Michael Jackson’s career was marked by multiple milestones, and some events in his life weren’t all that celebratory. Among those events, the 1984 Pepsi commercial is a stand-out incident that caused him immense emotional and physical pain.
Michael Jackson wanted to play Spider-Man (image credit: Beat It single/Billboard Music)
It set a chain of events that had the media and public in a frenzy. Even though it did not shake the spirits of the King of Pop, it had a lasting impact on him. However, many do not know what exactly went down during the advertisement and its aftermath.
The Tragedy Of Michael Jackson’s Pepsi Commercial
Michael Jackson in Thriller music Video | credits: Optimum Productions
Michael Jackson signed a lucrative deal of $5 million with PepsiCo which was the beginning of a multi-commercial campaign that would further cement him as a global superstar. The partnership was like a match made in heaven with Jackson’s pop culture relevance and Pepsi’s desire to connect with a younger audience.
Moreover, the first commercial turned out to be a resounding success. It featured MJ alongside his brother from the Jackson Five, performing a reimagined version of his hit song, Billie Jean, with interchanged lyrics about Pepsi. The ad is still fondly remembered by fans and quickly became popular among the masses.
However, the advertisement’s success was overshadowed by a tragedy during the filming of the second when Jackson was on set and shooting another commercial under the same contract. The scene featured Jackson descending from a stage setup designed to mimic a concert venue, with pyrotechnics setting off as he made his entrance.
Unfortunately, something went terribly wrong as the pyrotechnics exploded and Jackson’s hair caught fire, leading to a catastrophic incident that was caught on camera. In the video obtained by US Weekly, Jackson is evidently unaware of the fire engulfing his hair for several seconds.
The moment he realizes, he rushes towards his crew members to extinguish the flames! The aftermath of this incident was devasting as Jackson had second-degree burns on his scalps and was immediately rushed to a hospital.
The Lasting Scars Of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson in Thriller music Video | credits: Optimum Productions
As per reports by the New York Times, Jackson had second-degree burns on his scalp and had to be transferred to another facility to receive specialized treatment from a unit dedicated to severe burns.
The incident shocked fans and the entertainment industry alike and served as a grim reminder of the dangers that even the most well-planned productions can pose. Angela Bennet, an extra on the set, stated to the New York Daily News that it was perhaps the pomade in Jackson’s hair that could have exacerbated the flames.
Regardless of what led to the accident, Jakcson’s scalp was severely scarred and as a result, he suffered significant hair loss. According to Yahoo! Lifestyle’s report, his autopsy revealed that he was almost completely bald with only a few strands of hair.
The psychological impact on the pop star was also just as detrimental, as uncovered by Digital Spy. He purportedly took large quantities of painkillers which only worsened his health in the long run and led to dependency.
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This shocking accident, which was meant to be a fun commercial changed Michael Jackson’s life in a moment. It was seemingly traumatic for the singer to deal with the after-effects of the tragedy. However, he did not let that be a blockade for him and continued to deliver hits, leaving behind an untouchable legacy.
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