Michael Jackson’s pet chimpanzee was ‘attacked across the room’ when it ‘behaves inappropriately’, new document claims

Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp investigates Michael Jackson’s Neverland animals in a new documentary in which a conservationist says she reprimanded the pop star for his treatment with animals

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Ross Kemp discusses Michael Jackson’s new show Finding the Zoo

Michael Jackson’s pet chimpanzee Bubbles “got hit by a bullet when he did something wrong”, primatologist Jane Goodall stated in an interview with Ross Kemp.

The former EastEnders star investigates what happened to the famous musician’s animals at his Neverland ranch, including elephants, giraffes and tigers, as part of a new ITV documentary.

Conservationist Jane Goodall, 87, has claimed in a new interview with The Beat It hitter Ross that the Beat It hitmaker had a pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, who was said to have “hit through the room” for discipline he.

Goodall said she visited Jackson at his California ranch and reprimanded him for his treatment of animals.

She said to Ross: “He looked at me and [asked] ‘You wouldn’t accept a chimp getting hit in the head, would you?’ I said, “No, Michael, you know I wouldn’t.”

“Bubbles got hit when he did something wrong. Michael said he was once beaten across the room. I said, ‘Well, Michael, do you think it’s all right?’ And he said, “No, not really.”

The chimpanzee, now 39, has lived at the Great Monkey Center in Florida, since 2004.

ITV documentary Searching for Michael Jackson’s Zoo with Ross Kemp investigates animals once owned by the pop star, as Ross journeys across America to uncover the truth behind what happened to the animals. Neverland objects.

Jackson’s two elephants, Ali and Baba, are believed to have been purchased from convicted drug dealer and animal torturer Riccardo Ghiazza.

ITV has reported that exclusive footage taken inside Neverland shows the pair of elephants being trained using a bullhook, a stick with a sharp hook at the end, which has been banned in several US states including California.

The elephant trainer, who requested anonymity to protect his identity, used the instrument in footage taken in Neverland and said: “Back in those days, that’s how I was trained. But I’ve also been trained that it’s not a weapon. There’s no such thing as making things all right, but these are things from years ago and years ago. “

Michael Jackson’s estate declined to comment. However, it was previously reported that a source close to the family believes the animals have been taken care of perfectly well.

Ghiazza, who fled to South Africa from Italy, where he faces jail time on drug charges, was found guilty of animal cruelty in 2003.

Marcelle Meredith, head of South Africa’s NSPCA, told Ross: “[Ghiazza] was a despicable man for what he did to the animals he had. He is cruel. Totally cruel.”

She continued: “When they were there, they would be beaten with a bullock cart. They will be deprived of water, they will be deprived of food. That way they will land to tame them, to bring them to the United States. “

Ross Kemp also spoke to former workers at California’s famed ranch, including Mark Biancaniello, a former Neverland Zoo trainer who described Jackson as an exemplary animal owner who would not Never abandon your pets.

Biancaniello said: “I think for those who really know Michael on a deeper level and see his connection to animals and everything it is certainly the compassion, the care and the sensitivity that he has. for your animals. I think that’s the biggest legacy in my mind. I know that all animals have wonderful homes. “

Finding Michael Jackson’s Zoo with Ross Kemp airs Wednesday, April 27 at 9pm on ITV and updates on ITV Hub