Claire Dawson
On January 27, 1984, Michael Jackson suffered severe burns in a Pepsi commercial shoot. The incident, which occurred at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, was the result of a pyrotechnic malfunction that set Jackson's hair on fire. Jackson sustained second and third-degree burns and had to be hospitalised. Following the accident, Pepsi settled out of court, paying Jackson $1.5 million, which he donated to the Brotman Medical Center, now known as the Michael Jackson Burn Center. The incident left Jackson with lasting physical and emotional trauma and marked the beginning of his struggle with prescription drug addiction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1984 |
| Date | 27 January |
| Location | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles |
| Activity | Filming a Pepsi commercial |
| People involved | Michael Jackson, his brothers, Phil Dusenberry, Alan Pottasch, Bob Giraldi |
| Accident cause | Pyrotechnic malfunction, fireworks, flammable hair products |
| Injuries | Third-degree burns, smoke inhalation, emotional trauma |
| Treatment | Medical treatment, surgeries, hair implants, makeup, wigs, hats |
| Legal action | Out-of-court settlement, $1.5 million payment from Pepsi to Jackson |
| Donation | Jackson donated $1.5 million to Brotman Medical Center/Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center |
| Rename | Michael Jackson Burn Center |
| Aftermath | Impact on Jackson's life, drug use, surgeries, painkiller addiction |
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What You'll Learn
- Michael Jackson's hair caught fire during a Pepsi commercial shoot in 1984
- Jackson suffered third-degree burns and smoke inhalation, requiring multiple surgeries
- Pepsi settled out of court, paying Jackson $1.5 million, which he donated to Brotman Medical Center
- The accident led to Jackson's lifelong addiction to narcotics and cosmetic surgery
- Jackson's mother, Katherine, considered legal action against Pepsi due to lack of safety precautions
Michael Jackson's hair caught fire during a Pepsi commercial shoot in 1984
In 1984, Michael Jackson was filming a Pepsi commercial featuring a performance of his hit song "Billie Jean" in front of a crowd at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The commercial was Jackson's idea, in which he would emerge from a curtain of sparks, created by pyrotechnics and flash bombs, to perform the song.
During the sixth take, there was a pyrotechnic malfunction that set Jackson's hair on fire. At the time, he was coated in flammable hair products, and his fast spin appears to have worsened the fire on his scalp. The fire spread quickly and, although it was extinguished quickly, Jackson was left with severe burns.
Jackson recalled that he thought he was dying and saw visions of angels. He was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for his burns and smoke inhalation before being transported to Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center in Culver City, California, where he was diagnosed with and treated for second-degree burns. Jackson suffered from lasting physical and emotional damage, including nightmares, a fear of fire and pyrotechnics, and an obsession with cosmetic surgery. He also had to undergo several surgeries to repair the damage and get hair implants, and he often wore makeup and wigs to conceal his scars and hair loss.
Rather than suing Pepsi, Jackson had them donate $1.5 million to Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center, which was renamed the Michael Jackson Burn Center. Jackson spent some of his time at the hospital visiting and speaking with the other patients.
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Jackson suffered third-degree burns and smoke inhalation, requiring multiple surgeries
On January 27, 1984, Michael Jackson suffered an accident while filming a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. During the sixth take of the shoot, a pyrotechnic malfunction occurred as Jackson descended a staircase while performing. The premature explosion of fireworks ignited his heavily gelled hair, and the flames spread quickly. Jackson continued performing for a few seconds before realising something was wrong. Although the fire was extinguished quickly, Jackson suffered third-degree burns on the back of his head and smoke inhalation, requiring multiple surgeries and hair implants. He was initially treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was then transported to Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center in Culver City, California.
The accident left Jackson with lasting physical and emotional damage. He developed a fear of fire and pyrotechnics and became more interested in cosmetic surgery. He also began using painkillers and sedatives to cope with the pain and trauma of the accident. Jackson's hair loss worsened over time due to multiple unsuccessful surgical procedures intended to repair the damage. These operations further depleted his natural hair, leading him to explore other cosmetic solutions, such as wigs and hats.
In addition to the physical challenges, Jackson experienced emotional trauma from the accident, which was captured on video and leaked to the media. He suffered from nightmares and became more insecure about his image, leading to further surgeries. The accident also marked the beginning of his use of prescription drugs, initially painkillers, and later more powerful substances, to manage the intense pain from his burn injuries. Jackson's struggle with addiction and his reliance on surgery and medication continued for the rest of his life.
Rather than suing Pepsi, Jackson requested that they donate the $1.5 million settlement to the Brotman Medical Center, which was subsequently renamed the Michael Jackson Burn Center. Jackson spent time during his hospital stay visiting and speaking with other patients at the facility. Despite the accident and its impact on his life, Jackson chose to continue his partnership with Pepsi, signing another deal worth $10 million.
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Pepsi settled out of court, paying Jackson $1.5 million, which he donated to Brotman Medical Center
On January 27, 1984, Michael Jackson suffered severe burns to his scalp during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. The commercial, which was part of a multi-million dollar endorsement deal, featured Jackson performing his hit song "Billie Jean" in front of a live audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. During the sixth take, a pyrotechnic malfunction caused Jackson's hair to catch fire, leaving him with second and third-degree burns.
Following the accident, Jackson received medical treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was subsequently transported to Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center in Culver City, California. He underwent several surgeries and suffered from lasting physical and emotional trauma, including nightmares and a fear of fire and pyrotechnics.
In response to the incident, Pepsi settled out of court, paying Jackson $1.5 million. Rather than keeping the money for himself, Jackson donated the entire sum to the Brotman Medical Center. The center was then renamed the Michael Jackson Burn Center in his honor. Jackson's decision to donate the money was influenced by his interactions with other burn patients during his time at the hospital, as he wanted to help those who were also suffering.
Despite the accident and the resulting legal settlement, Jackson continued his partnership with Pepsi. He later signed another deal with the company for $10 million, demonstrating his willingness to move forward and maintain their professional relationship.
The Pepsi commercial incident had a significant impact on Jackson's life, both physically and emotionally. It marked the beginning of his struggle with prescription drug addiction as he sought to manage the intense pain from his burn injuries. The accident also left him with lasting emotional scars, including nightmares and a fear of fire and pyrotechnics.
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The accident led to Jackson's lifelong addiction to narcotics and cosmetic surgery
On January 27, 1984, Michael Jackson suffered severe burns to his scalp in a Pepsi commercial shoot accident. During the shoot, Jackson emerged from a curtain of sparks, and there was a pyrotechnic malfunction that set his hair on fire. Jackson was hospitalized for his burns and smoke inhalation, and he suffered lasting physical and emotional damage from the incident.
Jackson underwent several surgeries to repair the damage, including hair implants, and he often wore makeup and wigs to conceal the scars and hair loss. The accident is believed to have played a significant role in Jackson's lifelong addiction to narcotics and cosmetic surgery.
Following the accident, Jackson was prescribed medication to relieve the second and third-degree burns on his scalp and body, and he was also given medication to help him tolerate the multiple surgeries he had to undergo. This is reported to have sparked his addiction to painkillers and sedatives, as well as an obsession with cosmetic surgery. Jackson himself acknowledged the impact of the accident, stating that he thought he was dying and saw visions of angels.
In addition to the physical pain, the emotional trauma of the incident, which was captured on video and leaked to the media, cannot be overstated. Jackson developed a fear of fire and pyrotechnics and suffered from nightmares. The accident also left him more vulnerable to other issues in his life, such as sex scandals, obsession with his appearance, and a difficult relationship with his father.
While some, like Jackson's friend Miko Brando, dispute the idea that the Pepsi accident solely caused his addiction, it is clear that the incident was a significant contributing factor. The combination of severe physical injuries, emotional trauma, and the subsequent reliance on medication created a perfect storm that likely accelerated Jackson's descent into addiction and his tragic early death.
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Jackson's mother, Katherine, considered legal action against Pepsi due to lack of safety precautions
On January 27, 1984, Michael Jackson, alongside his brothers, was filming a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The commercial was a part of a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal with PepsiCo. During the shoot, Jackson got too close to a fireworks display, and his hair caught fire due to a pyrotechnic malfunction. Jackson suffered third-degree burns and had to be hospitalised. The accident left him with lasting physical and emotional damage, and he had to undergo several surgeries to repair the damage. He also developed a fear of fire and pyrotechnics and became more reliant on cosmetic surgery, painkillers, and sedatives.
Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, was deeply upset by the incident and angered by the lack of safety precautions that led to her son's injury. She strongly considered taking legal action against Pepsi. However, rather than pursuing a lawsuit, Jackson and Pepsi reached an out-of-court settlement. Pepsi agreed to pay Jackson $1.5 million (equivalent to $4.4 million in 2023), which he donated to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California. The medical centre later established the Michael Jackson Burn Center in his honour. Despite the accident, Jackson maintained a working relationship with Pepsi and signed another deal worth $10 million.
The Pepsi commercial incident had a significant impact on Jackson's life and well-being. It is reported that even a decade after the incident, Jackson was still experiencing pain and undergoing procedures to treat his injuries. The incident also contributed to his addiction to narcotics and painkillers, as he struggled with the lasting effects of the trauma.
The commercial, despite the accident, was eventually completed and aired. It featured Jackson performing his hit song "Billie Jean" in front of a crowd, emerging from a curtain of sparks. While the pyrotechnic malfunction during the shoot caused a terrifying situation for Jackson, the final advertisement was intended to be impressive and eye-catching.
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Frequently asked questions
During the shoot, Michael Jackson got too close to a fireworks display, causing his hair to catch fire.
Jackson suffered second and third-degree burns to his scalp. He also suffered from smoke inhalation.
The incident left Jackson with lasting physical and emotional damage. He developed a fear of fire and pyrotechnics and became more obsessed with cosmetic surgery. The accident also marked the beginning of his addiction to prescription painkillers and other drugs.
No, Jackson did not sue Pepsi. Instead, he had them donate $1.5 million to the Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center, which was renamed the Michael Jackson Burn Center.
Yes, despite the accident, Jackson signed another deal with Pepsi for $10 million.
