Is Michael Jackson the best selling artist of all time? And after seeing the damage to Jackson's head and face, everyone else on the set wondered what that type of injury would mean for the King of Pop. Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the . Friends and associates of Jackson have said they routinely tried to stage interventions to help the singer kick his habit, but they were routinely rebuffed or pushed away. Days after the disaster, Michaels good friend Miko Brando confirmed what Michael later wrote in his 1988 autobiography, Moon Walk, that he was told to wait by Giraldi and noted that other aspects of the disastrous take were different than previous times. A short deliberation followed, before Pepsi compensated the singer with $1.5 million. He performed in front of 3 thousand fans who all saw him collapse when his hair and jacket caught fire. He now records with Columbia-Epic. Speaking to ABC News,Jackson's close friend Miko Brando claimed: "Yes, it was an accident. Donester said he felt the biggest error the day of the accident was communication. How Michael Jackson's Pill Addiction Began. Emmanuel Lewis' Family Took Michael In When He Was Recovering From His Pepsi Commercial Accident. In his autobiography, "Moonwalk," he described the cause of the accident as "stupidity, pure and simple. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Michael Jackson is wheeled into Brotman Merorial Hospital after he was burned filming a soft drink commercial featuring fireworks, which set his jacket and hair on fire. Later, he would go on to win a record breaking eight Grammy awards in February. Following the incident, Jacksonhis head bandaged and seen smiling even as he was in painwas rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Despite his horrifying experience Jackson did something incredible with his compensation money. He is a Jehovah's Witness who lives with his mother and who is close to his family; his group, the Jacksons, includes . A representative for Us Weekly had no immediate comment on where the video came from. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. He was known to wear wigs in public after the mishap. Marc Schaffel, a former associate of Jackson, however, said it was not a spider bite but a problem caused by a broken IV needle. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Michael Jackson, seen here in 2005, was taken to UCLA Medical Center in cardiac arrest Thursday. Michael Jackson, Michael Bush and myself were using the last minutes to take care some details in the dressing room, just stage right. Donald Donester, who was an eyewitness to the horrifying disaster posted on Us [] Despite this win, Jackson later went on to donate the money to the Brotman Medical Centre - one of the hospitals he was later treated in for his burns. Expand. Pepsi settled out of court with Jackson, and the performer donated the $1.5 million paymentto the Brotman Medical Center; its Michael Jackson Burn Center was subsequently named in his honor. One recent incident that has had some light shed on it, is a near-fatal accident whilst MJ was on tour promoting Dangerous. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. During the filming of a commercial, Jacksons hair and face caught fire, leaving him with second and third degree burns. Aragons; ; ; Azrbaycanca; Boarisch; ; Banjar; ; Bosanski; Catal; etina; Cymraeg; Dansk . He launched his solo . The drugs that were meant to help him instead abruptly ended his life and, on the eve of a hugely anticipated return to live performance, shocked the singer's millions of devoted fans around the world. Micheal's third child was born to a mystery mother in 2002. No hard feelings, though: Jackson later signed another deal with Pepsi, this time for $10 million. Jackson was eventually charged with numerous counts related to child molestation, but a 2005 trial delivered a not guilty verdict. Jackson . "He handled it extremely well," she said. He was set ablaze by the fireworks, suffering second-degree burns to his scalp and losing some of his hair. He had the property redesigned to replicate a fun and exciting wonderland . The video was the last video filmed for Jackson's album of the same name. Related:Thriller co-writer Rod Temperton dies, Michael Jackson in the aftermath of the incident, on his way to the hospital. Backup dancer Daryl Maze, who also can be seen in the raw footage coming to Jackson's aid said others saw Jackson's hair catch fire before the singer knew what had happened. "He had the IV stuff back then," Schaffel previously told ABC News. It didnt go well: At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in front of an audience of 3,000, assembled to create the concert environment, Michael was dancing to his hit Billie Jean. During the sixth take for the commercial, he apparently veered too close to a pyrotechnics display, which had gone off a bit too early. More than 50 fans were waiting outside the facility, and some of them broke into tears as Jackson was wheeled into the emergency room. So that may have retarded the hair from being burned as quickly.. What happened is that the talent, Michael, was told by [Giraldi] to stand there and look more majestic, so subsequently he stood under the sparks instead of being half way down the ramp when the pyrotechnics went off. In this video still image released by Us Weekly on July 16, 2009, pop star Michael Jackson, unaware his hair is on fire, films a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 1984. 1984. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Whatever, Giraldi told TMZ on Thursday. "[Friends and family] were very, very scared about these things and we talked together how can we take care of this, but it was very complicated," said Deiter Wiesner, Jackson's former business manager. But in 1984, his hair and scalp caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, causing the celebrity to have permanent hair loss. Michael did some stretches to warm up, as the lights lowered in the house. "Within two weeks of the fire, Michael was back on his feet and in good spirits," Jay Coleman, the agent who repped Jackson when he cut the deal with Pepsi, told ABC News.com. "He was in a chair and they wheeled him out.". Jackson can be seen on the shoot's sixth take, descending a flight of stairs when the pyrotechnics on stage go off early and engulf the singer's head in flames. Pepsi paid Jackson $1.5 million in compensation. Jackson, 25, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where a spokesman said Jackson was "fine" despite the burns. Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the superstar, showering him in sparks and setting light to his hair. "We have no information about this being a homicide investigation," she added. The magazine, which has not said how it obtained the Pepsi commercial footage, suggested that the accident kicked off Jackson's obsession with plastic surgery. Yesterday, Us Weekly unearthed footage of Michael Jackson being severely burned while filming a 1984 Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. His album Thriller, gained huge acclaim by the end of 1982. According to i News, the cause of Jackson's death was an overdose of a cocktail of prescription painkillers, drugs to which Jackson had been addicted for years, and which were readily given to the singer in vast quantities by his personal physician, Conrad Murray. Hoefflin is now retired and could not be reached by ABC News.com. Klein's lawyer Bradley Boyer said his client was cooperating with the investigation. In the same year, Jackson married Lisa-Marie Presley but they divorced 19 months later. Brando appears on the never-been-released footage of the Pepsi accident, obtained by Us Weekly, rushing to Jackson's aid several seconds after the pyrotechnics were fired and engulfed the singer. When he spins, the flames go out. Victory Tour. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Greek media at the time also spoke about a serious mechanical failure as the cause of that accident. "Dr. Klein has been and is continuing to cooperate with Mr. Winter's office and their investigation into the death of Michael Jackson," Boyer said. "At this time I don't think skin grafts are necessary.". The 25-year-old entertainer was singing his hit "Billie Jean" for a Pepsi Cola commercial in Los Angeles when the special effects went wrong. Former LA City Fire Department Capt. (Alan Zanger), (Originally published by the Daily News on Jan. 28, 1984.). During the sixth take, some pyrotechnics went off bigger than expected, launching embers into Jacksons hair and face, leaving his head engulfed in flame. Pomade used in Jackson's hair appeared to catch fire, said Angela Bennett, an extra who was backstage when the accident occurred. ::: Website: www.mjj.it::: Forum: www.mjj.it/forum::: Fanpage: www.facebook.com/mjfansquare::: Group: www.facebook.com/groups/mjfansquare::: Twitter: www.twi. Many believed that Jackson would sue Pepsi for the accident, which also left him partially bald and relying on wigs for the rest of his life. Pepsi and the family talked and they all came to the conclusion that it would be better not to because when you watch it, its frightening.. Final toxicology results from the autopsy could be completed by Friday. At the time, Jackson was just 25-years-old, and was already a solo star, but returned to his family roots on this occasion. He admitted to administering propofol to treat Jackson's insomnia, despite propofol not being approved for use as a sleep aid. And a lot of times when were out there as fire safety officers, the directors dont want to be told no, so Im sure that if he had brought that to us, we would have told him no.. The clip shows . The burns never completely healed, leaving Jackson with scars across parts of his head and scalp for the rest of his life. He's fortunate that there were no injuries to his face," Dr. Steve Hoefflin told reporters at the time of the accident. There would, of course, also be legal action. Jackson continued performing briefly, apparently not realising he was on fire, before his entourage jumped on him and put the fire out. Jackson suffered second- and third-degree burns to his scalp and the back of his head, prompting him to begin using and then abusing painkillers, he would later admit. July 16, 2009 -- As the horrifying newly released images of Michael Jackson's head engulfed in flames during a 1984 Pepsi commercial shoot get replayed on television and . Michael Lynn Davis fired the shot that killed Jamea Jonae Harris in a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa in the early hours of Sunday morning, and was provided the firearm by. The magazine has not said how it obtained the Pepsi footage. MJ was born on August 29, 1958, and died on June 25, 2009. He caused a media stir months later, when he dangled the baby off the third floor balcony of a Berlin Hotel in an effort to show the child off to fans. While Jackson would go on to sell millions more albums and enchant fans around the world, many said that day set the stage for a lifetime of prescription drug abuse. The pop star was then hurried to the back of the set and treated by stage hands and his brothers. There was a deviation in the plan and there was no communication between the people that deviated that plan and the fire safety officers. The group performed 55 concerts to an audience of approximately 2 million. Michael Jackson wins favourite soul/R&B artist at the American Music Awards in 1981. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion made him a global figure in popular culture. Michael Miller Crime Scene PhotosAt least 11 shots could be heard Sunday morning in the 400 block of Grace Street nearby The Strip. Usmagazine.com has exclusive, never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's Pepsi commercial accident, filmed in L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 27, 1984.. WATCH THE PEPSI VIDEO. The needle broke off.". LOS ANGELES Superstar singer Michael Jackson suffered second-degree burns on the scalp last night while filming a multi-million-dollar soft drink commercial featuring fireworks, which ignited his jacket and hair. The accident, witnessed by thousands of stunned fans at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, came at the height of Jackson's fame, about a year after the release of his best-selling "Thriller" album. July 15, 2009 -- Never-before-seen footage of a 1984 commercial shoot shows Michael Jackson's hair accidentally catching fire, an incident that would lead to a decades-long addiction to sedatives . In the fall of '83 he and his Jackson Five brothers signed a $5 million endorsement deal with PepsiCo that would include, among other promotions, Michael appearing in commercials pushing the soft drink. But there are still innumerable stories about the great Michael Jackson 's life and history that keep coming to light after his untimely passing. Im not defending his use of prescription medicine by any means, but when you experience something like that it kind of opens up the door for painkillers and whatever else that may lead to.. Also, certain Michael Jackson fanzines that were published in the . During the sixth take a firework went off too early and set his hair on . Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50, apparently of cardiac arrest. SARAH NETTER, RUSSELL GOLDMAN and SABINA GHEBREMEDHIN, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Michael Jackson's head engulfed in flames, prescription painkillers Jackson was said to be taking. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on a stretcher", she said. The magazine also suggests that the accident kicked off Jackson's obsession with plastic surgery. Starting with his tragic upbringing and ending with the unfortunate circumstances of his untimely death, Jackson's time in the public eye was characterized by eccentric behavior that challenged the loyalty of his fan base to its very core. The King of Pop shot the explosive commercial with some of his brothers from the Jackson Five, wherein a commercial was being shot showcasing the familys exceptional talent. Virginia Watson, a casting agent, said Jackson appeared calm and smiling as he was taken out. Estimated earnings: $91 million. Jacksons doctor at the time, Steven Hoefflin, commented that the star was noted to be quite shaken up with palm-sized area of second-degree and small area of third-degree burns. (-/AFP/Getty Images), "He had something on his head, it wasn't a bandage, but there was something wrapped around," Paul Cottrell, a parking lot attendant, said. More recently, Giraldi reportedly denied making Michael wait on stage. At the time, the money was said to be earmarked for research into burn treatment, but Sherman said the burn center received no operating money from the fund. (1987-1989) The Victory Tour was a concert tour of the United States and Canada by the Jacksons from July to December 1984. We pay for your stories! A senior law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News that Jackson was "heavily addicted" to the painkiller Demerol and received "daily doses" of OxyContin. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley: When did they marry? However, tragedy struck in 1984 during a $5 million deal with Pepsi to work on a promotional campaign. . It was later determined that the pomade Jackson used in his hair was the culprit, catching fire when he neared the fireworks. Funeral services will be held at Saint Andrew United Methodist Church in Jackso Yes, the doctors gave him medicine," but told the interviewer that to say this incident alone was the cause of what came later was not justified. This isnt a man who should have died.. On January 27, 1984, Michael and his brothers were doing just that. Click here to upload yours. As speculation and rumor mounts about Jackson's final days, Brando said he hopes his friend will be remembered for his caring spirit and his devotion to his friends and family. Michaels commercial agent at the time, Jay Coleman, revealed Michael wanted to release this footage 25 years ago. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Advertising executive Phil Dusenberry, one of the engineers of the Pepsi-Jackson endorsement deals, later titled his memoirThen We Set His Hair on Fire: Insights and Accidents from a Hall of Fame Career in Advertising. Hardly any hair at all on the sides. When Michael Jackson emerges from the pile of people trying to help him, the top of his head is bald. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jacko's death . This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. His hair never grew back properly either, which reportedly led to Jackson wearing wigs. We pay for videos too. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "He was wonderful. Jackson suffered permanent hair loss when his scalp caught fire while he was taping a Pepsi commercial in 1984. The detectives also described the strange items found in Jackson's bedroom, which included a child's doll, needles, a noticeboard with young children on, and a number of bizarre post-it notes. One member of the audience, Virginia Watson, witnessed the accident. The singer continued performing for some seconds before being tackled to the ground by stagehands and fellow members of The Jacksons, who were also on stage at the time, and the flames were beaten out. Four years later, the superstar married nurse Debbie Rowe. Thats not true. July 15, 2009, 10:08 AM. He was actually under the pyrotechnics when they went off. Describing Jacksons autopsy, Detective Dan Myers, also of the LAPD, said: Blood is drawn and then that blood is sent to a toxicology unit. "I remain out of the country. Michael Jackson: Pepsi New Generation: Directed by Bob Giraldi. However, tragedy struck in 1984 during a $5 . Sevcik said Murray "did not prescribe or administer Oxycontin or Demerol" to Jackson, but would not rule out Diprivan. "Dr. Murray continues to cooperate with the investigation," said Miranda Sevcik, spokeswoman for Murray's lawyer Edward Chernoff. Instead, he asked the company to build a burns treatment center in Culver City, one of the places he was treated, according to the Los Angeles Times. The then 25-year-old Jackson was taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "I remember being stage left, watching him rehearse that particular segment," Brando said, saying he saw Jackson's hair burst into flames and thought, "Oh my God, my friend is on fire.". When Michael Jackson's hair accidentally caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in early 1984, the resulting 2nd and 3rd degree burns foreve. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. During his years as a child prodigy in the Jackson 5, Michael rocked a full Afro with pride. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. It didn't go well: At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in front of an audience of 3,000, assembled to create the concert environment, Michael was dancing to his hit "Billie Jean.". The 25-year-old entertainer was singing his hit "Billie Jean" for a Pepsi Cola commercial in Los Angeles when the special effects went wrong. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jackos death and the events surrounding it. "The flames shot extremely high," Bennett said. In 1984, Jackson was burned while singing for a Pepsi-Cola commercial in Los Angeles, when a . It has been widely reported that in addition to Demerol and OxyContin, Jackson also abused the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the antidepressant Zoloft in the months before his death. He told me yesterday he was directed by Bob Giraldi in the final take to remain along side the fireworks until after the explosion, Brando said in a 1984 press conference. "At this time, I don't think skin grafts are necessary.". Michael Jackson said injuries from this 1984 fire led to his drug addiction. Although the public was shown Jackson after being burned, what we had seen, was a clone version of him. In this Jan. 27, 1984 file photo, singer Michael Jackson looks out from an ambulance as he arrives at Brotman Memorial Hospital in Culver City, after suffering second-degree burns on his scalp . He suffered hair loss as a result, and later became addicted to prescription painkillers after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his scalp. More info. It didn't go well: At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in front of . With Catherine Duskin, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? All rights reserved. Seal Beach police seeking hit-and-run driver in crash that injured . Jackson rose to fame in 1966 when he joined his brothers' pop band, The Jackson 5. Michael Jackson is the world's most successful dead celebrity. Jackson settled the case out of court with an estimated $20m payment to the Chandler family. "It wasn't a spider bite. He won eight Grammy awards in 1984 but then stories about his bizarre lifestyle began to circulate. Subsequently, you know, catching his hair on fire, Donester told Access Hollywood on Friday. You can blame [Giraldi] for not communicating with the fire safety officers, he continued. The video below shows two takes - in the first the explosion . The multimillionaire's album "Thriller" has just entered the Guinness book of records as the best selling LP of all time. In 1993, in a statement denying allegations that he had molested a child, Jackson admitted he was hooked on prescription drugs since the accident and would enter rehab. Latest news, government notices, sports and entertainment website. Nearly a decade later, Jackson admitted in a video statement that he had entered rehab after getting hooked on the medication meant to ease his pain while he healed from the burns. The coroner would not name the other doctors who his office has subpoenaed. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. "He was a friend of mine," Brando said. Hoefflin is now retired and could not be reached by ABC News.com. DETECTIVES who investigated the death of Michael Jackson have revealed details about the state of his body in the hours after his death. Us Weekly, which contains pictures of the incident, hits newsstands Friday. "If you talk to anyone who knew him, well, they'd tell you the same thing -- he was a really good guy," Brando said. Some absolutely atrocious accidents have befallen musicians over the years, including Jackson. It is part of a huge sponsorship deal the singer agreed last year. 'Overtaken', Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch sells for $78M below asking price, Riley Keough: How Michael Jackson had impact on Elvis's granddaughter, Michael Jackson's revenge on Eminem after 'demeaning' video. "It's hard to say," Miko Brando, a Jackson friend and son of the late actor Marlon Brando, told "Good Morning America." There he was treated and declared out of mortal danger, but the singer was then transferred by ambulance to Brotman Memorial Hospital Burn Center in Culver City, California. He was also prescribed a number of different painkillers, as well as a powerful sedative which was used to calm his nerves, and help him sleep. "He was just an extraordinary human being.". Apart from the hits, the life of Michael Jackson was one messy event after another. Never mind that it's damaged from an infamous 1984 accident in which . Coleman was not at the shoot, but said the accident made front-page news and the ads were run on the television news weeks before they officially ran as paid spots beginning in February 1984. Kevin Mazur/WireImage. Instar. Michael Jackson is wheeled into Brotman Merorial Hospital after he was burned filming a soft drink commercial featuring fireworks, which set his jacket and hair . It is also alleged that the medication used to treat the pain on his head began a lifelong drug dependency. Police have confirmed that several doctors who treated Jackson and are believed to have prescribed him drugs are being questioned or will be questioned. The terrible events happened on January 27, in 1984, at a studio in California, Jackson suffered these burns on his scalp and face, leaving him permanently scarred. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Jackson died at his California home after being administered prescription drugs, He had become hooked on the drugs after a being burned in a 1984 accident, Jackson's autopsy report noted the damage to his scalp, A patch of burned skin was visible on Jackson's head after the 1984 accident, Police found large quantities of prescription drugs in Jackson's home, Jackson's rooms were also littered with strange notes, Michael Jackson had so much Propofol in his system it would drop a rhino, detectives working at death scene reveal, Michael Jackson death cops reveal bizarre state of his body on 10th anniversary of his death, Inside sinister rise of pink cocaine sweeping UK nightclubs as warring cartels battle to control 'Coca Cola of drugs', How 'deluded' Putin thought Ukraine invasion would break up Nato & have West bowing down to Russia, leaked docs show, Leicester 'explosion': Listen to massive 'sonic' boom that shook homes and rattled windows, 'Bubbly' nightclub worker, 31, killed after her Audi crashed into a bridge on her way home from work. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Michael Jackson was at the height of his fame in the 1980s as he released some of his biggest and best-selling albums - including Thriller, and Bad. He had become hooked on the drugs after a being burned in a 1984 accident Credit: AP:Associated Press. But 25 years later, the cause of the accident remains unclear. View our online Press Pack. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Shortly after the accident Jackson and Pepsi entered into compensation talks. Elvis bedroom: Graceland upstairs SECRETS shared by Linda Thompson, Elvis Presley final years pictures shared by Linda Thompson, Michael Jackson suffered second and third degree burns during a commercial, Michael Jackson suffered the burns during filming, Elvis Presleys 86th birthday celebrated by Linda Thompson, Michael Jackson was at his most famous during the 1980s, Elvis and Priscilla: Sex games, role play, threesomes and polaroids, One Direction: Niall Horan announces he is writing 'lots' of music. Michael Jackson's Head On Fire: 1984 Pepsi Accident Video Found Michael Jackson is wheeled into Brotman Merorial Hospital after he was burned filming a soft drink commercial featuring fireworks, which set his jacket and hair on fire. ", Jackson's reported drug addiction, Brando said, is "their opinion, not my opinion.". What happened if we would have known what was going to be done, the communications were good until that point. Donester said the hair products Jackson was wearing might have actually slowed the burning. His body was found covered in track marks consistent with intravenous drug use. In the fall of 83 he and his Jackson Five brothers signed a $5 million endorsement deal with PepsiCo that would include, among other promotions, Michael appearing in commercials pushingthe soft drink. 1984: Michael Jackson burned in Pepsi ad Michael Jackson has received hospital treatment for serious burns to his head after his hair caught light during a freak filming accident. Jackson's spokesperson Ramone Bain said: "Michael Jackson feels that Eminem has crossed the line. but that's not when the accident happened. The newly released footage of the harrowing events of Jan. 27, 1984, when Michael Jackson caught on fire while shooting a spot for Pepsi, has raised new questions about who may be responsible for the accident. "There was nothing out of the ordinary that he did," Brando said. As the fireball grows around his head, he is set upon by members of the crew who tamp out the flames. . If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. ", As he described the accident, he wrote: " bombs went off on either side of my head, and the sparks set my hair on fire. "Something went wrong and it exploded and Michael's hair caught on fire," said Jackson spokesmen John Branca. But when he came to film for the Pepsi campaign in 1984, Jackson - who had been paid 5million to . Hair product may not exacerbate it sometimes. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. US magazine, which contains pictures of the incident, hits newsstands Friday. Detective Scott Smith, a detective at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), told the film: The thing that was odd that I found myself periodically looking at was his head, his scalp. Their relationship paved the way for Pepsi's ongoing association with pop stars on world tours, including Beyonc and Britney Spears. Yes, he took medicine. Jackson, who won seven American Music Awards and has been nominated for a record 12 Grammys, was filming a series of Pepsi-Cola commercials to debut next month. Indeed, he projects a personality of wide-eyed, vaguely androgynous innocence. Later reports blamed the 1984 accident for Jackson's addiction to painkillers; he died of an accidental drug overdose in 2009. Killing Michael Jackson, which was released in the UK on Saturday, looks at Jacko's death and the events surrounding it. "He didn't know that his hair was on fire," he told "Good Morning America," " but I looked back and I saw it and that's why I ran back to go to him.".