Jump to full article: New York Daily News, 2008-01-12
Author: JORDAN LITE and JONATHAN LEMIRE DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Intro: Although he has been smoking since age 8, Skip Legault vows to quit someday.
State health officials said Friday they knew the star of their graphic, gut-wrenching, anti-smoking ads still smoked - and insisted it only added to their campaign's power.
Skip Legault, whose tales of multiple heart attacks, surgeries, strokes and an amputated right leg are the centerpiece of new TV and print ads, admitted in an exclusive Daily News interview Friday he still smokes half a pack of cigarettes a day.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines said the print spot - which reads, "Cigarette smoking is killing Skip Legault, don't let it kill you" - subtly acknowledges Legault still smokes.
"It's very powerful to know he smokes - it increases the power of the message we're trying to give," Daines said.
Legault's status as a smoker may come out in one of two upcoming spots the department is producing, officials said.
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