Charli XCX slammed as ‘nasty and British’ for shocking on stage act

Charli XCX has been criticised for smoking a cigarette on stage during a performance of her hit song Apple.

The 360 hitmaker, 32, has rocketed into the public consciousness this year with her album Brat, which was responsible for ‘Brat Summer 2024’ – and even made it into the US presidential race.

Charli – real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison – found her staple neon green album cover plastered everywhere this year as the Brat trend grew in popularity.

The trend basically represents someone who is confidently rebellious with an unapologetically bold attitude.

It was even made word of the year for 2024 by Collins Dictionary, who define it as someone ‘characterised by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude’.

While Charli’s Brat has widely-loved by stans, some people think the star went too far with her recent on stage antics.

Charli XCX had a casual cigarette on stage last night (Picture: nikkibeckettt / tiktok)

It was the first stop on her UK Brat tour (Picture: nikkibeckettt/tiktok)

Some fans weren’t happy with her move (Picture: nikkibeckettt/tiktok)

Wearing her signature black sunglasses, tiny leather metal-studded hotpants, and a black long-sleeved T-shirt while standing on an elevated frame above the stage, Charli lit up a cigarette while singing hit track Apple.

Charli thought it fit to have a little cig break at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena in front of 23,500 fans, as she kicked off her UK Brat tour.

However, some were unimpressed on X by the viral video posted by a fan.

‘Promoting smoking to audience full of minors.. I stan her but this is not okay,’ @bbladdict wrote, while @bloodylikeabody said: ‘Just nasty and British…’

The Brat icon has become a houshold name this year (Picture: Madison Voelkel/BFA.com/Shutters)

‘This is sort of sad why is she advertising cigarettes to her fans,’ added @Thelightiscumn, while @Celebirteas said: ‘Promoting smoking cigs to her young audience? as a xcxanator I’m livid.’

‘Are celebs such as Charli XCX and Addison Rae making smoking ‘cool’ again?’ asked a concerned @davinafayette.

‘Not iconic…’ put @Natinko_ simply, while @espeonnnnnn added: ‘I love her but cigs are gross.’

Others thought this extension of the Brat persona didn’t feel natural.

‘This is so try hard I’m sorry,’ wrote @4uiholdmybr3ath, as @EthanBr76853121 said: ‘This is problematic.’

Some fans didn’t see what all the fuss was about, as many referred to her albums, which aren’t exactly made for kids with drug-heavy lyrics such as: ‘Should we do a little key? Should we have a little line?’ 

Brat even made it as the Collins Dictionary’s word of the year (Picture: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

Her performances are always Brat, that’s for sure (Picture: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

‘What is she going to do next? A cigarette! That you can legally buy in shops!’ mused @dan_ofthesouth, as @niomipm said: ‘Are people genuinely going against this with the defence “not with an audience full of minors” did you listen to brat? who told you that was for kids keep ur offspring away.’

@youdfallapart added: ‘”Promoting cigarettes to her audience of minors” WHAT about charli xcx screams family friendly to y’all?’

Elsewhere at the gig – which Manchester Evening News gave four stars and dubbed both ‘obnoxious and charming’ – Charli reportedly remembered her last outing in the city 11 years ago.

The star revealed to the crowd in the 90-minute show how she performing at The Deaf Institute to ‘about ten people’. How times have changed.

The UK tour follows her US shows co-headlined with Troye Sivan, and fellow Londoner Shygirl opened the show for the Brat queen.

She will be heading to London’s O2 tonight, before hopping down in Birmingham tomorrow Glasgow on December 1, before heading to Australia in February next year.

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