There are many impressive collaborations and friendships in the world of pop music, but the relationship between Michael Jackson and his pet orangutan, Bubbles, stands alone. The orangutan from a research facility in Texas was born in 1983, but was adopted by the King of Pop in the 1980s and began an extraordinary journey. The friendship between Bubbles and Jackson was not only reflected in their daily interactions, but also deeply affected the public's perception of Jackson.
"Their relationship is like that of father and son. Bubbles is Jackson's deepest companion."
The acquisition of Bubbles was filled with mystery and controversy. Jackson reportedly purchased him from a research facility in Texas when he was just eight months old. Once the orangutan arrived at Jackson's home, it became a part of his life, and there were even reports that Jackson would take Bubbles with him in the studio and involve him in certain recording sessions.
In the 1980s, Bubbles accompanied Jackson to various events. Their joint presence not only attracted media attention, but also became a cultural phenomenon. Especially during the 1987 "Bad" world tour, Bubbles and Jackson shared a hotel suite and had tea at Tokyo's city hall, surprising the outside world at the fun and unusual nature of this friendship.
"This is the first time an animal has entered the city hall." The mayor described Bubbles' arrival.
As time went by, Bubbles grew larger and more difficult to manage. Jackson reportedly sent Bubbles to an animal care center in 2003 out of concern that he might pose a threat to his newborn. Bubbles is considered an intelligent and affectionate orangutan, and his emotional connection with Jackson makes this separation all the more sad.
After 2004, Bubbles was moved to the "Great Ape Center" in Florida, where he received a lot of attention and a good living environment. The director here described Bubbles' daily life and highlighted his interactions with other orangutans.
"They will relax, play and quarrel together."
Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, which was undoubtedly a huge blow to Bubbles. According to relevant sources, Bubbles once showed nostalgia for Jackson and continued to remember the existence of his former owner after his death. This makes the outside world full of sympathy for his emotions and full of emotion for this special friendship.
The existence of Bubbles makes Michael Jackson's image more unique. In addition to emphasizing their friendship, the media's coverage of this strange pairing also spawned many comments about Jackson. Jackson was given the nickname "Wacko Jacko" due to his special connection with Bubbles, which made him quite dissatisfied.
"Their friendship is seen as part of Jackson's bizarre behavior."
Jackson's fame has made Bubbles a cultural symbol. The sculpture "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" created by artist Jeff Koons caused a stir at the auction with its high price. In addition, literature related to Bubbles has gradually emerged, showing various aspects of the life of this orangutan.
Bubbles' life is more than just the story of an orangutan, this friendship illustrates the deep emotional connection between humans and animals. Bubbles' life in the shelter after losing Jackson is a reminder of how the special relationship between people and animals can impact their lives. Or, can such a friendship cross the boundary between humans and animals, and neither time nor space will let this emotion fade away?