Whatever Became of Bubbles?

Back when Michael Jackson, who died a year ago today, was earning the tabloid nickname “Wacko Jacko,” bizarre stories circulated about him. He slept in a hyperbaric chamber to slow the aging process; he wanted to buy the skeleton of “Elephant Man” John Merrick, whose life fascinated him. Most of these stories turned out to be fiction … except for the one about Bubbles, the moonwalking young chimp that was Jackson’s constant companion.

Jackson rescued the chimp from a Texas medical research facility in the early 1980s. Although I’m totally opposed to the idea of wildlife as pets, I have to give Jackson credit for saving the primate from a fate much worse than having to wear a little red leather jacket. If you were around in the ‘80s, you probably remember all the media coverage of Bubbles accompanying Jackson on the Bad World Tour, wearing matching outfits and performing the moonwalk. At Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, the chimp slept in a crib in his master’s bedroom, shared the bathroom, ate at the dinner table and munched candy in the onsite movie theater.

Along with Bubbles and some other chimpanzees, Jackson kept a menagerie of exotic animals at the ranch. Once upon a time, his personal zoo included elephants, tigers, giraffes and zebras.

But, as we know, there was to be no happily ever after. Bubbles was becoming a surly, aggressive teenager when Jackson's first child, Prince Michael Jr., was born, so the growing chimp was sent off to a sanctuary for the child’s protection. And when personal and financial troubles befell Jackson, veterinarian Martin Dinnes was assigned the task of selling or giving away the rest of Michael’s menagerie.

Dinnes said that Jackson wanted him to find the best homes possible and approved of all the places they went. Animal rights activists do not concur. They said many of the animals are now living in substandard facilities, and the Jackson estate (which collected $250 million in the past year) doesn’t provide for them.

So where is Bubbles? For the past five years, the now 27-year-old chimp has called the Center for Great Apes sanctuary in Florida his home. Founder Patti Ragan said he spends his time napping, eating and playing with a toy backpack, but his moonwalking days are over. (Incidentally, she says “All chimpanzees walk backwards if they’re playing, so his moonwalking was nothing special.” Way to burst our, er, bubbles.)

The chimp could easily live another thirty or more years. Half of the tab for Bubbles' care is picked up by the Jackson estate, but to help defray the other half of the $15,000 annual cost for his food, veterinary care, toys and habitat maintenance, she encourages Michael Jackson fans to “adopt” Bubbles by making a donation to the sanctuary. Bubbles’ “adopters” are invited to special open houses where they get to meet and greet the King of Pop’s former pal.

Until recently, none of the Jackson family members came to visit Bubbles. This week, Animal Planet aired the luridly titled documentary Michael Jackson and Bubbles: The Untold Story, in which La Toya Jackson, Michael’s sister, is reunited with the chimp for the first time in 20 years. As she crouches beside his cage, repeating his name 24 times (yes, I counted), Bubbles seems to regard her indifferently, at times looking off in the distance.

Could he be recalling that little red jacket he used to wear in the land where no one was supposed to grow up?

Photo credit: Sotti