SZA took to Instagram to share how she convinced a literal child to ditch his nitrous oxide canister in exchange for a pic with her.
The Grammy winner just proved she’s not just a chart-topper but a real-life hero in the making.
The “Kill Bill” singer took to Instagram to share this incredibly personal and eye-opening encounter. She posted a photo of herself holding the colorful nitrous oxide canister, writing, “Literally talked a CHILD into throwing away his whippet drugs in exchange for a picture/video at the in-n-out drive-through.” She then added, with a clear sense of purpose, “Sad, but if I can stop this sh*t for even a second, imma try.”
For those unfamiliar, “whippets” are basically nitrous oxide, often called “laughing gas,” inhaled recreationally for a brief euphoric high. Sounds harmless, right? Wrong. It poses serious health risks, including potential lung damage and oxygen deprivation. It’s a dangerous trend, and SZA has been vocal about it before.
This isn’t the first time our favorite R&B artist has sounded the alarm. Last September, she called out the alarming rise of “galaxy gas” – another term for nitrous oxide and its “mass marketing to black children.” She wrote, “Sorry to be old n annoying but.. Is no one gonna talk about how galaxy gas came out of no where and is being MASS marketed to black children? The government is doing NOTHING ? .. since when are we selling whip its at the store ???? Somebody protect the children.”
SZA specifically criticized the “childlike designs and marketing,” like “stars and bright colors,” questioning if it was an intentional tactic to “entice the kids on purpose.” She even pointed out the mysterious origins of these brands, saying, “sumn tells me the owner looks like colonel sanders.” Her concern is incredibly valid, especially given that inhaling the gas directly from capsules or large cylinders can cause serious lung damage, with effects kicking in almost immediately.
While the encounter might have dampened SZA’s evening, her week overall has been absolutely on fire! Her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, “Luther,” has just marked its 13th consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs chart.
