Michael Jackson was known for many things — the moonwalk, the Thriller jacket, the single glove. But one of the most surprising facts about the King of Pop was his closest companion: a chimpanzee named Bubbles.
In 1985, at the peak of his fame following the release of Thriller, Jackson adopted Bubbles from a research facility in Texas. The chimp was just eight months old. Jackson had a well-known love of animals, but Bubbles quickly became something far more than a pet. Jackson treated him like a member of his own family.
Bubbles slept in a crib in Jackson’s bedroom. He used the same toilet as Jackson. He wore specially tailored clothes designed to match his famous owner’s outfits. This was not a chimp living in a cage — he lived inside the full orbit of a global superstar’s daily life.
Bubbles traveled with Jackson on world tours, sat in on recording sessions, and visited movie sets. He had his own seat at the dinner table and attended red carpet events. Photos of the two together — Jackson holding Bubbles’ hand or the chimp perched on his shoulder — became instantly recognizable images.
The public was fascinated. Some people admired Jackson’s bond with the animal. Others raised concerns about whether a wild chimpanzee should be kept as a private pet. The debate around Bubbles reflected wider questions about exotic animal ownership that were already growing in the 1980s and 1990s.
As chimpanzees mature, they become significantly stronger and harder to manage. By the early 2000s, Bubbles had grown too large for Jackson to safely care for. Jackson made the decision to move him to a professional sanctuary.
Today, Bubbles lives at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida. The sanctuary houses other chimpanzees and orangutans retired from entertainment and the exotic pet trade. Bubbles is one of its most well-known residents.
