Birthdays in the soap world usually involve mushy tributes and cute throwbacks, but Michelle Stafford took hers to a whole different level. The Young and the Restless star gave her friend and costar Jason Thompson a birthday post that sent fans into ’90s nostalgia. Before he was chosen to play Billy Abbott on daytime TV, Jason was part of a Gap commercial, and Michelle dug them up to celebrate his big day.
Michelle Stafford recalls iconic Gap ad on Young & Restless’ Jason Thompson’s birthday
Stafford stumbled across the old-school ads online and just had to put them out for everyone to see. She shared two clips from Gap’s 1999 commercial lineup, where a baby-faced Jason Thompson was belting out lines from a hit song.
In one spot called “Everybody in Vests,” he even sang a line from Madonna’s 1984 track “Dress You Up.” Michelle also added a fired-up caption that reads, “Yes yes!!!! Say Happy Birthday to @myjasonthompson (these came up in my feed a couple months ago!! Been waiting to post!!)”
The second throwback clip showed Jason in another Gap classic called “Everybody in Cords,” where he sang a bit of Donovan’s 1967 hit “Mellow Yellow.” Fans and even fellow cast members were taken aback not only by the baby-faced flashback, but by the fact that the Thompson can actually sing really well.
Even Thompson jumped into the comments to laugh along, writing, “Haha!! They call me ‘Old Yeller.’ Thank you, Stafford!! And everyone else here for the bday wishes!!
The birthday post blew up in the soap universe, garnering reactions from stars across The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. Tracey E. Bregman wrote a simple “Happy birthday.” Finola Hughes also wrote that she had no idea Thompson could sing.
The Hot Guys with Guns actor Marc Anthony Samuel also added that he, too, filmed a Gap commercial back in the day.
Thompson celebrated his birthday on Nov. 20, and Michelle Stafford’s funny throwback gift quickly turned into a nostalgia moment for everyone on the internet. The old Gap clips showed just how far he’s come, starting out singing in commercials and now being loved as one of soap operas’ most popular stars.
