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. Seal Beach police seeking hit-and-run driver in crash that injured . 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. He performed in front of 3 thousand fans who all saw him collapse when his hair and jacket caught 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. The King of Pop shot the explosive commercial with some of his brothers from the Jackson Five, wherein a commercial was being shot showcasing the familys exceptional talent. The coroner would not name the other doctors who his office has subpoenaed. Following the incident, Jackson began to suffer intolerable migraines, which, according to the Los Angeles Times,would continue to plague the singer for the rest of his life. Michael realized it was an accident and had no ill will towards anyone including Pepsi, Coleman told Access. Jackson suffered second degree burns in 1984 after his hair caught while filming an advert for Pepsi, with whom he and his brothers had signed a record-breaking 4million contract. 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.". Although the public was shown Jackson after being burned, what we had seen, was a clone version of 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. Us Weekly, which contains pictures of the incident, hits newsstands Friday. 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. 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. 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. He was relatively healthy. Today, a representative for Pepsi told EW's Music Mix that 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. But Brando said to conclude that this incident triggered the alleged addiction and the prescription painkillers Jackson was said to be taking at the time of his death is pure speculation. Pepsi settled out of court with Jackson, and the performer donated the $1.5 million paymentto the Brotman Medical Center; its Michael Jackson Burn Center was subsequently named in his honor. 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. Following the incident, Jacksonhis head bandaged and seen smiling even as he was in painwas rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. In ultimate secrecy, Jackson was switched with his clone. It was this video that helped "Thriller" become the biggest selling album of all time. They had a son and daughter together then divorced in 1999. 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. It is believed to be the real Michael Jackson, who was injured during this time period. His body was found covered in track marks consistent with intravenous drug use. "When this happened it just changed the whole atmosphere of the shrine, changed the whole atmosphere, everyone is like, 'Oh god,'" Maze said. 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. 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. How Michael Jackson's Pill Addiction Began. 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." Jacksons brothers quickly helped to extinguish the flames and Michael seen by his fans with his scalp glowing and smoke billowing from his head. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 then donated this to the Brotman Medical Centre, which helped treat him. Whatever, Giraldi told TMZ on Thursday. Usmagazine.com has exclusive, never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's Pepsi commercial accident, filmed in L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 27, 1984.. WATCH THE PEPSI VIDEO. "The flames shot extremely high," Bennett said. Exact date yellow weather warning for snow and ice forecast to hit UK - will you be affected? Story Highlights; Michael Jackson shot commercial for Pepsi in 1984; During shoot, Jackson's hair caught on fire during an on-set accident ; Injuries, including second-degree burns, blamed for . It was an IV he pulled out his leg. [INFO]Is Michael Jackson the best selling artist of all time? But when he came to film for the Pepsi campaign in 1984, Jackson - who had been paid 5million to . 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. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Thats not true. Michael Jackson's 1984 pyrotechnics accident. 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. 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. Pomade used in Jackson's hair appeared to catch fire, said Angela Bennett, an extra who was backstage when the accident occurred. The needle broke off.". 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. '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. "Michael is quite shocked. "This medication was initially prescribed to treat excruciating pain I suffered after recent reconstructive surgery on my scalp," he said in 1993. 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. Michael is believed to have begun his addiction to painkillers after undergoing a series of scalp surgeries around three months after the incident. You can blame [Giraldi] for not communicating with the fire safety officers, he continued. His hair never grew back properly either, which reportedly led to Jackson wearing wigs. Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Around 35 million copies of his albums were sold within the first 12 months after his death. "It wasn't a spider bite. Jackson's brothers, who were making the commercial with him, rushed to help smother the flames, she said. His album Thriller, gained huge acclaim by the end of 1982. The then 25-year-old Jackson was taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She added, "LA investigators asked us not to share any information about any substance food, drink, or otherwise that Jackson may have taken. 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. 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. Jackson was at the pinnacle of his career around the time of his accident. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Subsequently, you know, catching his hair on fire, Donester told Access Hollywood on Friday. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009), also commonly known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. The multimillionaire's album "Thriller" has just entered the Guinness book of records as the best selling LP of all time. MJ was born on August 29, 1958, and died on June 25, 2009. With Catherine Duskin, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson. Hoefflin is now retired and could not be reached by ABC News.com. "We have no information about this being a homicide investigation," she added. He was set ablaze by the fireworks, suffering second-degree burns to his scalp and losing some of his hair. A representative for Us Weekly had no immediate comment on where the video came from. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. "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 . You can unsubscribe at any time. A short deliberation followed, before Pepsi compensated the singer with $1.5 million. Advertising executive Phil Dusenberry, one of the engineers of the Pepsi-Jackson endorsement deals, later titled his memoirThen We Set His Hair on Fire: Insights and Accidents from a Hall of Fame Career in Advertising. 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. 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. Michael is calling upon all networks to pull the video." 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. "He was wonderful. 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.". 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. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. In an accident so surreal it could happen only to him, Michael was dancing down a staircase at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 27, 1984, when a smoke bomb ignited two feet from his pomaded . One member of the audience, Virginia Watson, witnessed the accident. Police have confirmed that several doctors who treated Jackson and are believed to have prescribed him drugs are being questioned or will be questioned. Hair product may not exacerbate it sometimes. He suffered hair loss as a result, and later became addicted to prescription painkillers after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his scalp. It was the only tour with all six Jackson brothers, even though Jackie was injured for some of it. Michaels commercial agent at the time, Jay Coleman, revealed Michael wanted to release this footage 25 years ago. Hoefflin is now retired and could not be reached by ABC News.com. Aragons; ; ; Azrbaycanca; Boarisch; ; Banjar; ; Bosanski; Catal; etina; Cymraeg; Dansk . (-/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. 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. 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. The burns never completely healed, leaving Jackson with scars across parts of his head and scalp for the rest of his life. Instar. Jan. 27, 1984: Michael Jackson Burned in Pepsi Spot. 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. However, tragedy struck in 1984 during a $5 . It is also alleged that the medication used to treat the pain on his head began a lifelong drug dependency. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. But there are still innumerable stories about the great Michael Jackson 's life and history that keep coming to light after his untimely passing. He was known to wear wigs in public after the mishap. 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. 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 while filming a Pepsi commercial, according to officials. 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. 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. The explosion was set off sooner than ever before. "Michael is quite shocked. 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 Jackson's Career Earnings, Year-By-Year View All. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan Star, Dead At 61. "We are not investigating the doctors. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jackos death and the events surrounding it. 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. On January 27 . "It will take a few weeks to determine the hair loss.". A senior law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News that Jackson was "heavily addicted" to the painkiller Demerol and received "daily doses" of OxyContin. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on a stretcher", she said. Elvis bedroom: Graceland upstairs SECRETS shared by Linda Thompson, Elvis Presley final years pictures shared by Linda Thompson, Michael Jackson suffered second and third degree burns during a commercial, Michael Jackson suffered the burns during filming, Elvis Presleys 86th birthday celebrated by Linda Thompson, Michael Jackson was at his most famous during the 1980s, Elvis and Priscilla: Sex games, role play, threesomes and polaroids, One Direction: Niall Horan announces he is writing 'lots' of music. Peroni Nastro Azzurro Terzo Tempo, un'esperienza unica tra sport, musica, cucina italiana e ovviamente birra! Michael Jackson, seen here in 2005, was taken to UCLA Medical Center in cardiac arrest Thursday. Speaking to ABC News,Jackson's close friend Miko Brando claimed: "Yes, it was an accident. "He is in discomfort", said the doctor. Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the . Klein's lawyer Bradley Boyer said his client was cooperating with the investigation. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. What happened if we would have known what was going to be done, the communications were good until that point. 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. 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. There was a deviation in the plan and there was no communication between the people that deviated that plan and the fire safety officers. Just two years later, they announced an unprecedented $15 million advertising deal. He is a Jehovah's Witness who lives with his mother and who is close to his family; his group, the Jacksons, includes . 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. Michael Jackson: Pepsi New Generation: Directed by Bob Giraldi. DETECTIVES who investigated the death of Michael Jackson have revealed details about the state of his body in the hours after his death. Despite the accident, Jackson remained a spokesperson for Pepsi until 1993. "There was nothing out of the ordinary that he did," Brando said. To what he had looked like in public with the flowing hair, that was a bit different. 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. 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. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jacko's death and the events surrounding it. Unfortunately Michael Jackson suffered permanent damage to his scalp as a result of a Pepsi commercial accident where his hair caught on fire so he started wearing wigs from that point on. "[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. Despite his horrifying experience Jackson did something incredible with his compensation money. "You don't know if he is going to be OK or not.". Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50, apparently of cardiac arrest. According to BT,Jackson danced too close to the stage pyrotechnics, which ignited his hair, full of product, including the highly flammable pomade. During the sixth take a firework went off too early and set his hair on . 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. The explosion was much larger. Later reports blamed the 1984 accident for Jackson's addiction to painkillers; he died of an accidental drug overdose in 2009. "It was done by the book.". This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. In the video, he's still dancing as the flames are on his head. He had become hooked on the drugs after a being burned in a 1984 accident Credit: AP:Associated Press. This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Eminem mocked the singer's accident in the video for his song Just Lose It, dressing as Jackson in a video where his hair caught fire before sitting on a bed surrounded by young children. Plastic surgeon Steven Hoeffin said Jackson, who was voted America's entertainer of the year, could need surgery to his head. Still photos of the accident have been seen before, but the new video on Us Weekly's Web site shows the moment Jackson's hair caught on fire and the top of his head became engulfed in flames. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1984 Press Photo Kenneth Gibson at Jesse Jackson campaign kickoff rally, Trenton at the best online prices at eBay! Yes, the doctors gave him medicine.". As a child, Michael Jackson had worn his hair in an afro, making him look taller. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley: When did they marry? Jacksons doctor at the time, Steven Hoefflin, commented that the star was noted to be quite shaken up with palm-sized area of second-degree and small area of third-degree burns. The clip shows . 'Overtaken'[NEWS]Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch sells for $78M below asking price[INSIGHT]. According to i News, the cause of Jackson's death was an overdose of a cocktail of prescription painkillers, drugs to which Jackson had been addicted for years, and which were readily given to the singer in vast quantities by his personal physician, Conrad Murray. Marc Schaffel, a former associate of Jackson, however, said it was not a spider bite but a problem caused by a broken IV needle. The terrible events happened on January 27, in 1984, at a studio in California, Jackson suffered these burns on his scalp and face, leaving him permanently scarred. Jackson suffered severe burns after a pyrotechnics mishap caused his hair and scalp to catch afire. 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 Jackson was taken to hospital where he was treated for second degree burns. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Final toxicology results from the autopsy could be completed by Friday. 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). "If you talk to anyone who knew him, well, they'd tell you the same thing -- he was a really good guy," Brando said. Yes, he took medicine. Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the superstar, showering him in sparks and setting light to his hair. The raw footage shot for the Pepsi commercial was shot on Jan. 27, 1984, at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Michael Jackson is the world's most successful dead celebrity. 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. Michael Jackson said injuries from this 1984 fire led to his drug addiction. This was how he looked during the 1990s (circa 91 - 93). Yesterday, Us Weekly unearthed footage of Michael Jackson being severely burned while filming a 1984 Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. Two other defendants Ty Michael Hill . ", As he described the accident, he wrote: " bombs went off on either side of my head, and the sparks set my hair on fire. 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. He had the property redesigned to replicate a fun and exciting wonderland . 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. 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 was a friend of mine," Brando said. So that may have retarded the hair from being burned as quickly.. But in 1984, his hair and scalp caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, causing the celebrity to have permanent hair loss. In 1984, Jackson was burned while singing for a Pepsi-Cola commercial in Los Angeles, when a . However, tragedy struck in 1984 during a $5 million deal with Pepsi to work on a promotional campaign. Brando said he took Jackson to his doctors' appointments and said the singer did what he was told during his recovery. 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. At first Jackson wearing a sequined shirt, jacket and signature glove continues to dance unaware as flames and smoke emanate from his hair. 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. So the initial autopsy didnt show much.