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An Introduction To Film Studies by Jill Nelmes

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An Introduction To Film Studies by Jill Nelmes

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An Introduction to Film Studies has established itself as the leading textbook for students of cinema. This revised and updated third edition guides students through the key issues and concepts in film studies, and introduces some of the world's key national cinemas including British, Indian, Soviet and French.

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Cinema's glamor has always been inseparable from star performances and star images. On its first publication in 1980, this book set new standards for critical and theoretical rigor in the field of star studies. Through the intensive examination of films, magazines, and advertising-as well as critical texts-Richard Dyer analyzes the historical, ideological, and aesthetic significance of stars, changing the way we understand screen icons.

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The two-part doc, aired on Channel 4 in the UK and HBO in the US, showed two men - Wade Robson and James Safechuck - describing sexual abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of Jackson when they were children. The production, directed by Dan Reed, has resulted in a huge discussion about Jackson's legacy, and his songs have been pulled off-air by several radio stations. Still, it seems his sales have not been negatively impacted in the UK, despite reports to the contrary in the US.

In this week's UK album chart, Jackson's Number Ones album shoots up 33 places from No61 to No28.

It's the record's first time in the Top 40 since last November; and its 386th chart week since its 2003 release.

Further down the listings, his The Essential set is a re-entry at No97; its first appearance in the Top 100 since last September.

Interestingly neither album is in the sales-only version of the chart - indicating that it was streaming that sent them skywards.

Indeed, on the streaming-only version of this week's rundown, Number Ones is at No20 (up from 37), The Essential is at No82, and Bad is at No91.

Leaving Neverland was reportedly watched by around two million viewers when it aired in the UK.

Reed said ahead of its transmission: "If there's anything we've learned during this time in our history, it's that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors' voices need to be listened to.

"It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories and I have no question about their validity.

"I believe anyone who watches this film will see and feel the emotional toll on the men and their families and will appreciate the strength it takes to confront long-held secrets."

Tom Porter, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, added: "Dan Reed has succeeded in making an extraordinarily compelling, yet moving film about two men whose lives were changed forever by one of the most famous men who ever lived.

"Channel 4 is immensely proud to have commissioned this film and created the opportunity for James' and Wade's experiences to be so sensitively told."

TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor are reported to have vowed not to use Jackson's songs in any performances going forward.

The Simpsons, meanwhile, has pulled the episode Stark Raving Dad from circulation.

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Michael Jackson album RETURNS to Top 40 after sex abuse documentary Leaving Neverland

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The two-part doc, aired on Channel 4 in the UK and HBO in the US, showed two men - Wade Robson and James Safechuck - describing sexual abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of Jackson when they were children.

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These three articles published after the Leaving Neverland documentary was aired demonstrate just how much the claims have affected the stars image

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What to do with Michael Jackson's legacy? Seattle tiptoes around it

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Like the rest of the world, Seattle is battling its own conscience regarding MJ in light of the Leaving Neverland documentary.

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The chances of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch being sold is becoming so slim to the point that property experts believe the tainted estate will 'have to be demolished'.

The allegations of child sex abuse that have come to the fore again following the airing of controversial HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, has led to interest in taking on the sprawling estate being next to nothing.

The 2,700-acre property in California has had its price slashed from $100 million (£75m) in 2015 to $31 million (£23m) today but there is still no prospective buyers, after details of alleged abuses there were revealed.

It has been ten years since Michael Jackson passed away and the King of Pop's legacy has been destroyed by the allegations made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in Dan Reed's documentary.

They both said that Jacko abused them at the Neverland Ranch, when they were aged between seven and 11 years old.

With no prospective buyers for the infamous property, Ruban Selvanayagam, co-founder of housebuyers Property Solvers, has said that demolition may be the only way forward.

Speaking to Daily Star Online , Ruban said that the Ranch's owners might 'cut their losses' and raze the property to the ground and 'start again'.

He said: "I suspect most of it will be demolished as I doubt many developers would want to maintain Michael Jackson's legacy after these shocking allegations.

"Perhaps someone may think that Neverland could be rebranded somehow, but this would be doomed to failure in my view."

He added that the "dark cloud surrounding Michael Jackson will be factored into the purchase price," but this still hasn't piqued any interest.

Jackson bought the estate in 1988 but it has become synonymous with abuse allegations over the years, with Leaving Neverland bringing it back into the public eye again, almost quashing any thought of selling the property in the near future.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

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Neverland Ranch 'faces demolition' after Jacko allegations 'make it unsellable'

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The chances of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch being sold is becoming so slim to the point that property experts believe the tainted estate will 'have to be demolished'. The allegations of child sex abuse that have come to the fore again following the airing of controversial HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, has led to interest in taking on the sprawling estate being next to nothing.

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For decades, Michael Jackson has been called "the King of Pop". He's one of the biggest superstars of all time.

But his legacy has been called into question after a documentary called Leaving Neverland was shown on TV in the US and UK this week.

In the programme, James Safechuck and Wade Robson claim they were abused by the singer when they were children.

Michael Jackson's family has denied the allegations, but the claims have cast a huge cloud over his name.

So has his legacy been tarnished forever?

Innocent or guilty?

The allegations made in the documentary undoubtedly left many feeling uncomfortable and disturbed.

People have been left shocked by the level of detail the two men gave about their time with Michael Jackson and the abuse.

But whether the singer is innocent or guilty has divided opinion - both among celebrities and viewers.

Some people say the documentary shows the King of Pop was a paedophile.

But others have defended him, and still believe he is innocent.

Digital marketing firm SEMrush analysed nearly 30,000 tweets that used #michaeljackson and #leavingneverland between 6 and 8 March.

Here are some of its findings:

33% (7,995) of the tweets using "Leaving Neverland" used positive language

39% (9,252) used neutral language

27% (6,385) negative language

37% (2,008) of tweets using "Michael Jackson" used positive language

38% (2,048) used neutral language

24% (1,286) used negative language

Olga Andrienko, head of global marketing at SEMrush said: "Leaving Neverland moved people to discuss the documentary openly on social channels in large numbers.

"Almost three times as many people were positive about the documentary than were backing the hashtag #michaeljackson after it aired."

Paul Blanchard, founder of the PR company Right Angles, says it's too early to tell what lasting impact the revelations will have on Michael Jackson's legacy.

"This is the Brexit of pop music. People will be more divided than ever. The longer it goes on the more alienated and divided people are.

"As we've got nearer to Brexit people have become even more polarised and even more opposed to each other and not come together.

"I think this will happen with Jackson's legacy. For those who are starting to turn off him they will become more entrenched in that view.

"For those that think he's a victim of blackmail and these people are trying to get money out of him - they will continue to think that ever more strongly."

What has the Jackson family said?

Michael Jackson's family has strongly denied the claims made against him and says the allegations are about getting money from the singer's estate.

His nephew Taj Jackson spoke to Newsbeat on Wednesday to defend his uncle and said the singer would be "crying" over the allegations.

But other high profile family members - such as his mother, and sister Janet Jackson - haven't addressed the claims.

His daughter Paris has kept a low profile since the documentary was shown and hasn't spoken about it directly.

But on Thursday she sent a tweet in which she told her followers to keep calm, saying: "Y'all take my life more seriously than I do."

She went on to say: "I know injustices are frustrating and it's easy to get worked up. but reacting with a calm mind usually is more logical than acting out of rage and also... it feels better to mellow out."

Michael Jackson's estate is suing HBO, which showed the documentary in the US, for $100m (£77m) - claiming the film breaches a non-disparagement clause in an old contract.

Will his music be muted?

Some radio stations across the world - including in Australia, New Zealand and Canada - have stopped playing Michael Jackson's music.

Leon Wratt, the boss of MediaWorks - which owns nine radio stations across New Zealand - said the company is guided by the audience and wanted to "err on the side of caution".

But radio stations in the UK haven't taken such a public stand.

The BBC says it doesn't ban artists and Michael Jackson could be played on its radio stations.

A spokeswoman said: "We consider each piece of music on its merits, and decisions on what we play on different networks are always made with relevant audiences and context in mind."

While Global, which owns stations including Heart, Capital, Classic FM, Smooth and Capital XTRA, says it "never comments on editorial (playlist) decisions".

Scott Bryan, who hosts the Must Watch BBC podcast, says he deleted 15 Michael Jackson songs from his iPhone after seeing the documentary.

"A couple of days later I was in a cafe working on my laptop and by sheer coincidence it was playing Michael Jackson.

"I had to put my headphones on and listen to some other music because I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing because I found it a little bit uncomfortable."

But Radio 1 listener Christian, 26, from Colchester says he thinks people should still listen to Michael Jackson.

He told Newsbeat: "He is the King of Pop. I can't even begin to imagine how many musicians have considered him a role model.

"He's had some massive singles and massive albums. So we need more and more generations to keep thinking about where the music has come from in the past."

Will his cultural legacy be erased?

An episode of The Simpsons featuring the voice of Michael Jackson is being pulled from streaming services and streaming channels.

The singer voiced a character called Leon Kompowsky, who meets Homer in a psychiatric hospital, in an episode which originally aired in 1991.

"It feels clearly the only choice to make," executive producer James L Brooks told The Wall Street Journal.

He added: "I'm against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we're allowed to take out a chapter."

A statue of Michael Jackson has also been removed from Britain's National Football Museum.

Thriller Live - the musical which centres around Michael Jackson's music - has refused to comment on whether the documentary is impacting its shows.

It's been running on the West End for 10 years and the website is continuing to take bookings for the show until the end of September.

There's also a Cirque du Soleil production inspired by the singer on the go and a Broadway show based on his music in the pipeline.

Taj Jackson told Newsbeat the allegations are "hurtful" but believes they won't have a lasting effect on his uncle's legacy.

"I think it's temporary in terms of the stain. First of all I believe the truth will come out," he said.

But PR expert Andy Barr, managing editor of 10 Yetis, thinks the fallout from the documentary will leave his brand in "tatters" in the longer term.

"I think the business people behind some of his upcoming new ventures will be looking at this closely and looking at whether his brand is on the verge of becoming toxic.

"With him not being around to defend himself and his family not really being able to put anything out that is positive I can't see it improving for him long term.

"I think it's just going to get worse and worse."

Andy says thanks to the internet, these allegations will always float around Michael Jackson's name no matter what.

"I'm a guy who has grown up listening to his music and have three young kids and I have to think do I want my kids listening to this music knowing the connotations of what's gone on.

"I think future generations will come to actually forget him and he'll fall to the wayside a bit."

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here.

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For decades, Michael Jackson has been called "the King of Pop". He's one of the biggest superstars of all time. But his legacy has been called into question after a documentary called Leaving Neverland was shown on TV in the US and UK this week.

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Michael Jackson claims: Time to boycott star?

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In light of fresh abuse claims against Michael Jackson, music commentators weigh up whether the star's hits should be muted.

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LEAVING NEVERLAND Official Trailer (HD) Michael Jackson Documentary Series

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Michael Jackson Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: A Timeline

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It's been 25 years since sexual molestation allegations broke about Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.

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By Rochelle Steinhaus
Court TV

(Court TV) -- Michael Jackson paid out approximately $25 million to settle a civil suit by a boy who accused him of molesting him in 1993, according to the confidential agreement which was exclusively obtained by Court TV's Diane Dimond.
The pop star, according to the agreement, maintained the settlement did not signify an admission of any wrongdoing against the boy or his parents.

Jackson "specifically disclaims any liability to, and denies any wrongful acts," according to the 31-page document he signed on January 25, 1994.

The terms of the settlement have been kept tightly under wraps for a decade, but were exclusively uncovered by Court TV.

Jackson agreed to pay $15,331,250 to be held in a trust fund for the accuser, now 24, as well as $1.5 million to each of his parents. The accuser may have also received another seven-figure payment not specified in the agreement. Additionally, the plaintiff's lawyer was slated to receive $5 million.

In exchange, the accuser and his parents agreed to not pursue civil claims against Jackson.

The agreement could play a role in the current criminal charges Jackson faces stemming from allegations by another California boy who accused him of molestation.

In April, he was indicted on 10 criminal counts, alleging 28 acts involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

Evidence of the 1993 accusations could be admitted as evidence of prior criminal behavior against Jackson in his current case ? but only if the now-adult accuser is willing to testify.

In December 1993, the boy outlined his accusations in a sworn declaration, recounting his year-long friendship with the King of Pop.

According to the account, he met Jackson in May 1992 at the rental car business where his stepfather worked and where Jackson was renting a car.

The introduction led to several trips to Jackson's Neverland ranch, where the boy claimed he played video games, rode golf carts ? and slept in the same bed with Jackson.

He and his family also took trips with Jackson to Florida, New York, Las Vegas and Europe, according to the statement.

"During our relationship Michael Jackson had sexual contact with me on many occasions," the statement alleges.

He accused Jackson of open-mouth kissing, fondling and oral sex.

His contact with Jackson ended, he said, when he went to live with his father in July 1993.

Two months later, they filed a civil suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, asking for unspecified damages for sexual battery, seduction, willful misconduct, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and negligence.

The settlement agreement stipulated that the accuser and his parents were dropping all claims except that of negligence at the time of signing the document, with the caveat that once the money was received that claim would not be pursued.

Eight pages of the document addressing the payment arrangements were not disclosed. It is unknown whether Jackson paid the settlement from his own pocket or if it was funded by his insurance company.

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CNN.com - Jackson settlement from 1993 allegationstopped $20 million - Jun 16, 2004

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By Rochelle SteinhausCourt TV (Court TV) -- Michael Jackson paid out approximately $25 million to settle a civil suit by a boy who accused him of molesting him in 1993, according to the confidential agreement which was exclusively obtained by Court TV's Diane Dimond.

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Formal charges after Thanksgiving; arraignment set January 9

ON CNN TV

VIDEO

SANTA BARBARA, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson was booked on suspicion of child molestation Thursday, posted a $3 million bond and released in less than an hour. The pop star flashed the peace sign, waved and blew kisses to cameras as he left the Santa Barbara County jail.

The 45-year-old singer will be arraigned January 9 in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon's office said formal charges of lewd or lascivious contact with a child younger than 14 would be filed against Jackson after next Thursday's Thanksgiving public holiday.

Jackson's lawyer, Mark Geragos, told reporters his client had come "to confront these charges head-on. He is greatly outraged by the bringing of these charges. He considers this to be a big lie."

Geragos added: "Michael has given me the authority to say, on his behalf, that these charges are categorically untrue."

Geragos is involved in another high-profile California case as the defense lawyer for accused wife-killer Scott Peterson. ( Geragos profile)

Jackson was escorted into the jail wearing a black suit with his hands cuffed behind his back.

The entire booking process during which he was photographed and fingerprinted took about 30-40 minutes, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department spokesman said. Jackson also handed over his passport.

After being released, Jackson was whisked away to a private plane that flew him back to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has been shooting a music video.

He departed from the same Santa Barbara airport where he had surrendered to authorities after arriving around noon (3 p.m. EST) aboard a Gulf Stream G-4 private jet from Las Vegas.

When his SUV stalled in Las Vegas traffic, well-wishers dodged vehicles to grasp hands with Jackson, who blew kisses to the crowd and extended his hand through a crack in the window.

Jackson's family issued a statement after his arrest, denouncing the "vicious allegation" against him as a "big lie."

"Michael said, 'Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons.' The truth will win this marathon in court," the family said.

Michael Jackson's older brother Jermaine expressed outrage over TV commentary since news broke of the allegations, comparing it to "a modern-day lynching" of a man whose life has been "about peace."

He said he and his family support Michael "one thousand percent" because they believe he is innocent and that he himself was furious.

"I am sick and tired of people speaking on my brother's behalf, and my family's behalf, who do not know us," he said. "So you put these people on national television or international television saying these things." ( Full story)

Authorities have released no details about the child or the time of the alleged molestation. A judge has ordered affidavits in the case sealed for 45 days. Authorities also appealed to the public for information on other possible victims.

Jackson could face a minimum of three years and a maximum of eight years in prison on each count if convicted.

He is the father of three children. It is not known how their status might be affected by this case.

CBS announced Wednesday that "given the gravity of the charges" against Jackson it was postponing a special program on him scheduled for November 26. ( Full story)

The allegations come almost a decade after Jackson settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of a boy who spent the night at Neverland Ranch when he was 13 and accused Jackson of molesting him.

Criminal investigators stopped pursuing their case after the lawsuit was settled for an unknown amount and the boy -- by then 14 -- made clear he did not want to participate in any prosecution of the singer.

Johnnie Cochran, Jackson's attorney in that 1993 case, said at the time that Jackson maintained his innocence and that the settlement was in no way an admission of guilt.

Sneddon said Wednesday he did not know whether the parents of the current accuser were aware of the past allegations. He said no civil suit has been filed in the latest case and none is expected.

"We have a cooperative victim in this particular proceeding," Sneddon said when announcing an arrest warrant for Jackson had been issued. ( Full story)

Dozens of law enforcement officers searched Jackson's ranch for about 13 hours Tuesday, and search warrants were served on two other locations in Southern California where some property was seized, authorities said. ( Full story)

Jackson's mansion is on a 2,600-acre estate about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Santa Barbara and features amusement park rides, a petting zoo and statues of children.

The singer's spokesman, Stuart Backerman, said the tone of the authorities' news conference on Wednesday was disturbing. ( Transcript of news conference)

"We are disturbed by the levity of the environment surrounding the announcement of these very serious charges," he said.

Backerman said the singer had been in Las Vegas for more than two weeks shooting a video for the song "One More Chance." That single is on his "Number Ones" album, a greatest-hits collection released Tuesday by Epic Records.

Prosecutors dismissed questions raised about whether the execution of the search warrants was timed to coincide with the music release.

"It really has nothing to do with his album or whatever else he's doing in his life," said Sneddon.

Jackson sang about Sneddon in his song "D.S.," which was on the pop star's 1995 double-CD album "HIStory Past, Present and Future, Book 1." Each chorus repeats the line "Tom Sneddon is a cold man" four times. ( Full story)

CNN's Mike Brooks, Frank Buckley, Charles Feldman and Stan Wilson contributed to this report.

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Jackson booked on suspicion of molestation

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Michael Jackson was booked on suspicion of child molestation Thursday, posted a $3 million bond and released in less than an hour. The pop star flashed the peace sign, waved and blew kisses to cameras as he left the Santa Barbara County jail.

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In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, many have posed questions about the singer's former pet, Bubbles the chimpanzee.

Bubbles was, of course, part of Jackson's entourage -- and of his mystique -- in the 1980s. He accompanied Jackson to events and in the studio during the recording of his " Bad" album. When Jackson toured Japan, Bubbles was there. He even learned how to Moonwalk (sort of).

Of course, as with many elements of Jackson's life, it's hard to separate fact from fiction. The star reportedly rescued a young Bubbles from a cancer research center in Texas in 1985. The chimp eventually faded from public view, with few references made to him until Jackson's famous television interview with British journalist Martin Bashir, " Living with Michael Jackson," which aired in early 2003. In the interview, Jackson told Bashir that Bubbles had become aggressive as he aged, and had been sent away over fears that he would harm Jackson's youngest child, Prince Michael II.

Bubbles had apparently been living with his longtime trainer, Bob Dunn, since at least as early as 2002, when Dunn spoke with People Magazine. "Bubbles is an adult chimp and a wild animal," Dunn told the magazine. "We don't let him out to play."

The trainer did say, however, that Jackson and his children had been to his Sylmar ranch to visit the chimp. "The last time Michael visited, Bubbles definitely recognized and remembered him," he told the Telegraph.

In late 2003, a report surfaced that Bubbles had attempted suicide but "was rushed to the hospital in time." (No further details, or even confirmation that the attempt happened at all, were forthcoming.) And then, once again, the chimp returned to a life of relative obscurity.

In 2005, Dunn stopped working with great apes and sent the ones still living on his ranch, including Bubbles, to a the Center for Great Apes, a nonprofit sanctuary in southern-central Florida. The sanctuary's website describes the chimp, now 26, as charismatic and "able to throw sand with amazing accuracy." It sums up his character in three words: smart, distinctive and tender.

A representative for Jackson contacted the sanctuary after Bubbles arrived, suggesting that the star would like to visit his former pet. (The sanctuary is closed to the public, so special arrangements would have to be made for such a visit.) But, sanctuary director Patti Ragan told People in a recent interview, Jackson never made it to Florida. Bubbles doesn't seem to mind, though -- after all, chimps are ill-suited to life with humans, and his new home affords him the opportunity to interact with other chimps, notably his best friend, Sam.

Sanctuary staff haven't attempted to tell Bubbles about his former owner's death. "We haven't said anything to him yet," Ragan told People.

As for Jackson's other animals -- he kept tigers, giraffes, reptiles, birds and other exotics at his Neverland Ranch -- they seem to have been scattered to the four winds. The AFP reports:

While Bubbles remains high-profile, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it was hard to track down most of Jackson's former pets.

Lisa Wathne, PETA's specialist in captive exotic animals, voiced particular concern about two of Jackson's orangutans sent to a private owner in Connecticut and reptiles at a roadside zoo in Oklahoma.

She said Jackson's case showed why wild animals should not be kept as pets.

"All too often even people who start with good intentions, as Michael Jackson certainly did, don't have the ability to properly care for these animals," she said.

"And unfortunately in Michael Jackson's case he did apparently run into financial problems that ultimately led to his animals being disbursed to places all over the world. We don't know, frankly, where most of them ended up."

Two tigers, Thriller and Sabu, now reside at Tippi Hedren's Shambala sanctuary in Acton, north of L.A. Thirteen Chilean flamingos ended up at the Cape May County Zoo in New Jersey. Giraffes went to a sanctuary in Lake Powell on the Arizona-Utah border, but faced eviction earlier this year.

As recently as a few months ago, Jackson's fascination with exotic animals was still causing controversy and making headlines. When reports suggested that the star's planned London concert series would include animals like elephants and panthers, PETA complained, telling music magazine NME that "exotic animals belong in Africa, not the O2 Arena among screaming fans, bright lights and stage explosions." The animal rights group later backed down when it said it had been told no animals would be used in the O2 concerts.

For a look backward at Jackson's exotic-pet history, check out Discovery's Born Animal blog.

-- Lindsay Barnett
Photo: Artist Jeff Koons' statue "Michael Jackson and Bubbles," which sold for $5.6 million at auction in 2001. Credit: Sotheby's

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Remembering Bubbles the chimp and Michael Jackson's other exotic pets

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In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, many have posed questions about the singer's former pet, Bubbles the chimpanzee. Bubbles was, of course, part of Jackson's entourage -- and of his mystique -- in the 1980s. He accompanied Jackson to events and in the studio during the recording of his " Bad" album.

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The past 24 hours have not been kind to Pepsi, nor Kendall Jenner. On Wednesday morning the soft drinks giant released the latest in a long line of high-budget celebrity advertisements. Starring the darling of 2017 fame, supermodel and Keeping up with the Kardashians star Kendall Jenner, the advertisement created a fake protest and suggested that a can of Pepsi could ease tensions between the police - whose race-related brutality has been well-documented - and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Scorn and outrage proliferated online. People were astonished and incensed that a global brand would use the suffering of people to sell their product - and a white supermodel could be painted as the solution to deep societal problems. By the end of the day, the advertisement had been taken down and Pepsi had issued an apology.

But while this can roundly be considered a major mistake on Pepsi's behalf, it's not the first time things have gone badly wrong with a celebrity endorsement. In 1984 the shooting of a Pepsi advert became such a nightmare that its star - none other than Michael Jackson - ended up on a stretcher, with second- and third-degree burns, injuries so severe it is thought that they sparked a painkiller addiction that would eventually result in his death. Here's how it happened.

'Coke saw anything they would do with Michael as a more targeted, ethnic campaign'

Jay Coleman spotted this. The marketing mogul founded his company Entertainment Marketing and Communications International in 1976, and twigged that Jackson would be a savvy investment for a major brand - especially if he brokered a multi-million dollar deal in the process.

Coleman's business may have been new, but he had experience after linking up Jovan with the Rolling Stones ' Tattoo tour in 1981 - a deal that cost the fragrance company $4 million, but wound up with a gross of $50 million, not to mention the attention of a coveted teenage market.

Coleman cooked up a marketing plan with Jackson at the helm and took it to Coca-Cola. But the fizzy drink giant were ambivalent - if anything, they feared that attaching Jackson to their brand would only lure in one audience. "They gave it serious consideration yet couldn't make that leap of faith," Coleman told Billboard in 2009. "They saw anything they would do with Michael as a more targeted, ethnic campaign". Coke offered a $1 million to Jackson, and it was turned down. The next target? Coca-Cola's nearest rival: PepsiCo.

'Roger, I'm going to make Coke wish they were Pepsi'

Jackson signed on to Pepsi for $5 million, before anything had even been shot. It instantly became the most expensive marketing campaign ever, recalls Tristan Donovan in his book, Fizz: How Soda Shook Up the World. Enrico, he writes, "initially balked at the price tag but relented because, as Jackson's promoter Don King told him, "This is Michael Jackson. He is bigger than God".

'The last thing a production would do following an accident like this would be to announce it to thousands of extras'

After the release of Pepsi's first Jackson advert in 1983, that certainly seemed the case. In 1984, Pepsi had sales of $7.7 billion and an increase in market share, while financial reports at the time showed that Coca-Cola's had dropped. The goal, Coleman later said, "was to make Pepsi look young and Coke look old", and by choosing Michael Jackson - the youth's choice - Pepsi had achieved it.

In January 1984, a second advert followed. This time, Jackson would be taken out of the streets and onto the stage, along with the rest of his brothers. There was a cast of hundreds - 1,000 to comprise the screaming arena crowd alone, among a further 3,000 fans - and, as then-extra Kathy Griffin remembered to The Hollywood Reporter, "a glitzy rock 'n' roll-like set". Still juggling dance and acting lessons with receptionist work on her way to becoming a star, Griffin recalls being "fascinated just to be in that audience watching how a really big commercial is made with one of the biggest stars in history".

For five of the takes, things went to the plan: as the advert shows, Jackson appears at a short flight of steps at the back of the stage, and fireworks spark behind him as he dances down the steps. For the sixth, however, Jackson was still at the top of the steps when the explosion took place. Sparks landed in his heavily gelled hair and caught fire. Through a combination of professionalism and, possibly, ignorance, Jackson kept dancing, until he reached the bottom of the steps, when stagehands flocked around him, desperately trying to put out the flames.

Jackson suffered severe burns to his scalp, face and body. He was quietly bandaged up and wheeled out of the arena to hospital. The extras weren't told anything more than filming had stopped, Griffin recalls. "The last thing a production would do following an accident like this would be to announce to hundreds, if not thousands, of extras something like, 'There's been a horrible accident. Everybody go home!'" she wrote in The Hollywood Reporter. "I just remember we were all abruptly excused for the day. By the time I'd driven my parents' Toyota Corolla back to our Santa Monica apartment, it was all over the news."

The reports vary with regards to how this happened. But, according to Jackson's memoir, Moon Dance, director Bob Giraldi wasn't happy. Jackson was too far down the steps by the time the explosion went off, he needed to wait longer.

Jackson's friend Miko Brando spoke at a press conference after the accident: "The explosion was much larger [than earlier takes]. The explosion was set off sooner than ever before. [Jackson] told me yesterday he was directed by Bob Giraldi in the final take to remain alongside the fireworks until after the explosion".

Pepsi and the Jacksons managed to hush the event up. In the end, Jackson decided not to sue: Pepsi paid him a $1.5 million settlement, money that he donated to a Californian medical centre, who used it to fund a Burns Clinic named after him.

"Michael realised it was an accident and had no ill will towards anyone including Pepsi," Coleman told Access Hollywood decades later. "Pepsi and the family talked and they all came to the conclusion that it would be better not to [release footage of the accident] because when you watch it, it's frightening."

'He had dropped his white glove into the toilet, and was screaming for someone to please get it out of there'

But in 2009, in the wake of Jackson's shockingly premature death, the video footage emerged. US Weekly released it online and, as Coleman said, it makes for unsettling viewing.

After 25 years, and cast in the light of Jackson's apparent overdose on the painkillers he was reported to be addicted to, the mysterious circumstances around the accident became fresh ground to be clawed over. Donald Donester, a former Los Angeles firefighter who witnessed the event, made allegations to Access Hollywood that Giraldi had not only changed the plans, but hadn't told the health and safety departments of them, for fear of being told no, he claimed:

"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. He was actually under the pyrotechnics when they went off. Subsequently, you know, catching his hair on fire."

Giraldi denied the claims, telling gossip website TMZ at the time, "That's not true. Whatever."

"It's not a moment that I like to remember. I've put it out of my repertoire when I think of working and being around Michael in his genius", Giraldi remembered five years later.

The director maintains that he and Jackson stayed amicable despite the incident, and that they would "greet each other with hugs."

Furthermore, Giraldi remembers more humdrum dramas from that shoot: "The brothers were downstairs in the dressing room. We all heard a blood-curdling scream and we thought, 'Oh my God, someone has gotten to Michael, or got at him.' [It transpired that] he had dropped his white glove into the toilet, and was screaming for someone to please get it out of there. We all looked at each other like, 'Who's going to be the schmuck to go down and pick out his glove in a bowl?' And it was a prop guy who was smart enough to come in with a wire and pick it up. I'll never forget that moment, which shows you how even the biggest of superstars have to use the bathroom."

'This was someone I knew and he was on fire'

Pepsi never took measures to try and contain the footage of the accident because they simply didn't know where it had come from. "We don't know what that footage is," spokeswoman Nicole Bradley said in 2009. "It's 25 years ago. We don't know who owns it, so we have no recourse as far as I know. I can only tell you what I know. We didn't put it up and we don't know where it came from."

The internet era has ensured that it is far easier to see the accident than the advertisement itself. In comparison to the 2.5-minute epics Pepsi release now, the commercial seems quaint, the fateful explosion far more insignificant than the impact it had on Jackson's well-being.

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How Pepsi nearly killed Michael Jackson: the story behind the other controversial cola ad

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The past 24 hours have not been kind to Pepsi, nor Kendall Jenner. On Wednesday morning the soft drinks giant released the latest in a long line of high-budget celebrity advertisements.

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(CNN) -- In the wake of Michael Jackson's memorial service, the key question of how the pop superstar died remains unanswered, awaiting an official report from the Los Angeles County coroner.

But other mysteries abound, particularly related to Jackson's appearance, which changed dramatically from his early adulthood.

His features changed, and the color of his skin lightened significantly over the last two decades of his life.

When the face of the most recognizable entertainer in the world faded to near alabaster, the transformation struck a sensitive cultural spot. It intrigued and even offended people, spawning numerous articles and blog posts speculating about his metamorphosis.

This week, a source involved with the investigation into Jackson's death said the singer's body was "lily white from head to toe." And another source said Jackson had "paper-white skin. As white as a white T-shirt."

The singer denied changing his skin color for vanity reasons and repeatedly asserted that he had a disease called vitiligo, in which the immune system attacks cells that produce melanin, the pigment that determines skin color. The condition results in milky white spots.

For some patients, the discolored spots can spread entirely across the body, leaving only freckles of the original skin color, although this is not very common, experts said.

Jackson told Oprah Winfrey in a 1993 interview, "I'm a black American. I am proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race, and I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity of who I am.

"I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin. It's something I cannot help. When people make up stories that I don't like who I am, it hurts me," Jackson told Winfrey.

Jackson's claims that he had vitiligo elicited both empathy and skepticism.

Those familiar with the skin condition said vitiligo is commonly misunderstood because of its rarity. It affects approximately 1 percent of the world's population, according to the American Vitiligo Research Foundation.

"I have to wear sleeves and carry an umbrella," said Lee Thomas, who wrote a memoir called "Turning White," which discusses his physical and mental struggles as an African-American man whose skin changes because of vitiligo. "It totally makes sense to me."

And he even shared a common habit as the King of Pop.

"I got [white spots] on one of my hands, so I used to wear a glove to hold a microphone," said Thomas, an Emmy-winning TV news broadcaster in Detroit, Michigan. He first noticed white spots on his scalp when he was 25. Then the spots appeared on his hands.

"Before I got this, I thought, 'What's up with Michael Jackson?' " Thomas said. "Then I get the disease, and it's like, 'Holy crap, there really is a disease called vitiligo, and it does what?' "

Making assumptions about why or how a person's skin color changed is "not malicious ignorance, but it is definitely ignorance," Thomas said.

Vitiligo affects people of all races, but it is more visible in people with darker skin. The cause of the disorder is unknown, although family history plays a role.

Topical ointments such as corticosteroids and oral medicine combined with ultraviolet light therapies are used to restore pigment to the skin. These treatments often have side effects including abnormal hair growth, thinning and over-darkening of the skin.

They can be about 60 to 70 percent successful, said Dr. James Nordlund, a dermatologist who specializes in skin color disorders at Group Health Associates in Cincinnati, Ohio.

"The problem with vitiligo is, you end up with two colors," said Nordlund, a board member with the National Vitiligo Foundation. "Everyone stares, wonders what's going on, and people ask if you had a burn. Kids ask what's wrong with you. It takes a tough soul to deal with that and not be affected."

He recalled one patient, an African-American woman with vitiligo who had patches across her hands and face. When she shopped in the grocery store, she would be followed, and every bit of produce and item she touched would be thrown away, he said.

If treatment to restore the patient's natural color fails and the majority of a person's body is discolored, the next option is to lighten his or her skin to match the spots.

"People want to be their own color," Nordlund said. "Most of the time, most want to be their own color, but if they can't, the second best is, 'Look, I'll be one color, and I'll be white.' "

Nordlund never treated Jackson but said the singer's use of the gloves and lipstick was consistent with the patterns of vitiligo, since the spots frequently first appear on the hands and face, including the lips. He said Jackson's representatives once reached out to several dermatologists, including him, to hold a symposium on vitiligo at the Neverland Ranch, but those plans never materialized.

Despite such statements, the constant changes in his face-- as it became narrower and paler -- baffled and caused some unease.

Bleaching or lightening one's skin for cosmetic reasons is much rarer in the United States than in Asian, African and Caribbean nations, dermatologists said. In some countries, people use over-the-counter and bootleg products -- some of which contain potentially toxic chemicals -- to lighten their skin. The controversial practice has been viewed as the psychologicallegacy of racism, where light skin was valued over darker skin.

In the United States, lightening ointments are prescribed for spot treatments for scars, acne pits or discolored marks, said Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

There is no surgery to lighten the skin. In the United States, a powerful medication called Benoquin, also known as monobenzene, can be used to treat extreme cases of vitiligo.

"It's important to understand that this product actually removes pigment (not just lightens), which is more like being an albino," wrote Dr. Min-Wei Christine Lee, a cosmetic dermatologic surgeon and director of The East Bay Laser & Skin Care Center in Walnut Creek, California. "Caucasian skin still has pigment even though it's 'white' -- skin treated with Benoquin has no pigment."

The process, though painless, is so tedious and lengthy that most people use Benoquin only on the visible areas of their body, such as their face, neck and arms, Nordlund said. Side effects include irritated, dry or itchy skin, and the results are permanent.

The person applies the medication once a day, and it could take six months to two years to take away the coloring. Nordlund said he has heard of only one or two people who administered the ointment over their entire bodies; those processes took five to eight years.

It leaves the person extremely sensitive to the sun.

It's a decision that Lee Thomas may have to make one day. None of the treatments to bring back his natural pigment has worked. His face has become about 35 to 40 percent white, and he uses heavy makeup to even out the spots when he appears on television.

"I would have to consider it as an option," Thomas said of whether he would consider depigmentation if the discolored spots spread. "When it gets to that point, I'll make that decision. Right now, I'm not there yet."

"I'm a dark-skinned African-American and am proud of that. It would be really weird not to have any pigment at all."

All About Michael Jackson * Dermatology

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In life of mysteries, Jackson's changed color baffled public

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(CNN) -- In the wake of Michael Jackson's memorial service, the key question of how the pop superstar died remains unanswered, awaiting an official report from the Los Angeles County coroner. But other mysteries abound, particularly related to Jackson's appearance, which changed dramatically from his early adulthood.

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Pop star Michael Jackson has admitted he made a "terrible mistake" in dangling a baby over a hotel balcony as he greeted fans.

The singer caused a stir when he appeared with the child in Berlin, precariously clutching the infant out of a third floor window, and draping a towel over the baby's head.

"I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children," Jackson said.

A spokesman for the Bambi entertainment award ceremony, where Jackson is due to receive a lifetime achievement award, told the Associated Press news agency the child was Jackson's youngest son Prince Michael II.

Rumours have been circulating for months that Jackson has a third child, but it is not yet known if the child is adopted or is his biological offspring.

About 200 fans gathered at the entrance to the Adlon Hotel, near the Brandenburg Gate, as Jackson's motorcade arrived on Tuesday.

The reclusive performer had to fight his way through the crowd of fans to get into the hotel, in a scrum that injured one person.

Safely inside

Later, Jackson dangled the baby out of the window of his room on the third floor, holding it with one arm under its shoulders.

Many onlookers feared the 44-year-old would drop the infant, although he brought the child back inside safely.

As fans cheered for him to appear again, Jackson came out onto the balcony covering his face and threw a towel down to the crowd below.

Jackson has two other children, Prince Michael, who is five, and Paris, who is four.

The singer's close friend, psychic Uri Geller, condemned Jackson's actions but did not believe he was capable of harming a child.

"I just would not put any child over a railing at such a height," he said.

"I think it was a silly thing to do. He probably did it because he was overwhelmed emotionally by the fans."

But he had suspected the baby was a fake, saying he was "too protective" of his children to do something like this.

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BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Jackson: Baby stunt was 'mistake'

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Pop star Michael Jackson has admitted he made a "terrible mistake" in dangling a baby over a hotel balcony as he greeted fans. The singer caused a stir when he appeared with the child in Berlin, precariously clutching the infant out of a third floor window, and draping a towel over the baby's head.

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During his career and after his death MJ has faced multiple controversial stories and scandals. th scandals changed the image for the star resulting in the nickname Wacko Jacko

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Michael Jackson's Acceptance Speech 1993

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Accepting AMA for lifetime achievement 1989

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Accepting AMA for lifetime achievement 1989

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Michael Jackson Wins Lifetime Achievement Award - AMA 1989

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Michael Jackson wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1989 American Music Award. Michael begins by thanking Eddie Murphy. He also thanks God, his parents, and all the people who helped him get into show business.

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Michael Jackson had a long list of Awards including 39 Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, and 16 World Music Awards

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The change in Jackson's image over time

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Bad (Remastered), an album by Michael Jackson on Spotify

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Thriller, an album by Michael Jackson on Spotify

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Off the Wall, an album by Michael Jackson on Spotify

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Destiny, an album by The Jacksons on Spotify

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The Jacksons, an album by The Jacksons on Spotify