Viewers who have already seen the new Michael Jackson biopic might have walked out of the theater with some important questions, one being the status of Jackson’s pet chimpanzee, portrayed in the movie using CGI.
Fortunately, the entertainment publication Variety has the inside scoop — or inside banana, if you will — on the friendly primate.
In the film “Michael,” which was released Friday, Jackson tells his mother the animals are his friends, rather than pets, noting that his fame made it difficult to form bonds with people.
Other “friends” featured on the big screen include a llama, rat, giraffe and python.
The movie includes a scene of Bubbles being delivered to the Hayvenhurst compound, much to the concern of Jackson’s parents and siblings.
Jackson rescued Bubbles from a Texas research facility in the 1980s.
He then proceeded to go on tour with Jackson, visit government officials in foreign countries, and attend weddings.
Bubbles followed Jackson to Neverland Ranch, where he slept in a crib in Jackson’s bedroom, according to Variety.
Where is he now?
The chimp eventually became too large and aggressive, leading to a stint with an animal trainer before finally moving to the Center for Great Apes, an ape sanctuary located in Florida, in 2005, where he has remained ever since.
Founding director Patti Ragan told Variety that Jackson was making plans to visit Bubbles before the singer’s death in 2009.
Bubbles, now 43 years old and about 170 pounds, has helped raise several young primates at Great Apes. Ragan says despite being considered an “elderly primate,” he’s great with the “youngsters.”
He also enjoys spending time with his good friend Oopsy, a 52-year-old chimpanzee.
The New York Times reports that Bubbles could be the subject of his own biopic; however, no official announcement has been made.
