Around 2,000 people gathered in Washington Square Park in New York City on Friday, November 21, to smoke a cigarette with a 75-year-old man who handed out flyers cordially inviting them to his smoke break.
Bob Terry, a 75-year-old actor subsequently named “the cigarette maestro”, had been handing out flyers with a picture of himself, an invitation to simply smoke a cigarette with him in the park at 2pm, along with a QR code to register attendance.
The event went viral on social media – just months after a similarly bizarre yet mundane ‘Pudding mit Gabel’ trend hit headlines.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 people showed up to the gathering, chanting “Bob, Bob, Bob!” and cheering when he lit up and took a drag.
“People are pent up these days,” said Terry in an interview with the New York Post.
“All the work and stress. Sometimes, you just gotta get people together and have a smoke. There’s too much crap out there about health. Too much salad and jump rope – everyone’s a nut.”
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No intention of quitting
Despite organising the event, he has since discouraged smoking.
“If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you currently smoke, and you have the willpower, quit. If you don’t have the willpower, at least reduce it,” warned Terry in a post on his Instagram account @breakinggbob.
“But if you just love smoking and it brings you joy, light it up!”
Terry’s first foray into tobacco-infused virality came after a clip of him blind taste-testing different cigarette brands hit over 30 million views.
Despite knowing the damage smoking can cause, he has no intention of quitting any time soon.
“I would, but the stress would kill me.”
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