For most 43-year-olds, retirement is a distant dream. But for Bubbles the chimpanzee, the most famous primate in pop culture history, it has been a peaceful reality for over two decades. However, the release of the massive new biopic Michael has brought a level of Hollywood “monkey business” to his Florida sanctuary that the staff is no longer willing to tolerate.

On Tuesday, April 28, the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, issued a firm statement addressing a wave of misinformation currently flooding social media. At the center of the controversy are viral, high-resolution photographs appearing to show Jaafar Jackson—Michael’s nephew and the star of the new film—visiting and interacting with Bubbles at the sanctuary.

The problem? The photos are entirely fake.

The images, which have racked up hundreds of thousands of likes and comments on platforms like Instagram and Reddit, depict a sentimental “reunion” between the actor and his late uncle’s companion. In some, the 185-pound chimp appears to gaze at Jaafar in awe; in others, they seem to share a quiet, tactile moment of connection.

The sanctuary, however, has made it “crystal clear” that these are the products of sophisticated Artificial Intelligence.

“While we appreciate the recent interest in Bubbles following the release of the Michael film, we want to clarify that Jaafar Jackson has not visited the Center for Great Apes or Bubbles,” the sanctuary wrote in a statement obtained by TMZ and the Miami New Times.

While the sanctuary noted that the invite for Jaafar to visit remains open, they were quick to debunk the “cozy selfie” narrative that has taken the internet by storm.

The Center for Great Apes is a legit, accredited sanctuary that provides lifelong care for orangutans and chimpanzees rescued from the entertainment industry, research labs, and private ownership. Unlike the glitz and glamour of Neverland Ranch in the 1980s, the sanctuary’s mission is centered on peace, dignity, and protection.

“We do not allow physical contact or direct interactions between people and the apes,” the facility stated.

This policy is a cornerstone of their accreditation. The animals in their care, many of whom have traumatic pasts, live within secure, naturalistic habitats designed for social bonding with their own kind—not for tourist meet-and-greets or celebrity photo-ops. The sanctuary’s refusal to engage in the “Hollywood circus” is a testament to their commitment to animal welfare over publicity.

The renewed focus on Bubbles stems from his appearance in the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic. In a move praised by animal rights organizations like PETA, the filmmakers chose to portray Bubbles—and other exotic animals like giraffes and llamas—entirely through Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI).

Lionsgate released a statement clarifying that the portrayal of Bubbles as a pet is a “historical fact” and not an endorsement of keeping primates as companions. By using CGI, the production avoided the ethical pitfalls of using live animals in entertainment, a practice that historically led many primates to end up in sanctuaries like the one Bubbles now calls home.

Now an elderly primate, Bubbles has swapped the spotlight for a diet of leafy greens and fruit. While the world remembers him as the “cute little baby with a pink face” carried by the King of Pop, the real Bubbles is now a 170-pound silver-haired leader of a social group of five chimps.

According to founding director Patti Ragan, Bubbles has slowed down in his old age, taking a bit longer to climb the ladders in his enclosure, but remains a “sweet, sweet guy” who even helped raise younger chimps when they first arrived at the facility.

The message from Wauchula is clear: Bubbles is living his best life in the Florida sun, far removed from the world of cameras and red carpets. For those following the Michael movie frenzy, the sanctuary has a simple request: stop “monkeying around” with the facts and respect the quiet dignity of a retirement well-earned.