Michael Jackson he had one of the most famous pets in pop culture history—a chimpanzee named Bubbles, who traveled the world with him, sat in on recording sessions, and became almost as popular as the King of Pop himself. For years, the two were inseparable, sharing hotel suites, red carpets and even a bedroom at Neverland Ranch. Now, with a major biopic bringing Jackson’s life back into the limelight, the world is once again asking: What happened to Bubbles?
How Michael Jackson Got Bubbles
According to the Center for Great Apes, Jackson bought Bubbles in the mid-1980s when the chimp was born at a biomedical research facility in Texas, where animal trainer Bob Dunn helped bring the chimp into his life. Reports differ on exactly how the purchase took place, with some accounts claiming that Jackson purchased the animal directly from the facility when he was just eight months old, while others claim that he purchased it through a Hollywood animal trainer. As The Telegraph reported, Bob Dunn later described Jackson and Bubbles as close friends and playmates, and said that Jackson saw Bubbles as his first child. From the moment Bubbles arrived, the two were rarely apart.
Michael Jackson and Bubbles on tour and in the studio
According to Variety , Jackson took Bubbles on tour and even attended her lawyer John Branca’s wedding. The two had tea together in 1987 while visiting Japanese government officials, and Jackson later took Bubbles to Neverland Ranch, where she slept in a cot in Jackson’s bedroom. Reports at the time indicated that Bubbles also appeared in music videos, sat in on recording sessions and attended celebrity parties where she worked the room and was the life of the party.Chinxho had his share of famous races along the way. As People magazine reported, Jon Bon Jovi told Jimmy Kimmel that he once partied with Bubbles in a hotel room in Tokyo, recalling that the chimpanzee was jumping on the bed and entertaining everyone in the room. Not all encounters were so happy. MSN reports that music producer Quincy Jones definitively recalled, “It was a pain in the ass. It bit Rashida,” citing his daughter Rashida Jones.
Moonwalk, agent and bodyguard
Jackson taught Bubbles how to do his iconic moonwalk, and Bubbles had his own agent and was said to have his own personal bodyguard. Bubbles also made a cameo appearance in the ‘Liberian Girl’ video, appearing on screen with Jackson several times.
Michael Jackson and Bubbles meet the mayor of Osaka
Reports confirm that during the Bad World Tour, Bubbles and Jackson shared a hotel suite in Tokyo and paid a social visit to the mayor of Osaka, where Bubbles drank Japanese green tea while quietly sitting next to Jackson. The mayor’s office said at the time that officials were surprised to see a chimpanzee enter City Hall, but acknowledged that it was Jackson’s true friend. Due to the strict Forties laws, Bubbles was not allowed to travel to Sweden and the UK during parts of the tour, joining Jackson at Elizabeth Taylor’s home and at a promotional party.
When Michael Jackson and Bubbles went their separate ways
As Jackson’s family grew, so did Bubbles. As People magazine reported, Jackson himself described Bubbles as a fighter in the 2003 documentary ‘Living with Michael Jackson’, and the chimp was eventually removed from the home because it was considered a safety risk to Jackson’s newborn son. Speaking to The Telegraph after Jackson’s death, Bob Dunn said: “Bubbles definitely lost it when they split up. The last time Michael visited, Bubbles definitely met and remembered him.“
Where is Bubbles today?
Patti Ragan, founding director of the Center for Great Apes, told Variety, “He’s such a sweet, sweet guy. People still picture him as the cute, pink-faced baby that Michael carried. But now he’s a big boy, about 170 pounds. He lives with a group of five, and right now we are joining some young people in that group.’At 43, reports confirm that Bubbles is considered an old primate who spends most of his time napping. Her favorite foods are fruits, vegetables and leafy greens, and she likes to fill Velcro backpacks with little treasures and carry them around. As Fox 13 News confirmed through a direct interview with Ragan at the shrine, the Michael Jackson Estate pays more than $30,000 a year for Bubbles’ care, and Jackson made plans to visit her when she passed away in 2009, but never got the chance.
What does Bubbles represent beyond the headlines?
The Center for Great Apes states on its official website that Bubbles is shy and private but playful, gently teasing visitors with a splash of water or a sprinkling of sand. Although very photogenic, he does not like cameras and will often turn his back when one appears.Lionsgate released a formal statement through PETA regarding the biopic: “This portrayal is based on historical events and is not intended to be an endorsement of the keeping of chimpanzees as pets. Bubbles is depicted in the film using CGI technology and the real Bubbles has been living a peaceful life at the Center for Great Apes sanctuary for over 20 years.”At the age of 43, living peacefully in a sanctuary in Florida, surrounded by other chimpanzees and cared for by people who love him, Bubbles left all that behind long ago. The cameras are gone, the rides are over, and the moonwalk classes are long gone. All in all, it’s working fine.
