Michael Jackson Trivia Questions

True. Bubbles was a trained chimpanzee who Jackson raised like a child. He even took him on tour and to formal events.

Elvis Presley and the Beatles sold over 100 million records before Jackson. He later surpassed them, but wasn't the first. The Beatles hit that mark in the 1960s.

Bubbles was taught human habits, including using a toilet and putting on clothes. He traveled with Jackson and even had his own room at Neverland Ranch.

'Thriller' won eight Grammys in 1984, including Album of the Year. It was the first pop album to win that top prize since the category was introduced.

This is a persistent urban myth. Jackson collected oddities but never owned the Elephant Man's remains. He did, however, try to buy a hyperbaric chamber.

Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that destroys melanocytes, causing white patches. He used makeup to even his skin tone, not bleaching.

Bubbles was housebroken and reportedly performed tasks like pouring tea. The chimp lived with Jackson at Neverland for years before being rehomed.

Jackson bought ATV Music in 1985, which included the Beatles catalog. This famously strained his relationship with McCartney, who had advised him to buy publishing rights.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks pigment cells. It is not caused by makeup. Jackson was diagnosed in the 1980s and used makeup to even his skin tone.

Jackson did own Bubbles, but the chimp never learned the moonwalk. Bubbles was a beloved pet and traveled with Jackson, but the dance move was uniquely human.

Bubbles was Jackson's celebrity chimp. He was house-trained, learned to pour tea, and traveled with Jackson on tour. He now lives at a Florida sanctuary.

Autopsy reports confirmed he had vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder causing depigmentation. He also used makeup to even out his skin tone, not self-hatred.

Jackson had vitiligo, an autoimmune condition causing depigmentation. He used makeup to even his skin tone, not bleaching creams.

This is a persistent urban legend. Jackson offered to buy Merrick’s remains for the Neverland library, but the offer was refused—no purchase ever happened.

This is a persistent urban legend. Jackson was fascinated by the Elephant Man but never bought his bones. He did own a replica skeleton.

Bubbles was a chimp Jackson adopted in the 1980s. He traveled with him, even to Japan, and Bubbles later lived at a sanctuary in Florida.

He was inducted with the Jackson 5 in 1997 and as a solo artist in 2001. He is one of only a few artists to achieve this honor twice.

False. He did patent a shoe with a heel slot that locked into stage pegs for the 'Smooth Criminal' lean, but it didn't create anti-gravity—it was a mechanical trick.

While 'Thriller' is often cited as best-selling, the Eagles' 'Their Greatest Hits' and AC/DC's 'Back in Black' have competing claims. Official RIAA certifications show 'Thriller' as second.

Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo in the 1980s, which causes loss of pigment. He also had lupus. Autopsy reports confirmed both conditions, disproving bleaching rumors.

He co-wrote it with Lionel Richie. Quincy Jones produced it, and the lyrics were polished by multiple artists. Jackson did not write it alone.

Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing in 1985 for $47.5 million, which included the bulk of the Lennon–McCartney catalog. McCartney had advised him to buy publishing rights.

Jackson said the song was based on groupies he encountered, not a specific incident. The 'Billie Jean' character is fictional.

The working title for the track was 'Starlight' before producer Quincy Jones suggested 'Thriller'. Rod Temperton wrote it and changed the name last minute.

Bubbles was a real pet chimpanzee, but he never learned sign language. He was trained to perform tricks and mimic human actions, not formal ASL.

MTV initially refused to play Black artists. CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff threatened to pull all videos, and 'Billie Jean' broke the color barrier in 1983.

The 'Smooth Criminal' lean was achieved with patented 'anti-gravity shoes' that locked onto stage pegs. Jackson and two inventors held the patent (US 5,255,452).

This is false. The theme was written by Chuck Lorre and Dennis C. Brown. Jackson did, however, record a rap for the 1990 film 'The Simpsons' episode 'Stark Raving Dad.'

True. In the late 1980s, Jackson reportedly offered $1 million to the London Hospital Medical College for Merrick's skeleton, but they declined.

False. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, not caused by burns. Jackson was diagnosed in the 1980s, and the burn story is a persistent myth he sometimes used to explain his changing skin.

MTV initially refused to play black artists. Jackson's 'Billie Jean' broke the color barrier in 1983, changing music television forever.

He co-wrote it with Lionel Richie. Quincy Jones also oversaw the project. Jackson wrote much of the melody and lyrics, but it wasn't a solo effort.

The backslide (moonwalk) was popularized by Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar. Jackson learned it from him and debuted it on 'Motown 25' in 1983, making it iconic.

The moonwalk was already performed by dancers like Cab Calloway and Bill Bailey in the 1930s and 1940s. Jackson popularized it, but didn't invent it.

Jackson outbid McCartney for ATV Music in 1985, which included most Beatles songs. This famously strained their friendship.

They recorded several demos in 1983, including 'There Must Be More to Life Than This.' Queen’s band members disliked the sessions, and the tracks stayed unreleased for decades.

Lionel Richie co-wrote 'We Are the World' with Jackson. Quincy Jones also contributed. Jackson wrote the melody and lyrics with Richie's collaboration.

Bubbles was Jackson's real pet, but he never appeared in his music videos. Bubbles lived with Jackson at Neverland and later retired to a sanctuary.

MTV initially refused to play Black artists. CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff threatened to pull all videos unless they played 'Billie Jean.' It broke the color barrier in 1983.

His 1991 album 'Dangerous' sold over 1 million copies in its first week, making him the first to achieve that. He later broke his own record with 'HIStory' in 1995.

He co-invented 'Method and Means for Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion' (US Patent 5,255,452). The shoes have a heel slot that locks onto stage pegs.

This is a persistent urban legend. Jackson denied it in interviews, and no credible evidence supports the claim. He was fascinated by Merrick's story but never purchased his bones.

Lionel Richie co-wrote it with Jackson. They wrote it together over several days, and Quincy Jones also contributed to the arrangement. Jackson didn't do it alone.

At the 26th Grammy Awards in 1984, Jackson won 8 Grammys for 'Thriller,' including Album of the Year. This record stood until 2000 when Santana tied it.

In 1985, Jackson outbid McCartney for ATV Music, which owned most Beatles songs. McCartney felt betrayed, as Jackson had joked about buying them years earlier.

This is a myth. 'Thriller' was released on Epic, Jackson's label since 'Off the Wall.' No label rejected it; it was a highly anticipated follow-up.

Jackson popularized the moonwalk but didn't invent it. Dancers like Cab Calloway and Jeffrey Daniel used it decades earlier. Jackson perfected it on TV.

In 1985, Jackson outbid Paul McCartney to acquire ATV Music, which held the rights to most Lennon-McCartney songs. He paid $47.5 million.

The moonwalk was actually performed by tap dancer Bill Bailey in the 1950s and popularized by Jeffrey Daniel on 'Soul Train.' Jackson refined and trademarked it.

The song was co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie over several sessions. Quincy Jones produced it, and it was recorded by USA for Africa in 1985.

He performed in South Africa, Senegal, and other African nations, including the 1997 'HIStory' tour and charity events. This is a common myth.

True. He considered 'Starlight' and 'Midnight Man' before settling on 'Thriller.' The title track was also originally called 'Starlight.'

Michael Jackson broke the MTV color barrier in 1983 when CBS pressured the network. Billie Jean became the first video by a Black artist on MTV, integrating the channel.

Jackson publicly discussed his vitiligo in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, and it was listed on his 2009 death certificate as well. Autopsy confirmed it later.

Jackson often said his favorite album was 'Off the Wall' because it felt more personal and liberating. 'Thriller' was a commercial juggernaut, but he preferred its predecessor.

Jackson approached Marvel about buying the company, hoping to secure the film rights to Spider-Man. The deal fell through, but he later met with Stan Lee about playing the role.

Bubbles was house-trained and wore diapers, but there is no credible evidence he could flush a toilet. This is a popular urban legend.

MTV aired 'Billie Jean' in 1983, but earlier Black artists like Tina Turner and David Bowie had videos played. The first was actually 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles.

Bubbles was his pet and companion, but never produced any album. This is a persistent internet rumor stemming from his eccentric lifestyle.

In the late 1980s, Jackson offered $1 million for the skeleton of Joseph Merrick (the Elephant Man). The London Hospital refused his offer.

In the early '90s, Jackson approached Marvel about buying the company so he could produce and star in a Spider-Man film. The deal fell through.

That honor belongs to 'Billie Jean' in 1983, but MTV had previously played videos by Black artists like Tina Turner and Musical Youth. The myth persists due to MTV’s early bias.

Jackson co-invented a shoe with a heel slot that locked into stage pegs, enabling his signature gravity-defying lean. Patent number US5255452A.

Jackson had vitiligo, causing white patches. The 2009 autopsy confirmed it, along with lupus. He used makeup to even his skin tone, not intentional bleaching.

A female fan wrote Jackson letters claiming he was the father of her twins. Though false, the incident inspired Jackson to write 'Billie Jean' as a cautionary tale.

In the early '90s, Jackson expressed interest in buying Marvel to secure the rights to Spider-Man, hoping to play the character in a film. The deal fell through.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, not caused by peels. Jackson was diagnosed in the 1980s, and his skin depigmentation was a result of the disease, not cosmetic treatments.

This is a plausible myth. Jackson wrote 'Earth Song' as a general environmental protest. No specific Amazon disaster inspired it; he was moved by global news and emotions.

False. 'Thriller' was already a huge success before the 'Thriller' video premiered, having sold millions and produced multiple hit singles.

A woman named Billie Jean wrote letters claiming Jackson fathered her twins. He never met her, but the experience inspired the song's paranoid, accusatory tone.

In 2009, 'Thriller' was added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry for being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'

He wrote pop songs that were orchestrated, but never a full symphony. This myth likely stems from his 1995 album 'HIStory' which had orchestral interludes.

In 1987, Jackson reportedly offered $500,000 to buy the skeleton of Joseph Merrick (the Elephant Man). The hospital refused, calling it disrespectful.

True. The original version included a phrase perceived as antisemitic. Jackson later re-recorded the lyrics and apologized, though he denied any prejudice.