Bubbles the Chimp

In a Daily Beast exclusive, Ben Montgomery meets Michael Jackson’s beloved chimpanzee, Bubbles, who is now retired and living the good life in Florida with other celebrity apes. Among the revelations: Bubbles didn't commit suicide, he wasn't cryogenically frozen, and he has not been told of Michael’s death.

Bride Lane Library, Popperfoto / Getty Images

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-08_udyko6 — Michael Jackson poses with 14-year-old fan Donna Ashlock and Bubbles at the Neverland Ranch in 1986.
Bride Lane Library, Popperfoto / Getty Images

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-01_xxmqwv — Four-year-old Bubbles holds up a photo of himself and Michael Jackson while a Bubbles doll rests beside him in Tokyo, 1987.
Hulton Archive / Getty Images

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-02_mdaesd — Bubbles and his trainer Bob Dunn, with whom Bubbles lived after Michael Jackson.
Jim Smeal, WireImage / Getty Images

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-03_urzlg2 — Michael with Bubbles and a pet llama named Louie.
GAB Archive, Redferns / Getty Images

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-09_ansrtl — Michael Jackson, Bubbles, and La Toya Jackson meet a fan in the Philippines in 1987.
Sipa Press

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-05_qd5eym — At the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, residents are often shown films they have performed in when they were younger. Bubbles has not been shown any footage of himself with Michael Jackson.
Globe Photos / Newscom

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-04_zcm2am — Among the 1,300 items from Neverland that were to be offered at auction was this portrait of Michael Jackson and Bubbles.
Mark Ralston, AFP / Getty Images

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-the-chimp-06_sbbdky — A life-size sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles by Jeff Koons is part of the collection of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.
The Broad Art Foundation / AP Photo

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-new-3_lzvuko — Twenty-six-year-old Bubbles at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, where he has lived since 2005.
Courtesy Center for Great Apes

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-new-1_gu8q36 — Years after he moonwalked, Bubbles, at the Center for Great Apes, lives with more than 40 other apes, some of whom have also been in show business.
Courtesy Center for Great Apes

galleries/2009/07/05/bubbles-the-chimp/bubbles-new-2_xpbggo — Michael may be gone, but Bubbles is still in the hearts and minds of his fans.
Courtesy Center for Great Apes

TRENDING NOW