Michael Jackson’s Beloved Chimp Bubbles Is Alive and Well at 42—Living the Retired Life
He once toured the world with the King of Pop—now Bubbles is relaxing in retirement
We’ve all heard stories of outlandish celebrity pets: Mike Tyson’s tigers, Slash’s snakes, Tracy Morgan’s octopus and more. However, one that stood out as being more along the lines of a companion as opposed to a pet is Michael Jackson’s chimpanzee, Bubbles. As the story goes, Jackson took in Bubbles from a medical lab back in the ’80s, and for the next several years, the chimp would live a life that many humans could only dream of—touring the world with the King of Pop, staying in five-star hotels, dining with celebrities and even wearing designer clothes tailored just for him.
Now, more than 20 years after Michael said goodbye to Bubbles so he could live out the rest of his years at proper facilities, his story is resurfacing in a viral Reddit post—and all signs point to Bubbles being alive and well at 42 years old! Here, all about Bubbles’ life, his relationship with the late singer and what the chimp has been up to for the last several years.
Michael Jackson and Bubbles’ early years
According to the Center for Great Apes, where Bubbles currently lives, the chimpanzee was first raised by a Hollywood animal trainer before he joined Michael Jackson as his companion. In the years that the two spent together, Bubbles rubbed elbows with famous musicians, celebrities and even political figures! When he wasn’t hanging on set with Michael or appearing in his music videos, Bubbles was said to party like a rock star! During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jon Bon Jovi recalled a night spent with the chimp back in the day.
“[He was] jumpin’ on the bed, puttin’ on a show, oh yeah,” the musician shared. “And I don’t remember who brought him down or if he just came down on his own with a cigar. Bubbles showed up, man. He hung hard.”
Bon Jovi wasn’t the only celeb who had an experience with Bubbles over the years, though for some famous faces, their time spent with the chimp wasn’t exactly ideal. Jackson and Queen joined forces for the duet “There Must Be More To Life Than This,” but back in the ’80s, the musicians never quite finished the song due to Freddie Mercury’s alleged frustration with the presence of Bubbles.
As reported by Daily Mail, per David Wigg, a writer and close friend of Freddie Mercury, “Freddie got very angry because Michael made Bubbles sit between them and would turn to the chimp between takes and ask, ‘Don’t you think that was lovely?’ or, ‘Do you think we should do that again?’ After a few days of this, Freddie just exploded.”
Michael Jackson says goodbye to Bubbles in the 2000s
As Bubbles grew into adulthood, his temperament changed and the animal became too rambunctious to keep as a pet, especially amongst Jackson’s children. In the early 2000s, Bubbles relocated to Bob Dunn’s California ranch, and when it shut down in 2004, the chimp would eventually move to the Center for Great Apes in Florida.
Where Bubbles the Chimp is today
According to the animal sanctuary’s website, the 185-pound chimp enjoys painting and quiet time, and “though shy and private, Bubbles is also playful. He’s been known for gently teasing visitors with a splash of water or a sprinkle of sand, just for fun.” According to a post shared on its Instagram, after Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, Bubbles continued to be cared for thanks to financial support from Michael Jackson’s Estate.
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