Joss Stone has been complaining that British fans no longer like her because she has an American accent now – anyone who returns from an overseas trip with an accent is held in contempt in England. They don’t have to dislike her for the way she talks, but rather for the stupid things that she says.

British singer Joss Stone shocked guests at a heart disease benefit, by singing the praises of cigarettes. The star was one of a number of celebrity guests at a New York Fashion Week bash on Saturday (2FEB08) to promote U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) annual Heart Truth awareness campaign. When asked what she did to protect her heart, Stone, 20, revealed she smoked hand-rolled cigarettes – which she wrongly claimed are less harmful than pre-packaged ones. She told the New York Daily News, “In England we smoked rolled cigarettes. It’s better to smoke rollies than straights because straights have chemicals that keep them burning. So if you have to really smoke, smoke rollies.”

[From Contact Music]

Contact Music points out that hand-rolled cigarettes are more likely to cause lung and esophageal cancer.

If Joss Stone was even a little bit clever, she might have just lied a little and said ‘I exercise’ or ‘I try to eat right’. Not something like ‘I only smoke hand-rolled ciggies’.

It’s not just that what she said was wrong, but it’s also the venue in which she shared her medical expertise. I’m guessing she wasn’t at the bash for the free food, but to actually learn about heart disease, since she obviously knows nothing about it.

By the way, eating well and exercising, as well as not smoking, are good ways to improve heart and lung health. For more information check out the United States National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Joss Stone is shown wearing a dress similar to the one Lindsay Lohan wore to the Maxim Hot 100 party back in May of last year. She is shown outside the Herve Leger By Max Azria show at fashion week on 2/3/08, thanks to PRPhotos.