“I Love Tobacco”: David Lynch Reflects on Smoking and Its Consequences
David Lynch, a famous filmmaker known for unique movies like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive, recently shared that he has emphysema, a lung disease caused by smoking. Despite this, he says he will not retire.
On social media, Lynch thanked his fans for their support.
“Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them,” he admitted.
He quit smoking two years ago and, apart from emphysema, is in good health. His message received over 1.3 million likes.
He explained in an interview with Sight and Sound magazine that his illness has made it hard for him to leave his home.
“I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long, and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not. It would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold,” he said. He can only walk a short distance before running out of breath.
Despite these challenges, Lynch remains determined to continue his work in filmmaking. He acknowledged the difficulties posed by his condition, saying, “I would really hate directing remotely, but if it comes to it, I will.” He doesn’t like the idea of directing from home but will do it if necessary.
During the pandemic, he stayed creative by sharing videos and weather reports on YouTube. He made short films like Fire (Pożar) and WHAT DID JACK DO?, directed a music video for Donovan, and released an album with Chrystabell called Cellophane Memories.
His last full-length movie was Inland Empire in 2006, but he continues to work on new projects. He mentioned a screenplay called “Antelope Don’t Run No More” and an animated project “Snootworld,” which Netflix rejected.
“Just recently, I thought someone might be interested in getting behind this, so I presented it to Netflix in the last few months, but they rejected it,” he said.
His recent TV show, “Twin Peaks: The Return,” was well-received in 2017, and the network Showtime is open to more episodes whenever Lynch is ready. “The door is always open to Mark [Frost] and David for Twin Peaks – or anything else they want to talk about,” said Showtime’s programming president, Gary Levine.
Emphysema, also called COPD, is a lung disease caused by smoking, air pollution, and exposure to dust and chemicals. The World Health Organization expects it to be a major cause of death by 2030. His condition is a reminder of the risks of smoking, but he continues to enjoy his work.
He says he is happy and will never retire. “I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire,” Lynch stated emphatically, and his fans and the film community admire his strength and dedication.