Cowell criticised for smoking around pregnant girlfriend

Health campaigners are criticising Simon Cowell for smoking around his pregnant girlfriend.

 

The X Factor judge was pictured lighting up in the back of a car while sitting next to Lauren Silverman, who is due to give birth in February.

 

It’s not the first time Cowell has been snapped around his girlfriend with a cigarette in his hand. The couple were pictured out for dinner last month and also walking Beverly Hills and on both occasions, he was smoking a menthol cigarette.

 

This has sparked a response from health charity Action on Smoking and Health, which is warning pregnant women to avoid passive smoke.

 

Amanda Sandford says: “Tobacco smoke is toxic and can harm the unborn child so it’s really important that pregnant women avoid breathing in tobacco smoke, whether through active or passive smoking.

 

“Studies show that babies born to women who were exposed to second hand smoke during pregnancy are at greater risk of having a low birth weight, congenital abnormalities and are also at increased risk of dying shortly after birth.”