In the height of what is now called the Cola Wars (a decade-long marketing war between Pepsi Co. and Coca-Cola), Pepsi solidified a $5 million contract with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, for his appearances in a series of television commercials to promote Pepsi. On January 27th, 1984, Jackson, as well as other members of the Jackson family, filmed a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. During a simulated concert, the pyrotechnics accidentally malfunctioned and set Jackson's hair ablaze, causing second-degree burns to his scalp. Jackson underwent treatment to hide his scars. Pepsi settled outside of court, and Jackson donated the $1.5 million settlement to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California, which named the now-closed wing of the center the Michael Jackson Burn Center.
