Michael Jackson He was passionate about exotic animals and kept several in his mansions.
The one that managed to attract the most media attention was Bubbles, a chimpanzee who had a close bond with the “King of Pop” before he had children and who accompanied him on multiple public appearances. Today, however, he lives a quiet life in an animal sanctuary, completely away from the spotlight.
Bubbles was born inside a biomedical laboratory in 1983. There are different versions that explain how it came into Jackson’s life, although the one that has lasted the most indicates that the singer bought the ape when he was a baby for $65,000 and Bob Dunn, one of the most famous animal trainers for movies and series. , took charge of the acquisition.
As soon as he was adopted, Bubbles became one of the most iconic animals in the entire music industry by participating in important milestones in Jackson’s career. His public appearances were also widely covered by the press of the time.
In 1987 he was part of several tour dates Bad World Tour and also made an appearance in the music video for Liberian Girlwhere he shared with stars such as John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Steven Spielberg.
At that same time the “King of Pop” starred in a curious moment with the animal in Japan. While they were in a meeting with the mayor of Osaka, Yasushi Oshima, the artist shared his cup of tea with Bubbles, which was recorded by cameras.
Bubbles lived his first years in Hayvenhurst, a farm located in the Encino district, but from 1988 he began to reside in Neverland, the famous ranch named in honor of Peter Pan. On that property he continued to have a privileged life, where he even had his own crib in the moonwalk creator’s room.
Even though Bubbles was practically a celebrity, not everyone was happy with her presence. In 1984, when Jackson planned to record with Freddie Mercury the single There Must Be More To Life Than This, The Queen leader ended up enraged by the “King of Pop”’s insistence on asking Bubbles for his opinion on every take they took.
“After a few days on that plan, Freddie just exploded because he wasn’t going to sing with a monkey sitting next to him every night,” revealed journalist and friend of Mercury, David Wigg. After that episode, the British singer took a plane back to London and abandoned the recording of the single.
When Bubbles became an adult, her behavior became a problem for the actor. Billie Jean Well, it would have gotten more violent. “You couldn’t bother him, he would grab the bars and go crazy. “Michael asked me not to get close to him,” explained comedian Eddy Murphy, who had the opportunity to see him on one of his visits to Neverland.
Because of Jackson’s fear that she might do something to her children, in 2003 she chose to take Bubbles to Bob Dunn’s animal sanctuary, the same trainer who had arranged the purchase. Some time later, he was sent to the Center for Great Apes sanctuary in Florida, in the United States.
Although Jackson took charge of financing Bubbles’ care at the facility, Various reports indicate that he never visited him again. In 2009 the interpreter of Beat It He died from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, and since then, responsibility for the primate was assumed by his heirs.
Bubbles, who today is 41 years old and weighs 80 kilos, is living a life in total freedom and tranquility in the Florida sanctuary, where he can also share with other specimens. At the facility he is even encouraged to do various hobbies to keep him entertained.
Patti Ragan, director of the sanctuary, revealed to the tabloid TMZ that the animal can explore tunnels, build nests under trees, have daily naps at midday and even paint canvases.
Veterinarians are constantly examining Bubbles to ensure his health. This, considering that The life expectancy of a chimpanzee in these conditions is between 50 and 60 years..
According to Ragan, Jackson’s former companion is a friendly chimpanzee who can interact seamlessly with visitors and the rest of his chimpanzee companions. Furthermore, so far, he shows no signs of having suffered episodes of abuse in the past.
Although the sanctuary usually plays music by the “King of Pop” so that the chimpanzees can listen to it, Bubbles apparently does not show much interest in his songs. “Despite their once fierce bond, the singer is long in Bubbles’ past,” Ragan noted.
