1984: Michael Jackson burned in Pepsi ad Michael Jackson has received hospital treatment for serious burns to his head after his hair caught light during a freak filming accident. Describing Jacksons autopsy, Detective Dan Myers, also of the LAPD, said: Blood is drawn and then that blood is sent to a toxicology unit. Pepsi paid Jackson $1.5 million in compensation. (Alan Zanger), (Originally published by the Daily News on Jan. 28, 1984.). Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Michael Jackson, standing behind one of his brothers, at the moment his hair caught on fire (Photo via YouTube). 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. But in 1984, his hair and scalp caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, causing the celebrity to have permanent hair loss. Michael is calling upon all networks to pull the video." We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Donald Donester, who was an eyewitness to the horrifying disaster posted on Us [] In the fall of '83 he and his Jackson Five brothers signed a $5 million endorsement deal with PepsiCo that would include, among other promotions, Michael appearing in commercials pushing the soft drink. 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. ", How Michael Jackson Was Injured During One Of His Shows. Speaking for a new documentary, police told of the scars and lack of hair on his body, but added: This isnt a man who should have died.". "He had the IV stuff back then," Schaffel previously told ABC News. 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. And after seeing the damage to Jackson's head and face, everyone else on the set wondered what that type of injury would mean for the King of Pop. We are investigating the death of Michael Jackson and we are contacting all of his doctors," Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told reporters. Jackson, 25, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where a spokesman said Jackson was "fine" despite the burns. The star died of intoxication from prescription drugs at his home in 2009. Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan Star, Dead At 61. 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. After the accident, Jackson often wore a black wig in public. The then 25-year-old Jackson was taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was known to wear wigs in public after the mishap. I was dancing down this ramp and turning around, spinning, not knowing I was on fire. "This medication was initially prescribed to treat excruciating pain I suffered after recent reconstructive surgery on my scalp," he said in 1993. Inside sick Honeytrap plot that left man dead after women seduced and drugged him to steal his Rolex watches, Man had sex with his wife on bollard after fuming neighbour placed it in cul-de-sac in protest during parking row, Man, 42, killed after being hit by digger as driver arrested for gross negligence manslaughter, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009), also commonly known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Police have confirmed that several doctors who treated Jackson and are believed to have prescribed him drugs are being questioned or will be questioned. (1987-1989) The Victory Tour was a concert tour of the United States and Canada by the Jacksons from July to December 1984. He had become hooked on the drugs after a being burned in a 1984 accident. 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While Michael Jackson was whisked away to detox treatment, the star's lawyers fought a desperate battle to protect him from facing the sexual-abuse charges brought by his 13-year-old accuser. It is believed to be the real Michael Jackson, who was injured during this time period. It was just supposed to be a routine commercial shoot:Michael Jackson, just 25 years old, was the biggest star in the world, his 1982Thrilleralbum having logged the better part of a year at #1. 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. A senior law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News that Jackson was "heavily addicted" to the painkiller Demerol and received "daily doses" of OxyContin. Jackson's brothers, who were making the commercial with him, rushed to help smother the flames, she said. The group performed 55 concerts to an audience of approximately 2 million. 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. "We have no information about this being a homicide investigation," she added. The needle broke off.". The video below shows two takes - in the first the explosion . Jackson was at the pinnacle of his career around the time of his accident. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Michael Lynn Davis fired the shot that killed Jamea Jonae Harris in a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa in the early hours of Sunday morning, and was provided the firearm by. Michael Jackson's name has become synonymous with Neverland Ranch a sprawling, gated compound he purchased in 1988. It marked what would be the beginning of serious, lifelong pain for Jackson, who had been treated for painkiller addiction and has been described by relatives and friends as being hooked on pain medication at the time of his death last month at age 50. 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 . 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. Thats not true. "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.". Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50, apparently of cardiac arrest. Jackson, who spent years with his brothers as the Jackson Five on the Motown label, stepped out on his own in 1980 with the album "Off the Wall." His personal physician, Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for having administered anaesthetic drugs without being qualified to do so. It was an IV he pulled out his leg. Latest news, government notices, sports and entertainment website. Never mind that it's damaged from an infamous 1984 accident in which . Related:Thriller co-writer Rod Temperton dies, Michael Jackson in the aftermath of the incident, on his way to the hospital. The year of Jackson's death was his most successful. As a child, Michael Jackson had worn his hair in an afro, making him look taller. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Estimated earnings: $91 million. 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. Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images. In the video, one can easily observe a large red bald spot in the center of Jackson's head after the flames have been extinguished. Brando said he took Jackson to his doctors' appointments and said the singer did what he was told during his recovery. 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. He had shorter hair for a short time around 1995 (and then. Jackson can be seen on the shoot's sixth take, descending a flight of stairs when the pyrotechnics on stage go off early and engulf the singer's head in flames. Following the incident, Jacksonhis head bandaged and seen smiling even as he was in painwas rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 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. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. Is Michael Jackson the best selling artist of all time? And while addictive behavior is common to people who, like Jackson, lived through childhood trauma, it is possible to identify the times of great physical pain when the singer may have unfortunately gotten hooked. Jackson was eventually charged with numerous counts related to child molestation, but a 2005 trial delivered a not guilty verdict. The magazine, which has not said how it obtained the Pepsi commercial footage, suggested that the accident kicked off Jackson's obsession with plastic surgery. Whatever, Giraldi told TMZ on Thursday. "[Friends and family] were very, very scared about these things and we talked together how can we take care of this, but it was very complicated," said Deiter Wiesner, Jackson's former business manager. Marc Schaffel, a former associate of Jackson, however, said it was not a spider bite but a problem caused by a broken IV needle. 'Overtaken', Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch sells for $78M below asking price, Riley Keough: How Michael Jackson had impact on Elvis's granddaughter, Michael Jackson's revenge on Eminem after 'demeaning' video. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Michael Jackson's hair accidentally catching fire. The magazine also suggests that the accident kicked off Jackson's obsession with plastic surgery. The harrowing, never-before-seen footage of the singer's 1984 Pepsi commercial accident. It was the only tour with all six Jackson brothers, even though Jackie was injured for some of it. "He was wonderful. "It was done by the book.". Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "He handled it extremely well," she said. Micheal's third child was born to a mystery mother in 2002. During this time, Jackson was at the peak of his career. When Michael Jackson's hair accidentally caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in early 1984, the resulting 2nd and 3rd degree burns foreve. 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. Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. He was set ablaze by the fireworks, suffering second-degree burns to his scalp and losing some of his hair. US magazine, which contains pictures of the incident, hits newsstands Friday. 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. In this Jan. 27, 1984 file photo, singer Michael Jackson looks out from an ambulance as he arrives at Brotman Memorial Hospital in Culver City, after suffering second-degree burns on his scalp . Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century.Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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). But despite his denials, by the early nineties his nose had changed considerably, becoming increasingly thin and with a forever-narrowing tip that turned up at the end. ", As he described the accident, he wrote: " bombs went off on either side of my head, and the sparks set my hair on fire. What happened if we would have known what was going to be done, the communications were good until that point. It was this video that helped "Thriller" become the biggest selling album of all time. Hair product may not exacerbate it sometimes. At the time, Jackson was just 25-years-old, and was already a solo star, but returned to his family roots on this occasion. 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. Jackson suffered permanent hair loss when his scalp caught fire while he was taping a Pepsi commercial in 1984. You can blame [Giraldi] for not communicating with the fire safety officers, he continued. 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. 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. In 1984, Jackson was burned while singing for a Pepsi-Cola commercial in Los Angeles, when a . He also was taking Flurazepam, for his pain which was later marketed as Dalmane. The burn center was opened in 1972 and given its current name in 1984 after pop singer Michael Jackson gave it an endowment. Michael Jackson wins favourite soul/R&B artist at the American Music Awards in 1981. During his years as a child prodigy in the Jackson 5, Michael rocked a full Afro with pride. Some absolutely atrocious accidents have befallen musicians over the years, including Jackson. 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 . "As far as Michael Jackson was concerned, 27 January 1984 was the beginning of the end," Richards and Langthorne write, referring to the day Jackson suffered third-degree burns on his scalp . She added, "LA investigators asked us not to share any information about any substance food, drink, or otherwise that Jackson may have taken. Michael Jackson said injuries from this 1984 fire led to his drug addiction. All rights reserved. Yes, he took medicine. Music industry officials said Jackson could earn as much as $10 million for the commercials. His album Thriller, gained huge acclaim by the end of 1982. 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.. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. Michael Jackson, seen here in 2005, was taken to UCLA Medical Center in cardiac arrest Thursday. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on a stretcher", she said. 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. Im not defending his use of prescription medicine by any means, but when you experience something like that it kind of opens up the door for painkillers and whatever else that may lead to.. "When this happened it just changed the whole atmosphere of the shrine, changed the whole atmosphere, everyone is like, 'Oh god,'" Maze said. The circumstances of his death are directly related to some of these misfortunes. 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 . In the video, one can easily observe a large red bald spot in the center of Jackson's head after the flames have been extinguished. "There was nothing out of the ordinary that he did," Brando said. One recent incident that has had some light shed on it, is a near-fatal accident whilst MJ was on tour promoting Dangerous. He had become hooked on the drugs after a being burned in a 1984 accident Credit: AP:Associated Press. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion made him a global figure in popular culture. 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. Marc Schaffel, a former associate of Jackson, however, said it was not a spider bite but a problem caused by a broken IV needle. 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. "He had the IV stuff back then," Schaffel previously told ABC News. Dubbed the trial of the century, it lasted four months and ended in June 2005 when Michael Jackson was cleared of all charges. Jackson suffered severe burns after a pyrotechnics mishap caused his hair and scalp to catch afire. It was later reported that the pain Jackson suffered on his scalp from the burns was prolonged and led to his prescription pill addiction. Jackson didn't realize his hair was on fire. "I didn't inspect him every day. As the fireball grows around his head, he is set upon by members of the crew who tamp out the flames. "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. 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. Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the . Jacksons brothers quickly helped to extinguish the flames and Michael seen by his fans with his scalp glowing and smoke billowing from his head. Funeral services will be held at Saint Andrew United Methodist Church in Jackso His hair never grew back properly either, which reportedly led to Jackson wearing wigs. The coroner would not name the other doctors who his office has subpoenaed. 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. Yesterday, Us Weekly unearthed footage of Michael Jackson being severely burned while filming a 1984 Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. The then 25-year-old Jackson was taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The video was the last video filmed for Jackson's album of the same name. Michael Jackson has received hospital treatment for serious burns to his head after his hair caught light during a freak filming accident. He's fortunate that there were no injuries to his face," Dr. Steve Hoefflin told reporters at the time of the accident. Adjusted for inflation: $205 million. Plastic surgeon Steven Hoeffin said Jackson, who was voted America's entertainer of the year, could need surgery to his head. According to BT,Jackson danced too close to the stage pyrotechnics, which ignited his hair, full of product, including the highly flammable pomade. 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. 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. Amazingly, there were no hard feelings between Jackson and Pepsi. "He was just an extraordinary human being.". 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. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. Michael then donated this to the Brotman Medical Centre, which helped treat him. 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. Michael Jackson's daughter Paris exposes naked boob in cut-out dress on night out; Read More Related Articles. 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. His body was found covered in track marks consistent with intravenous drug use. He was relatively healthy. Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Jackson rose to fame in 1966 when he joined his brothers' pop band, The Jackson 5. Michael Jackson albums: How many albums did he make. Michael Jackson was taken to hospital where he was treated for second degree burns. "It wasn't a spider bite. How Michael Jackson's Pill Addiction Began. Although the public was shown Jackson after being burned, what we had seen, was a clone version of him. Virginia Watson, a casting agent, said Jackson appeared calm and smiling as he was taken out. "The flames shot extremely high," Bennett said. More recently, Giraldi reportedly denied making Michael wait on stage. 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. It is also alleged that the medication used to treat the pain on his head began a lifelong drug dependency. Hoefflin is now retired and could not be reached by ABC News.com. Jackson was prescribed the painkiller Darvocet, it was banned later for its potentially harmful side-effects. There was a deviation in the plan and there was no communication between the people that deviated that plan and the fire safety officers. 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. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley: When did they marry? Despite this win, Jackson later went on to donate the money to the Brotman Medical Centre - one of the hospitals he was later treated in for his burns. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. 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. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Jackson -Romie Wilson Neisler age 81 died at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital on Saturday morning January 3 2004. I have been undergoing treatment for dependency on pain medication. Friends and family "were very, very scared about these things and we talked together how can we take care of this, but it was very complicated," said Deiter Wiesner, Jackson's former business manager. 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. A senior law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News that Jackson was "heavily addicted" to the painkiller Demerol and received "daily doses" of OxyContin. Peroni Nastro Azzurro Terzo Tempo, un'esperienza unica tra sport, musica, cucina italiana e ovviamente birra! 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. During the filming of a commercial, Jacksons hair and face caught fire, leaving him with second and third degree burns. The incident prompted Jackson to be transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, where he was treated for the burns. But 25 years later, the cause of the accident remains unclear. Police have confirmed that several doctors who treated Jackson and are believed to have prescribed him drugs are being questioned or will be questioned. "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. At the time, the money was said to be earmarked for research into burn treatment, but Sherman said the burn center received no operating money from the fund. (-/AFP/Getty Images), "He had something on his head, it wasn't a bandage, but there was something wrapped around," Paul Cottrell, a parking lot attendant, said. In the fall of 83 he and his Jackson Five brothers signed a $5 million endorsement deal with PepsiCo that would include, among other promotions, Michael appearing in commercials pushingthe soft drink. 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. There he was treated and declared out of mortal danger, but the singer was then transferred by ambulance to Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center in Culver City, California. 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. When he spins, the flames go out. Looking at his scalp, the top of his head had been severely scarred. Shortly after the accident Jackson and Pepsi entered into compensation talks. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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.". Michael is believed to have begun his addiction to painkillers after undergoing a series of scalp surgeries around three months after the incident. Michael realized it was an accident and had no ill will towards anyone including Pepsi, Coleman told Access. 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. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. Brando appears on the never-been-released footage of the Pepsi accident, obtained by Us Weekly, rushing to Jackson's aid several seconds after the pyrotechnics were fired and engulfed the singer. Jackson was well known for spending time alone with children as an adult, and accusations of molestation and sustained sexual abuse first surfaced against him in the early 1990s. "It wasn't a spider bite. 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 . On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. 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. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Police investigating Jackson's June 25 death have confirmed that his home was filled with powerful prescription drugs including the painkillers Oxycontin and Demerol and the hospital-grade anesthetic Diprivan. ", Jackson's reported drug addiction, Brando said, is "their opinion, not my opinion.".