Can an old, yellow-stained pillow be the key to perfect sleep? One man thinks so—but his girlfriend, and half the internet, strongly disagree.
It all started when Cam Thomson posted a picture on X (formerly Twitter) of a pillow that looked like it had been through decades of naps, spills, and maybe even a few life crises. Though he later clarified that the image was just a stock photo, it represented something deeply personal—his own beloved, well-worn, permanently discolored pillow.
“My girlfriend is mad at me because I have revealed to her The Yellow Pillow,” he wrote. “Fellas, I’m sure you all know that this thing is magic.”
Gf is mad at me because I have revealed to her The Yellow Pillow. Fellas, i’m sure you all know that this thing is magic pic.twitter.com/OYWmfs4TLO
— cam (@largemotorcycle) October 21, 2023
And just like that, the internet exploded.
His post racked up a staggering 4.7 million views, with people fiercely divided into two camps: those who worship their old pillows like sacred relics and those who believe they should be burned immediately.
Some men proudly defended their own yellowed pillows, calling them irreplaceable sleep companions.
“Part of being a man is using the same pillow since childhood and never washing it,” joked one commenter. Another added, “Some people dye their pillows yellow to make them look more experienced.”
But others were horrified.
“Do none of you use pillow protectors?” one person asked, visibly disturbed.
Another was straight to the point: “That’s disgusting. You can buy new ones on sale. Just… wash them?”
And then there were those who took a different approach, adding humor to the debate.
“The yellow pillow is the most important thing I got in my divorce,” one user quipped.
As the discussion raged on, a pattern became clear—most men seemed to stand by their well-worn pillows, while most women were calling for immediate replacements.
Even Cam’s own girlfriend wasn’t on board. After realizing how attached he was to it, she insisted the pillow be retired. And while Cam couldn’t bring himself to throw it away, he admitted it’s now in storage.
But why do pillows even turn yellow? According to Time magazine, moisture is the culprit. Sweat, skin oils, drool, face creams, and even wet hair all contribute to the discoloration.
So, are you Team Yellow Pillow or Team Please-Wash-It? Either way, this debate proves one thing: people take their sleep setups very, very personally.
