They Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Anymore: Michael Jackson’s Iconic Pepsi “Billie Jean” Ad from 1984
Back in 1984, Pepsi redefined advertising with The Choice of a New Generation campaign — and at the heart of it was none other than Michael Jackson, the King of Pop himself.
Fresh off the record-shattering success of Thriller — which went 34× Platinum — Jackson teamed up with director Bob Giraldi, who had also directed his Beat It music video, to create one of the most unforgettable commercials in history.
For the ad, Michael even re-recorded “Billie Jean” with brand-new lyrics, blending his electrifying stage presence with Pepsi’s youthful energy.
The commercial follows a young boy dressed like Jackson, showing off the star’s signature dance moves with friends on a city street.
Suddenly, the real Michael Jackson appears — joined by his brothers, The Jacksons — and they break into a dazzling street performance that still gives fans chills decades later.
That young boy? None other than Alfonso Ribeiro, who would go on to play Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Years later, he’d famously recreate some of Jackson’s moves on the show — a nostalgic nod to where it all began.
💫 Nearly four decades later, this legendary Pepsi “Billie Jean” spot remains a shining example of how music, storytelling, and pop culture once collided to create pure magic.
They truly don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
