Bubbles (chimpanzee)
Bubbles (born 1983) is a chimpanzee once kept as a pet by the American singer Michael Jackson, who bought him from a Texas research facility in the 1980s.When the trainer closed his operation in 2004, Bubbles was moved to the Center for Great Apes, a sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida, where he has lived since 2005.The acquisition was said to have been supervised by Bob Dunn, then one of Hollywood's most famous suppliers and trainers of animals for films, photoshoots and advertisements.[13] When the Bad world tour began in September 1987, Bubbles and Jackson shared a two-bedroom hotel suite in Tokyo."[14][15] Though allowed to travel to Japan, Bubbles was unable to enter Britain and Sweden due to strict quarantine laws.During the interview, Bashir was also told of how Jackson had planned to hold a "celebrity animal party" for Bubbles; Cheeta, the chimpanzee from Tarzan, Benji and Lassie were to be invited.[31][better source needed] Since the closure of Dunn's facility in 2004, Bubbles has been kept at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, where he is said to enjoy painting and listening to flute music.Patti Ragan, director for the Center for Great Apes, commented on the animals' daily routine at the sanctuary: "They relax."[3] According to animal keepers at the center, Bubbles—whose facial features have changed since his time with Jackson—is now "huge and ugly", weighing 185 pounds (84 kg), but has a "sweet character".[36] According to the Center for Great Apes website, Jackson's estate has continued to support the costs of Bubbles' care.According to the journalist Steve Huey, Bubbles formed a public perception of Jackson as a "bizarre eccentric, obsessed with recapturing his childhood".[38][39][40] According to Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, Jackson's acquisition of Bubbles was "when the weirdness began to reach mythic proportions".[50] In 1988, the artist Jeff Koons made three identical porcelain sculptures, Michael Jackson and Bubbles, as part of his Banality exhibit.The book, Bubbles: My Secret Diary, From Swaziland to Neverland, is a spoof diary by journalist John Blake,[57] and the book fictionally documents the "darker aspects" of Bubbles' life, including a "$2,000-a-day banana addiction, depression, romantic conquests, and [his] 'vicious rivalry' with Tarzan star Cheeta".[57] Blake said: Behind his seemingly-perfect life of glamorous friends, gold-plated tyre swings, and personal chefs, there is a dark history of medical experiments, addiction and loss.But Bubbles has fought against his personal and professional problems and, with his help of man-pet Michael Jackson, he has grown to become bigger than King Kong—figuratively speaking.
SpeciesCommon chimpanzeeAustin, TexasMichael JacksonCenter for Great ApeschimpanzeeBad world tourOsaka, JapanJackson familyEncino, Los AngelesNeverland RanchWauchula, Floridaanimal testingEncinoSanta Barbara County, CaliforniaJackson's 2005 trialmoonwalkLiberian Girlgreen teaSwedenquarantineElizabeth TaylorKenny RogersFreddie MercuryThere Must Be More to Life Than ThisBrian MayRoger TaylorQueen ForeverLiving with Michael JacksonMartin BashirpugnaciousCheetaTarzanLassieSylmar, CaliforniaThe Washington TimescupolaDeath of Michael Jacksoncardiac arrestNews of the WorldLa ToyaQuincy JonesSyracuse UniversitySmash HitsFrank DiLeoLee SoltersMark TwainringbearerThe New York TimesThe National EnquirerPrinceextrasensory perceptionJeff KoonsMichael Jackson and BubblesBanalityThe Daily TelegraphJohn BlakeList of individual apesPet monkeyJane GoodallNews World CommunicationsTime Warner IncThe TimesNews CorporationDeseret NewsDeseret Management CorporationThe Sydney Morning HeraldFairfax MediaThe Harvard CrimsonHarvard UniversityUSA TodayGannett CompanyToronto StarTorstarThe Dallas Morning NewsRome News-TribuneBoca Raton NewsLos Angeles TimesThe GuardianPittsburgh PressE. W. Scripps CompanyThe Times of IndiaSeattle Post-IntelligencerHearst CorporationMTV NetworksCBS NewsCBS CorporationGadsden TimesJohnson Publishing CompanyCentral Penn Business JournalForbesGoodall, JaneBillboard BooksTaraborrelli, J. RandyList of individual monkeysMonkeys and apes in spaceList of fictional primatesBonobosPanbanishaChimpanzeesAzaleaPierre BrassauGregoireJo Mendi IIJuliusKasakela chimpanzee communityKokomo Jr.Little MamaLoulisMacaco TiãoMarquis ChimpsMitumba chimpanzee communityJ. Fred MuggsNim ChimpskyOliverPankunPanpanzeeSantinoSultanTravisWashoeGorillasAlfred the GorillaBinti JuaBokitoCharles the Gorilla