Michael Jackson's Head On Fire: 1984 Pepsi Accident Video Found (WATCH)

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Us has obtained video of the 1984 Pepsi commercial shoot with Michael Jackson that had a tragic pyrotechnic accident, resulting in Jackson's head catching on fire.

The burns and hair loss associated with the accident have been cited as the beginning of Jackson's painkiller addiction.

The video below shows two takes - in the first the explosion goes off as planned, after Jackson is out of the way. In the sixth the explosion goes off too early, while Jackson is standing right there.

Jackson's head is engulfed in flames, which he at first does not realize as he continues performing. Handlers then rush out to put out the flames.


WATCH:

Comments

[preatorius]

The Jheri solution bottle says highly flammable. It was made with oils, and other flammable substances!

I always hated that hairstyle!

[Chicago48]

LOL ^ me too. And I wore it for about a year. Had I known how flammable it was -- maybe that's why they took it off the market.

[robXdion]

For 25 years they only showed stills from the event or a few seconds of video that never let on how bad it was. This was really bad. Michael Jackson could've OWNED Pepsi.

[SusanStoHelit]

I really think this is what pushed him over the edge, ruined his life. With his father's abuse and making him think he was ugly, to have those burns, to start into plastic surgery - I think this is where it all spiraled downhill. And him with too much money and too many enablers for anyone to call a halt and bring him back to reality (you're still good looking, people love you for who you are, and sleeping with little kids is not good).

BTW: It wasn't Pepsi's fault - mistakes happen - boycott the tech makes about as much sense.

[mouselion]

Pepsi (and coke) SV(kS -- and should be boycotted for a whole host of reasons. The fact that the video performances were for a Pepsi commercial is not lost on me.

MJ was done in and eventually k1//ed by mass consumerism.

America loved MJ to de@+h.
Just like Pepsi loves America to de@+h.

[nilotic]

By the way, this accident didn't trigger the plastic surgery. MJ had already had at least two nose jobs at that point. He did state that this incident caused the addition to pain killers.

[AFAN]

This incident was the beginning of a painful end for MJ.

[SUNRAI]

OMG! The video is just devastating. I never knew it was that bad that it burned a huge bald spot on this head. I mean I knew it wasn't good, but I just remember him with the white bandage around his head and him lifting his hand up with the white glove.....I'm stunned....

[GeminiMoon]

yeah, 3rd degree burns means all epidermis and dermis is burned away with the bone (cranium )exposed. He needed massive skin grafting. This is an absolutely devastating accident both physically and emotionally, but Michael carried on.

[sosplendid]

After that incident, Michael Jackson didn't even sue Pepsi. Instead, he donation money they gave him to help other burn victims. He wrote about it in his biography, Moonwalk:

"I still remember how scared those Pepsi execs looked...They knew I could have sued them and I could have, but I was real nice about it. Real nice. They gave me $1.5 million which I immediately donated to the Michael Jackson Burn Center. I wanted to do something because I was so moved by the other burn patients I met while I was in the hospital."

Later, when MJ toured the burn center and got into the hyperbaric chamber the media said that he slept in the chamber because he wanted to live forever.

It is amazing how many of these folks have no conscience, no humanity...

[candlewax]

Thank you for getting the truth out. I find it inexcusable when the media repeats the story about the "hyberbaric chamber" when not only did he reveal the truth in the 1993 Oprah interview, but as you say, he told the truth about the incident in his book. This was one of the new pieces of equipment for the hospital's burn unit that was made possible by his charitable giving. By the way, I've been trying to read Moonwalk by Michael Jackson but it is out of print now. Do you know where I can get it?

The media always seems to fail to mention that he donated the money from the Pepsi accident to charity. And if I recall correctly, the media at the time, completely misrepresented the extent of this tragic accident. I seem to recall many in the media making light of the incident and inferring that it was very minor. Why?! Why the hate? Why the lies?! I cannot imagine the searing, scorching pain he must have gone through. But then on top of that to be ridiculed and then expected to perform again asap?! Pain both physical and over the years, pain to the very foundation of his soul. It's so distrurbing to look back and see how he was mistreated.

Rest in peace Michael. We know the truth now. We love you.

[sosplendid]

Hi candlewax. I got my copy from a family member who bought it when it first came out. I didn't realize she had it until this past weekend. It is a quick read, and as expected, he is sweet, thoughtful and humble. I have seen some copies listed at Amazon.com (at crazy prices, though).
He also wrote another book, Dancing the Dream, and I found it online free at Scribd. Here's a link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6547388/Michael-Jackson-Dancing-the-Dream
I loved this too. Enjoy!

[cyoohoos]

It is truly horrible that Michael's settlement with Pepsi didn't include never releasing this video coverage to the media. His mother said he felt like an animal in a cage and he truly was.

Releasing this video was inhumane. It would be like the Pentagon releasing videos of soldiers as they were being shot by the enemy. Or a DA releasing a video of a rapist attacking his victim. This is a vile act that serves no purpose other than for some sorry soul to profit from the insatiable appetite of the public's desire to gawk at the lowest points of a man's life. It is disgusting.

[big666dog]

No. It is NOT the same as releasing the murder of soldiers or a rape in action. Get some perspective!

[cyoohoos]

Please, I've got perspective. This is just another event for America to gawk at. Pure and simple.

[preatorius]

Um... you were looking at this page because?
Of course it wasn't because you were curious...

[cyoohoos]

I didn't watch the video.

[surfcitysteven]

I think you are wrong about releasing this video. I always thought ( not liking him much in the first place) that he was just being a baby and had a minor boo-boo in this accident as he had downplayed it so much and didn't let anyone on to the extent of the injury. I see now that this burn would have been a major ordeal in his life. I know if my hair caught on fire to the point where it balded me and torched my scalp, I would cry about it for years.

[cyoohoos]

What does he need to prove to YOU. HE'S DEAD. Who give a d@^^ what you think. Why does he need to prove the severity of his injuries to anyone. If you didn't know (which I DID) back in 1984, then what does knowing NOW do for Michael? NOTHING.

[Lucille]

I disagree, they way people talk about Michael we all needed to see how he suffered with the pain and the baldness that resulted from this severe accident, the results of which lasted the rest of his life. He became addicted to pain killers because of this accident and lost hair follicles on the top and back of his head that would never grow back.

In addition, Michael gave what little he took in settlement from Pepsi and donated it to a burn unit to help others; just another example of Michael's humanitarianism. TAKE THAT NANCY PELOSI!

[MSMSucksCom]

Don't be ridiculous. People can learn from these kinds of horrible situations. What can be learned?

Uh...

Be careful;

There's incompetence everywhere, so be careful;

Even though something appears to being handled by professionals, that may not be the case, so be careful;

For kids thinking about playing with fireworks or whatever, look what can happen with playing with fire can go amiss, so be careful.

Remember the Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people and injured 230? Pyrotechnics were used in the show, that caused the fatal fire. Once again, see videos like this one tells people, be careful and don't make assumptions about being safe.

Not everyone looks at these videos to gawk. Many lessons can be learned via video and photographs.

E.g., When you see an accident on the highway do you drive a little more cautiously after that? And if there are injuries and carnage do you go home a little more thankful for what you have? I do. But if you saw me looking at the accident scene I am sure you would accuse me of gawking and nothing more.

[cyoohoos]

Thank you for re-phrasing my point. This is for people to gawk at. How many people need to learn how to interact with pyrotechnics?

[maribelle1963]

This has been bothering me ever since I watched it hours ago. This is just...words can't describe.

HOW in the name of mercy could Pepsi have gone ahead and used the commercials? I can't believe it.

Considering boycott of Pepsi products at our house.

What do you think?

[SusanStoHelit]

Just a thought - but with how much of a professional Michael Jackson was, with how much he puts into his performances - ever think maybe he wanted the commercial released?

[liarsclub75]

Yes and find a healthier alternative. Something without HFCS.

[surfcitysteven]

That is the main thing right there.

[Brynn Harris]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
There's an accidental fire during a 1984 commercial shoot, and you think by boycotting Pepsi now, you're somehow helping things?
Yes it's a horrible thing that happened to him in that accident. But being able to see it, lets us know exactly what happened. If that video was never released, then someday it could be simply a rumor.
"Remember 100 years ago.. the performer Michael Jackson.. his hair caught on fire.." .."Ya right.. like that happened.."
We have video technology, and should see it as an archiving tool. By watching this, that doesn't mean we're exploiting him or looking down on him. I love Michael. I'm a huge fan. And, seeing this allows me to understand him even more.
Leave Pepsi alone. Pepsi rocks.

[TequilaMockingbird]

I agree with everything you said.. except for the part about Pepsi rocking.. Coca-Cola rocks..

[PoliSci2008]

I think you need to grow up. Bad things happen to good people every day.

[Cyke101]

They weren't obliged to (at the time), but giving MJ the $1.5 mil was a good gesture of apology.

[csmcmillion]

I think you need to HTFU, As burn accidents go, this was light fare.

[MissingAmerica]

This tragedy should show us just how much this man went through to give everything he had for his fans. Why can't we realize that and leave him alone. He suffered so much and now he's out of his misery. His talent, generosity and compassion should be his legacy.

[big666dog]

He suffered because he chose to.

[cgracec]

My older cousin was severely burned when she was little - she was standing next to the stove and she the bows in her long hair caught on fire. She had third degree burns on her face and neck, and at that time burn treatments weren't all that advanced. I have heard horror story after horror story about that incident from family members. It is literally one of the worst injuries one could ever suffer. The dressing and undressing of the wounds is excruciating. Poor MJ. He really suffered too much in his life - and he totally did not deserve it at all. Perhaps this is why he felt such a strong desire to help kids with illnesses.

[KataVideo]

well that's horrifying. I'm not trying to minimize this at all, because it's obviously a devastating injury and was extremely painful. but it really doesn't look like his face is injured at all. I'll bet there was quite a bit of ptsd involved. his behavior really got to be odd after 1984.

[preatorius]

He was balled on top of his head, and tried to use tissue expanders to get enough skin to cover the bald spot. It was after this that he developed body dysmorphic disorder.

He also suffered from lupus and vitiligo. Many times the gloves and masks were to hide the skin issues. He also developed a vitamin D deficiency from lack of sunlight due to the vitiligo and bleaching of his skin.

The insomina was probably caused by the vitamin d deficiency. Vitamin d deficiency also causes autoimmune disorders, like thyroidosis, lupus, sarcoid, and vitiligo.

It was a downward cycle.

[preatorius]

sorry, I mean bald.

[KataVideo]

I just do not believe the vitiligo

[aOsO]

OMG, I didn't know it was that bad, wow. RIP to the KING of MUSIC.

[MrAverage]

He was never the same after that incident.

[wideawakenow]

WOW his whole head was on fire. OUCH!

[elliosenor]

The weird thing is, it looks like they completed the commercial:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4l2nh_michael-jackson-pepsi-commercial-19_ads

They even have the explosion shot intact (0:30 in the DailyMotion vid). At first it looked like they were twisted enough to have used that infamous Take 6 for the shot (at a different angle), since, in the final commercial, the explosion goes off, and then he descends the stairs. But I looked at the two shots from back to back and noticed his dance moves varied in the final commercial and the infamous take.

[preatorius]

Probably used take one.

[R8RBOB]

Thanks for the link. I was just checking out Kim Fields singing "Dear Michael" on Soul Train. I know I'm old. I remember that song from the 80's.

Back to MJ, that one event possible changed the course of his life in ways he couldn't have imagined at the time.