Fans were stoked to see Billie Eilish perform in Tāmaki Makaurau earlier this month for the first time since 2019. On Billie’s final Saturday night show, the US singer-songwriter noticed members of the audience burning one down.
“Y’all are smoking in here? Go off I guess”, Billie was recorded responding in a now viral TikTok video. Craccum previously reported on US rapper Jack Harlow who, while performing in Auckland on 31 July, called out concert-goers for vaping.
Billie seemed somewhat more neutral on the situation than Harlow, but did make a gesture referring to the pungent smell. Billie’s brother and music partner Finneas reportedly said, “You can’t say much with your stupid juul thing that smells like watermelon.”
Audience members shared on TikTok that they saw “so many clouds popping up everywhere.”
“The amount of cigs, vapes, and joints I saw was uncountable,” another person commented.
Many commenters agreed that this behaviour is “typical for concerts in New Zealand”, with one user adding, “can confirm that it’s too common lmfao bud erywhere”.
The number of young New Zealanders aged 15 to 17 who vape daily has tripled in two years, from 2% in 2018-2019 to 6% in 2020-2021, according to the most recent New Zealand Health Survey. For young adults, aged 18 to 24, daily vaping has increased from 5% to 15%.
Manufacturers and promoters of vapes have been criticised for using social media influencers, enticing flavours, and music event sponsorship to target young people. Some retailers have also lobbied against recent legislation aimed at preventing vape products from being marketed to young people.
