Heartbreaking life of Michael Jackon’s chimp Bubbles who ‘attempted suicide after being abused by King of Pop’

MICHAEL Jackson’s chimp Bubbles now spends his life in a retirement home after allegedly attempting suicide amid claims he suffered abuse while living with the King of Pop. Once upon a time he was the most famous primate on the planet thanks to his intense relationship with the Jacko, but these days he lives a life of obscurity – occasionally knocking out the odd painting.  Bromance… Michael and Bubbles were inseparable for many years Rex FeaturesMemories… Bubbles is now retired in a home with other celeb Chimps[/caption] Now 38, which is late middle-aged in Chimpanzee terms, Bubbles is holed up in the Center for Great Apes in Florida — which acts retirement home for famous chimps and orangutans. This is a far cry from his life with Jacko where he was constantly under the media spotlight. Strangely, or perhaps tellingly, these days Bubbles will often turn his back when he sees a camera despite having been the most photographed Chimp in the world, The chimpanzee was adopted while he was a baby and was regarded by the singer — who died in 2009 of a drugs overdose — as his first child.  Before long the duo were once an inseparable double act and rarely apart.  Since Jackson could not bear to leave him at home while on world concert tours, the pair would stay together in hotel rooms and dine out. Most read in The Sun PUMP UP LIVE updates on the UK petrol shortage - what stations are open near YOU? KATIE ARRESTED Dramatic pic shows how Katie Price ROLLED BMW in 'drug & drink-drive' smash KATIE ARRESTED Katie Price rushed to hospital after dramatic ‘drug and drink-drive’ crash TIKTOK TAKERS Smithy family blasted for buying jetski after fans raised £50k for house fire CAN'T BRALIEVE IT Ex-Primark worker reveals people swapped old smelly BRAS for new ones RING RING Millions of BT customers could get £500 each in compensation Even at the studio, while recording Bad, the devoted ape would be sitting in the control room watching as Jackson laid down his famous tracks. Famously, by the tender age of four he had learned his master’s signature moonwalk dance and appeared in music videos.  The four-and-a-half foot chimp also wore a miniature version of the gold military-style suits favoured by Jackson.  But it’s alleged there was a dark, more tumultuous side to their seemingly perfect relationship.  Yet Jane Goodall, 87, the world’s top primatologist, has alleged the plucky primate had been “beaten” while living with Jackson. Refer to CaptionBubbles performing Jacko’s signature Moonwalk in front of the cameras[/caption] AP:Associated PressDr Jane Goodall has previously alleged Bubbles was beaten while living with Jackson[/caption] And the British expert said Jacko flew into a rage when she confronted him about the alleged abuse. In 2014, she said: “I went to see him and we talked about Bubbles. I ticked him off. “Bubbles is still alive and he’s beautiful. But when he was with Michael he was being beaten.” Even though Jane did not name Jackson as Bubbles’ abuser, the ex-husband of the star’s sister LaToya has claimed he saw the Thriller singer attacking the defenceless animal. The Jackson family has strongly denied Michael abused Bubbles. Whatever the truth was, in a 2003 documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson told journalist Martin Bashir that Bubbles had become too argumentative and moody and had to go. ‘SUICIDE BID’ The same year the troubled chimp allegedly tried to kill himself and was rushed to hospital, it is claimed.  It was reported in 2019 the animal tried to take his own life after Michale was charged with child molestation. He is alleged to have been saved by medics – but no further details of the alleged incident have ever been revealed. And so, in March 2005 Bubbles was packed off to the Great Center for Great Apes.  During his initial years there he reportedly ballooned to 12.5 stone, despite no longer having access to the pots of his treasured Haagen-Dazs ice cream he’d scoffed at Michael’s palatial mansion. Despite macabre rumours of his death, including that he has been preserved in a formaldehyde filled jar, he is still very much alive. In fact these days he mostly takes it easy, listening to flute music as his beard greys and a bald spot widens above his brow. And he paints. His carers say he will only give the canvas back only when he has finished.  In 2017 one of his abstract artworks fetched the princely sum of £3,000. Bubbles has a second career as an artist, with some of his work selling well at auction We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.