During the height of Michael Jackson’s fame in the 1980s, one member of his entourage attracted almost as much curiosity as the superstar himself.
His name was Bubbles, a chimpanzee born in 1983 who became Michael’s famous animal companion while still very young. The Center for Great Apes says Bubbles appeared in entertainment projects and accompanied Michael on promotional appearances.
Bubbles was not simply kept away from the cameras at home. Michael brought him into his very public world.
One of the best examples came in 1987, when Michael traveled to Japan at the beginning of his first solo world tour. Contemporary reports noted that Bubbles traveled to Japan too.
The pair even visited Osaka City Hall, where Michael received a key to the city from Mayor Yasushi Oshima. Bubbles sat beside Michael and reportedly drank Japanese green tea. Officials said it was the first time an animal had entered the building.
Michael Jackson and Bubbles Meet the Mayor of Osaka
As Bubbles matured, however, keeping him around people became impractical. Chimpanzees grow enormously strong, and the Center for Great Apes says Bubbles stopped living with Michael when he was about six years old.
In 2005, Bubbles moved to the Center for Great Apes in Florida, where he has lived ever since. Michael Jackson’s Estate continues to contribute toward his care.
For a few strange and unforgettable years, Bubbles was not just Michael Jackson’s pet. He became part of the spectacle surrounding the biggest pop star on Earth.