He was actually under the pyrotechnics when they went off. The singer continued performing for some seconds before being tackled to the ground by stagehands and fellow members of The Jacksons, who were also on stage at the time, and the flames were beaten out. On January 27 . 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Emmanuel Lewis' Family Took Michael In When He Was Recovering From His Pepsi Commercial Accident. 'Overtaken'[NEWS]Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch sells for $78M below asking price[INSIGHT]. Hair product may not exacerbate it sometimes. Singed they may be, but strands of pop icon Michael Jackson's hair 12, to be exact are a still a precious piece of the King of Pop. A long check list: Microphones, wires, wardrobe changes, towels, song list, ice, Gatorade, fans, grease paints, powder. July 16, 2009— -- As the horrifying newly released images of Michael Jackson's head engulfed in flames during a 1984 Pepsi commercial shoot get replayed on television and the Internet, a friend who was there that day said he's not convinced the accident kicked off a lifetime of addiction for the pop icon. No hard feelings, though: Jackson later signed another deal with Pepsi, this time for $10 million. Nearly a decade later, Jackson admitted in a video statement that he had entered rehab after getting hooked on the medication meant to ease his pain while he healed from the burns. Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. His album Thriller, gained huge acclaim by the end of 1982. Yes, the doctors gave him medicine," but told the interviewer that to say this incident alone was the cause of what came later was not justified. We pay for videos too. [INFO]Is Michael Jackson the best selling artist of all time? He had the property redesigned to replicate a fun and exciting wonderland . Donald Donester, who was an eyewitness to the horrifying disaster posted on Us Weeklys Web site, believes it was the videos director, Bob Giraldi, who told Michael to wait on the platform where the pyrotechnics exploded too soon, catching the singer on fire. Shocking footage has emerged of the Pepsi commercial on January 27, 1984, when a pyrotechnics accident left him with second and third degree burns to his fac. When footage of the incident emerged following Jackson's death in 2009, however, not everyone was convinced that the moment in question was the direct cause of the drug dependency that would eventually kill him. Some absolutely atrocious accidents have befallen musicians over the years, including Jackson. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on a stretcher", she said. One recent incident that has had some light shed on it, is a near-fatal accident whilst MJ was on tour promoting Dangerous. Kevin Mazur/WireImage. You can unsubscribe at any time. During the filming of a commercial, Jacksons hair and face caught fire, leaving him with second and third degree burns. Days after the disaster, Michaels good friend Miko Brando confirmed what Michael later wrote in his 1988 autobiography, Moon Walk, that he was told to wait by Giraldi and noted that other aspects of the disastrous take were different than previous times. Marc Schaffel, a former associate of Jackson, however, said it was not a spider bite but a problem caused by a broken IV needle. Detective Scott Smith, a detective at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), told the film: The thing that was odd that I found myself periodically looking at was his head, his scalp. The 25-year-old entertainer was singing his hit "Billie Jean" for a Pepsi Cola commercial in Los Angeles when the special effects went wrong. "There was nothing out of the ordinary that he did," Brando said. "Dr. Klein has been and is continuing to cooperate with Mr. Winter's office and their investigation into the death of Michael Jackson," Boyer said. Student works out great aunt is spitting image of Ed Sheeran after finding photo; On January 27, 1984, Michael, who was 25 years old at the time, joined his brothers to shoot an advert for fizzy drink brand, Pepsi. But it was also made up of unfortunate events that were, quite frankly, out of Jackson's personal control, and which, some have argued, would shape the course of his life. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Adjusted for inflation: $205 million. The circumstances of his death are directly related to some of these misfortunes. Us Weekly magazine has obtained video it says shows never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's head catching on fire during filming of his 1984 Pepsi commercial. It might have retarded the effect, he told Access. At a concert in Munich in 1999, a suspended plinth on which Jackson was performing fell unexpectedly "three to four stories" to the ground, and, while Jackson appeared unhurt in the surviving footage and continued to perform, witnesses claim that he then collapsed backstage, left with lifelong back pain, according to Los Angeles Times. NEW YORK - Us Weekly magazine has obtained video it says shows never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's head catching on fire during filming of his 1984 Pepsi commercial. In this video still image released by Us Weekly on July 16, 2009, pop star Michael Jackson, unaware his hair is on fire, films a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 1984. "He didn't know that his hair was on fire," he told "Good Morning America," " but I looked back and I saw it and that's why I ran back to go to him.". Michael then donated this to the Brotman Medical Centre, which helped treat him. Another friend of Jackson's, Karen Faye, was present at the accident, and claims Jackson told later told her: "I can't disappoint the audience. The explosion was set off sooner than ever before. Michael Jackson has received hospital treatment for serious burns to his head after his hair caught light during a freak filming accident. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. Lewis first met Jackson on the set of his "Thriller" music video in 1983. Michael is believed to have begun his addiction to painkillers after undergoing a series of scalp surgeries around three months after the incident. (1987-1989) The Victory Tour was a concert tour of the United States and Canada by the Jacksons from July to December 1984. So the initial autopsy didnt show much. Express. Michael Jackson, Michael Bush and myself were using the last minutes to take care some details in the dressing room, just stage right. Michael realized it was an accident and had no ill will towards anyone including Pepsi, Coleman told Access. I was dancing down this ramp and turning around, spinning, not knowing I was on fire. "Michael is quite shocked. "He was in a chair and they wheeled him out.". The star died of intoxication from prescription drugs at his home in 2009. Jan. 27, 1984: Michael Jackson Burned in Pepsi Spot. While Jackson would go on to sell millions more albums and enchant fans around the world, many said that day set the stage for a lifetime of prescription drug abuse. His body was found covered in track marks consistent with intravenous drug use. Michaels commercial agent at the time, Jay Coleman, revealed Michael wanted to release this footage 25 years ago. Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. His hair never grew back properly either, which reportedly led to Jackson wearing wigs. At the time, Jackson was just 25-years-old, and was already a solo star, but returned to his family roots on this occasion. In his autobiography, "Moonwalk," he described the cause of the accident as "stupidity, pure and simple. Brando said he took Jackson to his doctors' appointments and said the singer did what he was told during his recovery. The coroner would not name the other doctors who his office has subpoenaed. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. Jackson, who won seven American Music Awards and has been nominated for a record 12 Grammys, was filming a series of Pepsi-Cola commercials to debut next month. Both Michael and his brothers, signed a $5 million dollar promotional deal with Pepsi previously. Former LA City Fire Department Capt. He also was taking Flurazepam, for his pain which was later marketed as Dalmane. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Michael Jackson was at the height of his fame in the 1980s as he released some of his biggest and best-selling albums - including Thriller, and Bad. Jackson was at the pinnacle of his career around the time of his accident. Jackson continued performing briefly, apparently not realising he was on fire, before his entourage jumped on him and put the fire out. He also never managed to grow back some of the patches of hair that were lost in the fire. More info. "He was a friend of mine," Brando said. We pay for your stories! For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Jackson died at his California home after being administered prescription drugs, He had become hooked on the drugs after a being burned in a 1984 accident, Jackson's autopsy report noted the damage to his scalp, A patch of burned skin was visible on Jackson's head after the 1984 accident, Police found large quantities of prescription drugs in Jackson's home, Jackson's rooms were also littered with strange notes, Michael Jackson had so much Propofol in his system it would drop a rhino, detectives working at death scene reveal, Michael Jackson death cops reveal bizarre state of his body on 10th anniversary of his death, Inside sinister rise of pink cocaine sweeping UK nightclubs as warring cartels battle to control 'Coca Cola of drugs', How 'deluded' Putin thought Ukraine invasion would break up Nato & have West bowing down to Russia, leaked docs show, Leicester 'explosion': Listen to massive 'sonic' boom that shook homes and rattled windows, 'Bubbly' nightclub worker, 31, killed after her Audi crashed into a bridge on her way home from work. According to BT,Jackson danced too close to the stage pyrotechnics, which ignited his hair, full of product, including the highly flammable pomade. Jackson, 25, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where a spokesman said Jackson was "fine" despite the burns. "It wasn't a spider bite. "He had the IV stuff back then," Schaffel previously told ABC News. The raw footage shot for a Pepsi commercial on Jan. 27, 1984 at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium and obtained by Us Magazine, shows Jackson descending a flight of stairs when the pyrotechnics on stage go off early and engulf the singer's head in flames. But when he came to film for the Pepsi campaign in 1984, Jackson - who had been paid 5million to . This medication was initially prescribed to sooth the excruciating pain that I was suffering after recent reconstructive surgery on my scalp," the singer said at the time in a statement. Related:Thriller co-writer Rod Temperton dies, Michael Jackson in the aftermath of the incident, on his way to the hospital. He's fortunate that there were no injuries to his face," Dr. Steve Hoefflin told reporters at the time of the accident. He was known to wear wigs in public after the mishap. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. "Yes, it was an accident. Thats not true. Instead, he asked the company to build a burns treatment center in Culver City, one of the places he was treated, according to the Los Angeles Times. Murray, who said he had been trying to wean Jackson off the drugs at the time of his death, served two years of a four-year sentence. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). This isnt a man who should have died.. Sevcik said Murray "did not prescribe or administer Oxycontin or Demerol" to Jackson, but would not rule out Diprivan. Michael Jackson's daughter Paris exposes naked boob in cut-out dress on night out; Read More Related Articles. As a child, Michael Jackson had worn his hair in an afro, making him look taller. "We are not investigating the doctors. Jackson settled the case out of court with an estimated $20m payment to the Chandler family. Later reports blamed the 1984 accident for Jackson's addiction to painkillers; he died of an accidental drug overdose in 2009. "He is in discomfort", said the doctor. "Within two weeks of the fire, Michael was back on his feet and in good spirits," Jay Coleman, the agent who repped Jackson when he cut the deal with Pepsi, told ABC News.com. The autopsy held on Jacksons body after he died on July 25, 2009, later confirmed he still had bald parts on his head. The video below shows two takes - in the first the explosion . "At this time I don't think skin grafts are necessary.". "I remember being stage left, watching him rehearse that particular segment," Brando said, saying he saw Jackson's hair burst into flames and thought, "Oh my God, my friend is on fire.". In 1993, in a statement denying allegations that he had molested a child, Jackson admitted he was hooked on prescription drugs since the accident and would enter rehab. Without explaining how the footage was obtained, Us labeled the video: "How Michael Jackson's Pill Addiction Began: The harrowing, never-before-seen footage of the singer's 1984 Pepsi commercial . ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. July 15, 2009— -- Never-before-seen footage of a 1984 commercial shoot shows Michael Jackson's hair accidentally catching fire, an incident that would lead to a decades-long addiction to sedatives that may have played a role in his death last month. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jackos death and the events surrounding it. Michael Jackson was at the height of his fame in the 1980s as he released some of his biggest and best-selling albums - including Thriller, and Bad. He caused a media stir months later, when he dangled the baby off the third floor balcony of a Berlin Hotel in an effort to show the child off to fans. The detectives also described the strange items found in Jackson's bedroom, which included a child's doll, needles, a noticeboard with young children on, and a number of bizarre post-it notes. 1967: Three astronauts die in Apollo 1 tragedy, 1944: Leningrad siege ends after 900 days. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Corner subpoenaed Jackson's medical records from Klein and said they were questioning several other physicians as well. In November 2003, he was arrested and charged with child abuse after British journalist Martin Bashir had made a documentary in which Jackson admitted sharing his bed with children. "We have no information about this being a homicide investigation," she added. "At this time, I don't think skin grafts are necessary.". The newly released footage of the harrowing events of Jan. 27, 1984, when Michael Jackson caught on fire while shooting a spot for Pepsi, has raised new questions about who may be responsible for the accident. "Something went wrong and it exploded and Michael's hair caught on fire," said Jackson spokesmen John Branca. Klein's lawyer Bradley Boyer said his client was cooperating with the investigation. The newly released footage of the harrowing events of Jan. 27, 1984, when Michael Jackson caught on fire while shooting a spot for Pepsi, has raised new questions about who may be responsible for the accident. . His jacket also caught on fire. Starting with his tragic upbringing and ending with the unfortunate circumstances of his untimely death, Jackson's time in the public eye was characterized by eccentric behavior that challenged the loyalty of his fan base to its very core. Backup dancer Daryl Maze, who also can be seen in the raw footage coming to Jackson's aid said others saw Jackson's hair catch fire before the singer knew what had happened. However, tragedy struck in 1984 during a $5 million deal with Pepsi to work on a promotional campaign. In 1984, Jackson was burned while singing for a Pepsi-Cola commercial in Los Angeles, when a . July 16, 2009 -- As the horrifying newly released images of Michael Jackson's head engulfed in flames during a 1984 Pepsi commercial shoot get replayed on television and . The needle broke off.". "If you talk to anyone who knew him, well, they'd tell you the same thing -- he was a really good guy," Brando said. Jackson suffered second- and third-degree burns to his scalp and the back of his head, prompting him to begin using and then abusing painkillers, he would later admit. Expand. "He was wonderful. But there are still innumerable stories about the great Michael Jackson 's life and history that keep coming to light after his untimely passing. Michael Jackson is wheeled into Brotman Merorial Hospital after he was burned filming a soft drink commercial featuring fireworks, which set his jacket and hair on fire. But 25 years later, the cause of the accident remains unclear. . The burn center was opened in 1972 and given its current name in 1984 after pop singer Michael Jackson gave it an endowment. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? A source discussing the autopsy at the time commented: He was skin and bone, his hair had fallen out, and he had been eating nothing but pills when he died.. Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50, apparently of cardiac arrest. Some studio audience members said he was so calm, they thought the incident was part of the act. In the same year, Jackson married Lisa-Marie Presley but they divorced 19 months later. As a result of the accident, Pepsi gave Jackson $1.5 million, which he donated to a burn center named after him. The needle broke off.". 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Whatever, Giraldi told TMZ on Thursday. Their relationship paved the way for Pepsi's ongoing association with pop stars on world tours, including Beyonc and Britney Spears. "I didn't inspect him every day. Jan 27, 2016 at 11:02 am. Many believed that Jackson would sue Pepsi for the accident, which also left him partially bald and relying on wigs for the rest of his life. In 2002, Jackson was ordered to undergo a medical examination after he failed to show up in a California courtroom in a trial over breach of contract because the pop star said he had a spider bite. He's fortunate that there were no injuries to his face," Dr. Steve Hoefflin told reporters at the time of the accident. "Within two weeks of the fire, Michael was back on his feet and in good spirits," Jay Coleman, the agent who repped Jackson when he cut the deal with Pepsi, told ABC News.com. It has been widely reported that in addition to Demerol and OxyContin, Jackson also abused the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the antidepressant Zoloft in the months before his death. Yesterday, Us Weekly unearthed footage of Michael Jackson being severely burned while filming a 1984 Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. Michael Jackson's hair briefly caught fire during filming for the Pepsi commercial. A lot of people say that the 1984 Pepsi incident was one of the major factors that changed MJ's life forever, however people don't really remember this incident that well. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The year of Jackson's death was his most successful. You can blame [Giraldi] for not communicating with the fire safety officers, he continued. LOS ANGELES Superstar singer Michael Jackson suffered second-degree burns on the scalp last night while filming a multi-million-dollar soft drink commercial featuring fireworks, which ignited his jacket and hair. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jacko's death . Virginia Watson, a casting agent, said Jackson appeared calm and smiling as he was taken out. And a lot of times when were out there as fire safety officers, the directors dont want to be told no, so Im sure that if he had brought that to us, we would have told him no.. Yes, the doctors gave him medicine.". The source also added the star had injection marks all over his body and the disfigurement caused by years of plastic surgery show hed been in terminal decline for some years. Michael Jackson's Head On Fire: 1984 Pepsi Accident Video Found You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. One which made headlines at the time and which has stuck in the collective memory Jackson's terrible accident in January 1984, when the King of Pop was on stage in Los Angeles performing a version of his hit single "Billie Jean," which was being filmed as part of a Pepsi commercial. The singer's "Thriller" album topped the charts last year, placing an unprecedented six singles including "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" in the top 10 and spawning a spectacular video. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Dubbed the trial of the century, it lasted four months and ended in June 2005 when Michael Jackson was cleared of all charges. It didn't go well: At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in front of an audience of 3,000, assembled to create the concert environment, Michael was dancing to his hit "Billie Jean.". Nothing much that you [would] be shocked a 50-year-old body would have. Authorities confirmed they are questioning several physicians who treated Jackson in the past, including Murray, the cardiologist who was in Jackson's home when he died. Jackson suffered second and third-degree burns, which were treated at the nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and where he was prescribed strong sedatives as well as Darvocet, a powerful painkiller which, according to BT, was later banned because of its adverse side effects. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Michael Jackson's hair accidentally catching fire. Us has obtained video of the 1984 Pepsi commercial shoot with Michael Jackson that had a tragic pyrotechnic accident, resulting in Jackson's head catching on fire. Michael Miller Crime Scene PhotosAt least 11 shots could be heard Sunday morning in the 400 block of Grace Street nearby The Strip. Coleman was not at the shoot, but said the accident made front-page news and the ads were run on the television news weeks before they officially ran as paid spots beginning in February 1984. "Michael is quite shocked. Donald Donester, who was an eyewitness to the horrifying disaster posted on Us [] Friends and associates of Jackson have said they routinely tried to stage interventions to help the singer kick his habit, but they were routinely rebuffed or pushed away. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Michael Jackson had a fire accident on 27 January 1984 when he was shooting a Pepsi commercial, with which the Jackson 5 signed a lucrative deal for 5 million dollars. Witnesses reported that Jackson's hair and jacket caught fire when he moved too close to a pyrotechnics display behind him while dancing on a tiered stage at the Shrine Auditorium to his hit single "Billie Jean.". This was how he looked during the 1990s (circa 91 - 93). The truth is that the Pepsi incident was not Jackson's only on-stage accident. Yes, he took medicine. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Is Michael Jackson the best selling artist of all time? 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The performer's image was dealt a severe blow when he was accused of abusing Jordy Chandler at his Neverland ranch in 1993. However, tragedy struck in 1984 during a $5 . The harrowing, never-before-seen footage of the singer's 1984 Pepsi commercial accident. July 15, 2009 -- Never-before-seen footage of a 1984 commercial shoot shows Michael Jackson's hair accidentally catching fire, an incident that would lead to a decades-long addiction to sedatives . For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and . Addiction to painkillers is not uncommon in show business, a fact that became abundantly clear when Jackson's musical contemporary and friendly rival Prince also passed away due to an overdose in 2016. As speculation and rumor mounts about Jackson's final days, Brando said he hopes his friend will be remembered for his caring spirit and his devotion to his friends and family. The video was the last video filmed for Jackson's album of the same name. Jackson suffered severe burns after a pyrotechnics mishap caused his hair and scalp to catch afire. Michael Jackson's 1984 pyrotechnics accident. Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009), also commonly known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. View our online Press Pack. In the video, he's still dancing as the flames are on his head. MJ was born on August 29, 1958, and died on June 25, 2009. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? "It's hard to say," Miko Brando, a Jackson friend and son of the late actor Marlon Brando, told "Good Morning America." "It wasn't a spider bite. It didnt go well: At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in front of an audience of 3,000, assembled to create the concert environment, Michael was dancing to his hit Billie Jean. During the sixth take for the commercial, he apparently veered too close to a pyrotechnics display, which had gone off a bit too early. More than 50 fans were waiting outside the facility, and some of them broke into tears as Jackson was wheeled into the emergency room. People on the set tackle him to extinguish the fire, and his brother Jermaine Jackson, playing the guitar in front of him and oblivious to the commotion, turns around. Coleman said he did not believe the accident spurred the singer to begin abusing drugs, but a decade after the fire Jackson, himself, said it did.