Generation X Heroes and Disposable Vape Brands

Mike Tyson, Snoop Dogg (Death Row), Ronaldinho, Chris Brown, Nicky Jam, Dennis Rodman and Hulk Hogan all have disposable vape brands. They average over 50 years of age. The use of their likenesses is clearly intended to appeal to middle-aged nicotine consumers.

But in the eyes of the FDA, Gen X and Millennial appealing celebrities receive do not get a free pass. A series of warning letters directed towards 10 vape distributors and manufacturers was sent on December 19, 2024. The brands included on this warning letter list, with only a couple exceptions, also had the name or likeness of a celebrity on the box.

Once again, the FDA ended up targeting products with characterizing flavors inspired by fruits and beverages. Flavored vapes are the preferred product choice for 90% of adult vapor consumers according to a recent JAMA study.

Why Mi-Pod Avoids Celebrity Branded Vapes

Marketing practices like celebrity branded vapes give alternative nicotine prohibitionists even more leverage to enact flavor bans.

The tobacco industry hasn't used celebrity endorsements and testimonials six decades. These endorsements were adopted in the 1940s after they could no longer roll out shill doctors claiming cigarettes were safe. The history of this notorious practice makes celebrity branded vapes an easy target for lobbyists and regulators.

While Mike Tyson's grimacing visage is far removed from John Wayne shilling Camel cigarettes 70 years ago, the optics are quite similar to a casual observer. 

This is why Mi-Pod avoids celebrity vape brands. Our goal is to provide the best selection of ash and smoke free nicotine alternatives for adults to our customers and the retailers.

It has been shown that vape flavor bans increase cigarette sales, and everything possible must be done resist the narrative being created by well-funded anti-vaping lobbyists like the Orwellian-named Truth Initiative. 

Leveraging the name of an athlete, entertainer or professional wrestler may boost the sales of one line of vapes, but it compromises the industry as a whole. Even with underage vaping rates hitting a ten-year low, very powerful forces remain obsessed with eliminating adult access to desirable vaping products.

Mi-Pod Wholesale and Celebrity Vapes

Mi-Pod Wholesale makes a point of offering the best disposable vape collection, obtaining reputable brands directly from the manufacturer and serving as a master distributor for top-selling brands.

As a vape shop or convenience store reseller, you are probably aware there is a lot of overlap when it comes to disposable vapes flavors. There is also a technological convergence in terms of puff counts, features and vapor production.

The celebrity-backed products in question use the industry standard nicotine strength of 50mg and are available in flavors that adult vapor consumers prefer such as blue razz, mint, and other fruit inspired formulas. We pass no judgement on the quality of the products. 

The issue is that celebrity-named products run afoul of several state laws, most notably Texas and Oregon. Mi-Pod also refuses to carry products that the use trade dress of licensed products, mimic the packaging of food, and avoid any cartoonish characters.

Protecting Adult Access to Flavored Vapes

Mi-Pod has no interest in selling our products to anyone adult who is not currently using nicotine. Minors are simply not welcome here. Underage vaping remains an existential threat to adult access despite these number of minors vaping reaching a ten-year low in 2023. 

It is easy to understand how the power of celebrity endorsements and bold branding can help a comparable product stand out in a competitive market. We understand why some store owners, particular at convenience stores, would choose a product with a famous name.

However, we have deliberately steered clear of companies adopting these strategies, as they attract unwanted scrutiny from groups seeking to restrict adult access to nicotine products with characterizing fruit flavors.

Most disposable vape users are adults. Any effort to curtail the availability of these products is a blow to consumer freedom and adult access to superior alternatives.

It would be a win for public health if the celebrities in question were to use their prestige and popularity to support adult access to alternative nicotine products.

But as a face printed on the box of disposable vape, they serve only to draw a target on the back of the vaping products most popular with adult consumers. 

Looking at their accomplishments, these are clearly not "kid-friendly" celebrities. Their advocacy is welcome but mere financial opportunism could potentially fuel a flavor ban and the public health calamity that would follow. 

• Hulk Hogan (Age 71): March 24, 1985, becomes first pro wrestler featured on a Sports Illustrated cover.
• Mike Tyson (Age 58): June 27, 1988, Knocks out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds to Become Lineal Heavyweight Champion
• Death Row/ Snoop Dogg (Age 53): January 19, 1993, Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang single released.
• Dennis Rodman (Age 63): June 13, 1989, Wins first of five NBA rings.
• Ronaldinho (Age 44): 2005-2006 Champions League MVP
• Nicky Jam (Age 43): 1997, Los Kangris collaboration with Daddy Yankee Begins
• Chris Brown (Age 35): November 29, 2005, launched self-titled debut album.