Lola Young, 25, has never been one to hide behind a filter. In a TikTok posted Wednesday (Sept. 30), the singer turned her candid lens on a habit she says is finally catching up with her: vaping.
“My lungs feel like they’re battery powered, like they’re just one big battery,” she said. “And breathing feels like a chore.”
The post is a reminder that even the most unfiltered artists sometimes need to speak plainly about their own bodies. Young described the sensation of inhaling as something that has become unexpectedly difficult, and she framed it with her signature blend of humor and honesty.
The Battery Analogy
Young’s description of her lungs as “battery powered” is a vivid one. She compared the act of drawing air into her chest to a machine running on power, and she made the comparison plain: her entire respiratory system feels like one large battery, drained and running low.
The joke that follows is the kind of self-aware humor that defines her public presence. She added that breathing feels “like a chore,” and she joked that she should be earning “£30-an-hour” just for doing it.
Warning Signs She Ignored
Young recalled being told years ago that she would eventually notice the effects of vaping. At the time, she said, she dismissed the idea. Looking back, she now says, “the day has come.”
The video is not a formal announcement that she is quitting. In fact, when she considered whether she might eventually kick the habit, Young joked, “I’ll try to quit when I’m 45.” The caption for the post reads “spoken word 4 ya.”
Her approach to the subject is consistent with how she handles everything else: direct, blunt, and a little funny.
A Career Built on Candor
Young’s vulnerability has always sat alongside a rapidly expanding music career. Her breakout single “Messy” became her first Billboard Hot 100 hit, climbing to No. 14 in March 2025.
That success brought Young’s candid songwriting and unvarnished personality to a much larger audience. Her Hot 100 run also includes Tyler, The Creator’s “Like Him,” which features Young and peaked at No. 43 on the chart.
The video is a personal update, not a commercial statement. It is Young speaking directly to her fans about something that has become uncomfortable, and she does it without pretending the problem is minor.
The Breaking Point
Young’s decision to address this publicly comes after she opened up about her struggles with addiction and recovery. Her breaking point was a 2025 performance at New York’s All Things Go Music Festival, where she suddenly collapsed onstage.
That collapse was the moment that pushed her to make changes in her life. The festival performance was a public failure, and it forced her to confront habits she had previously ignored.
Why This Matters
Young’s honesty matters because she is not pretending that the difficulty of breathing is a small thing. She describes it as a chore, and she jokes about being paid for it — but the joke lands because the underlying issue is real.
The video is a reminder that young fame does not protect anyone from the consequences of bad habits. Young is 25, and she is talking openly about a condition that has developed over years of vaping.
What Comes Next
Young did not announce a plan to quit in the video. She said she will try when she is 45, which is a joke — but jokes often contain a kernel of truth.
The video is a snapshot of where she is now. She is acknowledging the problem, and she is doing it in her own voice, with her own humor.
The Numbers
- Lola Young, 25
- TikTok posted Wednesday (Sept. 30)
- “Messy” reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2025
- Tyler, The Creator’s “Like Him” featuring Young peaked at No. 43 on the Hot 100
- Caption: “spoken word 4 ya”
Our View
The joke about earning £30-an-hour for breathing is the heart of the video. It is a wry portrait of a person whose body has betrayed her, and she is laughing about it — but the laughter is not a dismissal.
Young is making a serious point through humor. She is saying that breathing should not feel like work, and she is doing it in a way that fits her character.
This is not a lecture about vaping. It is a personal confession, delivered with the same directness that has defined her career. The video is a reminder that even when someone is famous, their problems are still their own.
Watch the full TikTok below.
KEY FACTS BOX
– Singer: Lola Young, 25
– TikTok posted: Wednesday (Sept. 30)
– “Messy” peak: No. 14 on Billboard Hot 100, March 2025
– “Like Him” peak: No. 43 on Hot 100
– Caption: “spoken word 4 ya”
– Collapse: 2025 All Things Go Music Festival, New York
Source material: “Lola Young Says ‘It Feels Like Hard Work’ Just to Breathe After Years of Vaping,” Billboard.
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