Nostalgia
Hilary Duff Shocked That People Don’t Know Who ‘Childhood Crush’ Jonathan Taylor Thomas Is
Justice for Jonathan Taylor Thomas!
During the Wednesday, May 20, episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show, Hilary Duff revealed that the former teenage heartthrob, now 44, was her childhood crush growing up — but barely anyone in the audience knew who she was talking about.
When an audience member asked the “Come Clean” singer, 38, who she had a crush on growing up, Duff replied, “My first celebrity crush was Jonathan Taylor Thomas.”
After receiving an underwhelming response from the crowd, she asked, “Do you remember? JTT!”
As the audience member looked a bit confused about who she was referring to, the Lizzie McGuire alum said, “You’re too young.”
“I don’t know who that is, but… period,” the audience member said to Duff, who then asked the entire crowd to raise their hand if she knew who the Home Improvement alum is.
“It’s not even half,” Duff said of the crowd, visibly shocked. “Guys, he was on Home Improvement!”
“Cute Jonathan Taylor Thomas! He was also in… Lion King,” Duff said. “He was the voice of Simba, right?”
Thomas, who has maintained a relatively low profile in recent years, rose to fame playing Randy Taylor, one of Tim Allen‘s onscreen sons, on Home Improvement.
The actor, who graced the covers of many teen magazines during his heartthrob era, also guest-starred on Last Man Standing, among his other film and television appearances. At one point, he began focusing on his education, studying at Harvard, Columbia and St. Andrew’s University in Scotland.
In 2023, Thomas was photographed at a convenience store near his home in Southern California, dressed casually in a sweater and a beanie — and rocking a beard.
It is unclear if he is married or dating anyone.
As for Duff, the mom of four has been married to Matthew Koma since 2019.
