Los Angeles: An anti-drug group has called inRiver Island's bosses to stop working with Rihanna after theUmbrella hitmaker posted pictures smoking giant rolled-upcigarettes, which appeared to be marijuana.
The campaigners are concerned about children, who see popstar Rihanna as a role model.
Lucy Dawe of the Cannabis Skunk Sense group told DailyMirror, "She should be dropped by River Island as she's a rolemodel to young children but clearly an appalling one. It is ahuge double standard because if River Island were reallyconcerned about the effects of drug use, they wouldn't besupporting someone who is so blatantly using drugs herself."
Paul Jenkins, CEO of charity Rethink Mental Illness, alsocriticises Rihanna for supporting marijuana legalisation.
"She is reinforcing the myth that cannabis is a 'safe'drug, when in fact it can increase your chances of developingmental illness, especially if you use it when you're young.It's disappointing to see Rihanna normalising cannabis use inthis way," Jenkins said.
River Side donated 10,000 pounds to Nicholas MillsFoundation in 2008. The foundation was set to honor a youngman, who got addicted to cannabis and heroin and later died ofsuicide.
River Island's Lewis Family Charitable Trust also donated4,000 pounds to mental health charity ReThink that campaignsthe danger of drugs in 2011.
Rihanna showcased the company's products during LondonFashion Week in February, in which she reportedly got paid asmuch as 800,000 pounds. So far, she has produced twocollections. The fashion company declined to comment on theissue.
The campaigners are concerned about children, who see popstar Rihanna as a role model.
Lucy Dawe of the Cannabis Skunk Sense group told DailyMirror, "She should be dropped by River Island as she's a rolemodel to young children but clearly an appalling one. It is ahuge double standard because if River Island were reallyconcerned about the effects of drug use, they wouldn't besupporting someone who is so blatantly using drugs herself."
"She is reinforcing the myth that cannabis is a 'safe'drug, when in fact it can increase your chances of developingmental illness, especially if you use it when you're young.It's disappointing to see Rihanna normalising cannabis use inthis way," Jenkins said.
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River Island's Lewis Family Charitable Trust also donated4,000 pounds to mental health charity ReThink that campaignsthe danger of drugs in 2011.
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