has continued."

Tyla has contacted representatives for Addison Rae for comment.