Draft:Michael Jackson Pepsi Incident

American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson suffered second and third degree burns on his scalp in the filming of a Pepsi commercial. When stage fireworks that were set to go off as he's walking down stairs went off too early and caught his hair on fire.

The US $5 million endorsement contract was signed on November 11, 1983 between Michael Jackson, The Jacksons, and Pepsi-Cola, involving sponsorship of the "Victory" tour and two TV commercials.

The singer was performing his cover of Billie Jean for the company's commercial. He was asked to stand a little too close to fireworks that were meant to go off behind him. The commercial was set to be filmed in front of a live audience and shot like concert.

The explosives went off too early and a spark caught Michael Jackson's hair on fire. Many believed the singer had been shot, as he yelled and grabbed his head. And in itself could be believable as it was filmed in front of a live audience.

"A spokesman said the he had suffered second-degree burns on his skull and would be transferred to Brotman Medical Center's special burn unit. Jackson said he had suffered third-degree burns on the back of his head that had almost gone through his skull"

For this and more on his health visit "Health and appearance of Michael Jackson"

The damage to his scalp caused his hair to never fully recover and grow back, causing the singer to have to wear hair pieces and wigs for the rest of his life. Although Jackson underwent many treatments to try to help his scalp most procedures worsened the damage. He eventually decided it would be best to hide the damage done to his scalp and for many custom hair pieces throughout the rest of his life.

It is known that once Michael Jackson was recovered enough he went and visited other burned patients in the institution. Pepsi gave him $1.5 million, all of which he donated to the Michael Jackson burn center.