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See Michael Jackson's Son Bigi "Blanket" Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance With Family
Nearly 17 years after Michael Jackson's death, his beloved chimpanzee Bubbles is still aping around.
That's right, the primate—now 43 years old—is alive and well, living at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla.
“He's such a sweet, sweet guy,” the animal sanctuary's founding director Patti Ragan told Variety in an interview published April 24. "People still picture him as cute little baby with a pink face that Michael carried around. But he’s big boy now, about 170 pounds."
She continued, "He's living with a group of five, and we’re introducing some youngsters into that group right now."
Bubbles spent his early days with Jackson on Neverland Ranch in California. He was moved to Great Apes in 2005, where he "helped raise two babies," according to Ragan.
“He’s good with the youngsters, but he’s moving a little slower," she shared. "Sometimes it takes him longer to climb ladders but he eats well.”
And these days, Bubbles enjoys fruits, vegetables and leafy greens, as well as playing with Velcro backpacks.
“He likes to put his treasures in them," Ragan added, "and carry them around."
Jackson's estate continues to front the cost of Bubbles' simple lifestyle even after King of Pop's 2009 death at age 50, according to the Great Ape website.
"Though shy and private, Bubbles is also playful," his profile read. "He’s been known for gently teasing visitors with a splash of water or a sprinkle of sand, just for fun."
However, Bubbles is quite camera-shy.
"Despite the fact that he is very photogenic, Bubbles is difficult to photograph because he does not like the camera," the Great Apes website read. "He often will turn his back when he sees a camera."
Sankei Archive via Getty Images
That's partly why fans won't see him in the newly released Michael biopic, which used CGI to portray the chimp.
"We have had continuing constructive dialogue with PETA about the portrayal of Bubbles the chimpanzee as a pet," Lionsgate said in a statement released through the animal advocacy group. "This portrayal is simply based on historical fact and is not intended to be an endorsement of keeping chimpanzees as pets."
For what the rest of the Jackson family thinks about Michael, keep reading...
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Prince Jackson
As a producer on the film, Michael Jackson's eldest child "was on set every day," lead producer Graham King told The Hollywood Reporter at the film's April 20 Los Angeles premiere.
Prince, who attended premieres in L.A. and Berlin, has also touted his cousin Jaafar Jackson's performance, writing April 11 on Instagram that watching Jermaine Jackson's son "step into the role of his uncle Michael is incredibly special for the family. With his talent, dedication and spirit, he was the only right choice to portray Michael and bring his story to the big screen."
Jesse Grant/WWD via Getty Images
Paris Jackson
When Colman Domingo, who plays her late grandfather Joe Jackson, said that Prince and Paris were "very much in support" of Michael, Paris begged to differ.
“Don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol,” Michael's daughter wrote on her Instagram Story in August 2025. “That is so weird.”
Rather, she continued, "I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest / didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys not my circus. God bless and god speed.”
She crystalized her take the following month, saying in a series of Instagram videos, "They’re gonna make whatever they’re gonna make. The big reason why I haven’t said anything up until this point is because I know a lot of you guys are gonna be happy with it" because it "panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in a fantasy."
Hollywood biopics are "sold to you as real," Paris said, but they're "sugar-coated."
Meaning, she alleged, "The narrative is being controlled. There’s a lot of inaccuracy and there’s a lot of full-blown lies. At the end of the day, that doesn’t really fly with me. I don’t really like dishonesty."
Paris also pushed back against accusations that she "hates her dad…because I'm not, like, calling the shots on set being a big-shot producer of a movie that's filled with just inaccuracies. That's not my truth…I just prefer honesty over sales and monetary gain."
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Bigi Jackson
As the most private of Michael's kids, Bigi hasn't commented on the film, but he attended the April 10 premiere in Berlin.
“To have my cousins there and my other family members, that meant everything,” Jaafar told E! News April 20. “Because it is a family story, and it all started in Gary, Indiana, so it meant the world to me.”
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Janet Jackson
Michael's sister, the youngest of Joe and Katherine Jackson's 10 kids, asked to be removed from this narrative.
“I wish everybody was in the movie,” sister LaToya Jackson told Variety at the L.A. premiere. But Janet "was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.”
In response to a March Page Six report that Janet had issues with almost every scene in the film and drew Jermaine's ire during a family screening, La Toya told Entertainment Tonight, "There was absolutely no problem whatsoever, none whatsoever. Please believe it."
Director Antoine Fuqua said he has "so much respect and love for Janet," telling Variety she was "supportive of Jaafar, and that's what matters."
Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Lionsgate
La Toya Jackson
Jaafar was "absolutely fantastic," La Toya told E! News at the L.A. premiere. "He just embodied my brother and I'm so proud of him."
The fifth-eldest Jackson sibling considered it "very important" that her family collaborated on the movie, telling THR, "A lot of times people think they know the story and they read about things, but when the family’s involved, the family can say yay or nay."
Marlon Jackson
Jaafar left Marlon "smiling inside at how great he is," the sixth-eldest Jackson sibling told E!, adding that he assured his nephew that his performance was "unbelievable."
And Marlon said he didn't spot any inaccuracies in the film, sharing, "When I first saw him on stage, when I went to the set the first time, they were shooting the [Jacksons' 1984] Victory Tour…And I said, 'Wow.' He looked just like Michael."
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Lionsgate
Jermaine Jackson
Jaafar's father, suffice it to say, was "extremely proud," telling E!, "He deserved the part, he worked so hard."
But before Jaafar took on the role, Jermaine explained to Fab TV at the Berlin premiere, he wanted his son to understand "what he was going up against," because those "are a tough set of shoes to fill."
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Taj Jackson
Michael's nephew Taj Jackson told critics to beat it.
"Sorry, media, you don’t get to control the narrative anymore of who Michael Jackson truly was," the eldest son of late Jackson 5 member Tito Jackson wrote on X April 21, per Variety. "The public gets to watch this movie… they will decide for themselves. And you can’t handle that. Can’t wait until some critics have to eat crow. And yes, I will be that petty."
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TJ Jackson
Tito's youngest son wrote on X April 22 that he was headed out to rewatch Michael, because he "wouldn't miss this opportunity to be masked in the electrifying energy that will be in that theater for nothing. My uncle deserves this, my cousin earned this and his loyal supporters are owed this. The world will be reminded or learn who MJ truly was and I can’t wait!"
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