Michael Jackson's 1984 Pepsi Accident Footage Released

Posted Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:32am PDT by Lyndsey Parker in As Heard On...

If you were trying to pinpoint the exact moment when things started to go downhill for Michael Jackson, a possible guess would be the afternoon of January 27, 1984, when Michael (then at the height of his career, riding the Thriller wave) was severely burned while shooting the Jacksons' now-infamous Pepsi commercial.

According to an article in the new issue of Us Weekly--the magazine that just acquired and released disturbing, previously unseen footage of the Pepsi shoot accident--Michael was never quite the same after being set ablaze by pyrotechnics that day at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium. Us reports that Michael's addiction to various medications began after he was prescribed several types of painkillers to ease the suffering from the second- and third-degree burns on his scalp and body.

It makes us wonder, sadly, how Michael's life and career might have panned out, had this horrific fireworks accident never occurred that fateful day.

Us Weekly's never-before-seen accident footage can be viewed below. Please be warned it is quite graphic:

Follow me on Twitter

Follow Yahoo! Music on Twitter

219 Comments

1. Asare - Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:57am PDT

This was very pathetic.Most Africans had the impression his surgery was to change his black features.
Today I know what happened and may the good lord rest him peacefully.

Report abuse

2. Kimberly B - Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:45pm PDT

Oh my God. His entire head was on fire. This would have left him with not only physical scars but also emotional scars. I didn't know it was this bad.
R.I.P. Michael!!!

3. Jody - Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:02pm PDT

I guess we kno y he did plastic surgery

4. Cheryl - Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:18pm PDT

My God!!!! May he rest in peace.

5. Jeni`s House - Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:33pm PDT

If US magazine had this footage, I wonder why it hasn`t been shown before. It makes it very clear that this wasn`t a minor injury. The pain must have been horrible. And it was during his hospitalization that they discovered he had discoid lupus. It`s too bad that the tabloid media hounded him constantly and failed to report what really happened. Who knows what might have been.

6. Lana - Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:31pm PDT

now i have a question: WHY WASN'T IT RELEASED BEFORE MJ DIED??? It could've make a lot of things clear for people! Everything is about money in this world...That's why life was so difficult for Michael - he wasn't like that.........so sad & disappointing! I will never buy Pepsi again! RIP Angel!

7. Nakia - Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:39pm PDT

yeah, I agree with Kaya that's crazy, I didn't know he was hurt that bad, I felt sorry for him Rest In Peace, Micheal

8. Jennifer - Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:10pm PDT

I think its bs that this wasnt reported before he died, but i guess that wouldve made the media less money. I always felt that there was a great guy inside, it wouldve helped alot with the public if this was brought up before. I still think the media took his life wrongly and for the wrong reason. So much for the greatness of the media. What would Woodward & Bernstien say.

9. camashe - Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:34pm PDT

The sad thing is that his father was the one who cornered him into doing this commercial. Joe Jackson was the demise of Micheal Jackson.

10. Danyelle - Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:16pm PDT

OMG I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS TIS BAD IT LOOKS LIKE HIS HEAD WAS BLEEDING NOW LETS HOPE THEY NEVER SAY A WORD ABOT HIS FACE AGAIN DAMN THE MEDIA

11. Theresa - Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:44pm PDT

M.J.J. I hope u get the rest you were asking for...love u and see u @ the crossroad.

12. Ramtin - Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:28pm PDT

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood maykel iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii looooooooveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

13. Amanda D - Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:34pm PDT

I knew about the burns on his scalp but, I didn't know about the burns being 2nd & 3rd degree and spreading on his body. That's horrible.

I know full well that this footage wasn't brought to light before he died b/c the media just wanted to make a mockery of this man and, didn't want ppl to see what he was really going through. I can only imagine other areas of his life that the media didn't want the public to see so, that they could continue to paint a picture of him as some "demented freak", and not a guy who's suffering from alot of health problems that led to a dependency on prescription drugs.

14. Marita - Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:39pm PDT

Hello...

15. cham - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:18am PDT

Well this is the most unfortunate incident that put MJ to change his way of life. This is the start of his controversial life. How remarkable career it would have been without this incident.

16. yankeeirishred - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:33am PDT

This is video is so hard to watch. It explains so much of the pain michael was in.Hopefully he will be able to finally rest without the pain.My love & loyalty has always been there with him.I will cherish him in my heart forever!! I will love & miss him. I will honor his memory & enjoy all his wonderful gifts he has left here with the world through his music & videos.He is in the stars dancing & singing with the angels.

17. Taliauli - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:45am PDT

i heard it was 2 to 3 degree burns:(:(:( rest in peace MJ!!!!!!king of pop

18. Tracy - Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:24am PDT

Its really very sad with wat really happened to Mike...and we all pray for his eternal soul to rest in peace forever.

He was an Angel from above...and will always remain one...no matter wat the world may speak about him.. He is a Legend until eternity and beyond.

We luv u darlin Mike...

19. Terence K - Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:58am PDT

R.I.P M.J.J YOU THE ANGEL

	And The Winner Is... by Chris Willman	26
	As Heard On... by Rebecca Harper, Hulu	46
	Chart Watch by Paul Grein	139
	Framed by John Kordosh	118
	GetBack by Shawn Amos	329
	Hip-Hop Media Training by Billy Johnson, Jr.	217
	List Of The Day by Rob O'Connor	331
	Maximum Performance by Billy Johnson, Jr.	166
	Musictoob by Andy Pemberton	179
	New This Week by Dave DiMartino	122
	Reality Rocks by Lyndsey Parker	570
	Rock's Backpages by Philip Norman (1970)	191
	Stop The Presses! by Us Magazine	85
	That's Really Week by Lyndsey Parker	124
	The Blender Burner by Blender Magazine	27
	The MOJO Blog by Bill DeMain	88
	The NME Blog by Luke Lewis	48
	The Spin Blog by David Marchese	77
	The Y! Music Playlist Blog by Robert of the Radish	511
	Video Ga Ga by Lyndsey Parker	70
	Viva NashVegas by Wendy Geller	56

Music Blogs

Michael Jackson's 1984 Pepsi Accident Footage Released

Yahoo! Music Blogs

Music Blog Archives

Most Comments

Kanye West Has Truly Lost It This Time

Adam Lambert's Album Cover: Xanadu, Or A Xana-Don't?

Chris Brown Responds To Rihanna's Tell All TV Interview

Hot Topic Punks in a Fake Punk World

Rap Music Should Be Included In Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

When Singers Can't Sing Their Songs Anymore

Shakira Changed Name And Wore Disguise For UCLA Class

Beyonce, Janet, & Ciara, Can I Show You Something?

Double Trouble: Worst 'X Factor' Performance Ever? Or BEST?

Musical Makeovers

Music News

Michael Jackson 'Opus' book offers rare images

Taylor Swift wins five American Music Awards

Roger Daltrey gives voice a workout on solo tour