Bubbles the chimp appeared to live a perfect life with Michael Jackson, but disturbing claims have emerged about the pet primate’s life behind the scenes.
In fact, the King of Pop’s furry friend had to be saved by medics after he was rushed to hospital in 2003, where he could have lost his life.
Michael bought Bubbles from an animal trainer for $65,000 (now £51,000) in the 1980s, and the pair quickly became best friends.
Bubbles was no ordinary chimpanzee, because he lived a highly glamorous life in the limelight, which once saw him sport a suave tuxedo at the 1994 MTV Movie Awards.
Bubbles and his famous owner seemed to become inseparable and they were often snapped out and about together.
(Image: Sipa/REX/Shutterstock)
The primate even travelled with the singer on his Bad World tour and sipped tea with the mayor of Osaka in Japan.
At first, the chimp stayed at Jackson’s family home in Los Angeles before he was later moved into Michael’s iconic Neverland home, which famously boasted an outdoor theme park.
Bubbles slept in a crib in Michael’s room, but it seemed Bubbles didn’t always behave at home because he reportedly threw his own poo around the mansion.
Sadly, worrying claims have emerged about Bubbles’ life with the King of Pop, such as claims that he was abused.
The world’s leading primatologist, Jane Goodall, said she thought Bubbles had been punched in the face and kicked in the stomach during his time with Jackson.
(Image: FilmMagic, Inc)
The expert also claimed that Michael was left fuming when she tried to talk to him about it.
Speaking in 2014, Jane told TMZ: “I went to see him and we talked about Bubbles. I ticked him off.
“Bubbles is still alive and he’s beautiful. But when he was with Michael he was being beaten.”
Jack Gordon, the ex-hubby of Michael’s sister La Toya, claimed he once saw Jackson beat the chimp.
Jack said: “I saw Michael punch Bubbles in the face, kick him in the stomach”.
The Jackson family have denied the claims that Michael abused the infant chimp.
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Jane alleged Bubbles was ‘hit across the room’ to be disciplined in a new ITV documentary, called Searching for Michael Jackson’s Zoo with Ross Kemp.
She explained she confronted the singer about how he treated Bubbles when he misbehaved.
Goodall said: “He looked at me and [asked] ‘you wouldn’t approve of a chimp being hit over the head, would you?’ I said, ‘No, Michael, you know I wouldn’t.
“Bubbles was hit when he did something wrong. Michael said that once he was hit across the room. I said, ‘Well, Michael, did you think that was all right?’ And he said, ‘No, not really.’”
(Image: Center for Great Apes/AFP via Ge)
Bubbles eventually grew to 12st and was moved to a California trainer in 2003 after he reportedly became more aggressive.
He was relocated amid serious concerns he would attack Michael’s newborn son, Prince Michael II.
At the time, ranch owner Bob Dunn told CNN: “Bubbles is an adult chimp and a wild animal… We don’t let him out to play.”
Jackson replaced Bubbles with another infant chimp called Bubbles, as well as two more baby chimps called Max and Action.
It’s been said Bubbles tried to take his own life after his master was charged with child-molestation.
(Image: Shaan Kokin/Julien’s Auctions/REX/Shutterstock)
Luckily, medics managed to save Bubbles’ life in December of that year, but no further details have emerged about the tragic incident.
The Times of India said of Michael: “his favourite pet, a chimpanzee named Bubbles tried to commit suicide.”
It was also claimed Bubbles self-harmed after finding out about Jackson’s death from a prescription-drug overdose in 2009.
The Centre For Great Apes founder, Patti Ragan, has denied the claims and insisted Bubbles was never told about Michael’s passing and wouldn’t understand.
These days, Bubbles looks dramatically different with a flatter face and hugely increased size, weighing a whopping 160 pounds.
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Keepers at the centre said Bubbles was “huge and ugly” but has a very “sweet character”.
Animal trainer Dunn told the News of the World that Bubbles “definitely missed” Michael when they separated, and that he will still miss him.
He said: “Chimpanzees are intelligent. They remember people and stuff. Bubbles and Michael were close friends and playmates.
“The last time Michael visited, Bubbles definitely recognised and remembered him.”
Bubbles is now 39-years-old at the Florida ape centre, where he lives a much calmer life.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
