40 cigarettes a day at age two: the disturbing image that went viral and the long road to quitting
Ardi Rizal, a Sumatra-born toddler, began smoking as a child and eventually burned through as many as 40 cigarettes a day before turning three. Disturbing photos of him lighting up and grinning while playing with a toy in a field circulated online in 2010, making him an international sensation and drawing the world’s attention to the dangers of early tobacco exposure. Today, Ardi has quit and undergone a remarkable transformation, illustrating how resilience and support can overturn a life defined by addiction.
In This Article:
The habit begins: a cigarette at 18 months and a daily $5 price tag
The smoking habit started when his father handed him a cigarette at 18 months old, and his father ended up paying about $5 a day to fuel it. Ardi’s mother, Diane, grew alarmed and would later tell the Daily Mail in 2013 that she sometimes gave him cigarettes to calm his temper and crying. When Ardi tried to quit, he would bang his head against the walls, showing how hard it was to break the addiction.
Health and weight: the toll of the habit and the turn to healthier habits
Ardi’s health suffered as the habit persisted. He drank three tins of sugary condensed milk daily and weighed about a stone more than the typical weight for his age. The turning point began when fresher foods—fruits and vegetables—were introduced; over time, his weight began to move toward a healthier range.
Turning point and viral aftermath
Attempting to quit triggered upheaval at home; Ardi would smash his head against the walls when deprived of cigarettes. When the story appeared on YouTube, it drew enormous attention—more than 36 million views and about 30,000 comments. Public reactions ranged from concern to harsh judgments: one commenter asked why authorities didn’t simply take the cigarettes away, while others called the case “100% messed up” or likened it to a “crazy anime supervillain backstory.”
Today: from addiction to a healthier life
In later interviews, Ardi described the ongoing struggle to quit. In 2017 he told CNN, “It was hard for me to stop. If I am not smoking, my mouth tastes sour and I feel dizzy.” He later added, “I am happy now. I feel more enthusiastic, and my body is feeling fresh.” The broader arc of his story serves as a stark reminder of the real harms of early tobacco exposure—and the possibility of recovery with support and change.
