Ardi Rizal was just 2 years old when he became famous for the most shocking reason.
Footage surfaced of the little boy from Indonesia riding around his village in a red toy car… while chain-smoking cigarettes.
Ardi began smoking when he was just 18 months old. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for children in Indonesia to become addicted to smoking.
Soon, the little boy was smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day!
Photos and footage of Ardi smoking caused so much global outrage that the Indonesian government placed him in a rehabilitation program, at no cost, where he was weaned off cigarettes. However, the boy quickly replaced his addiction to nicotine with a dependence on unhealthy foods.
His weight spiraled out of control. If he didn’t get fatty and sugary foods, he would throw tantrums, just like he did when he didn’t get his cigarettes.
But over the past couple of years, incredible changes have taken place. These days, after breaking his patterns of addiction, Ardi is healthier than ever before. The elementary school student is now focused on socializing with his friends, and he’s even a star student.
- June Rivers, Little Things