New video shows Jackson's famous fire incident

Michael Jackson reportedly became addicted to painkillers after suffering second and third degree burns when his hair caught on fire while filming a commercial, a scene people saw for themselves for the first time in footage released Wednesday.

The never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's famous fire accident, which was said to have triggered his painkiller addiction, was posted online by the celebrity gossip <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/news/video-michael-jacksons-tragic-commercial-accident-2009157">Us magazine</a>.

During the filming of a 1984 Pepsi commercial, Jackson's hair caught on fire during a pyrotechnic mishap. Jackson suffered second degree burns and required several surgeries and skin grafts to treat the injury.

Although photos of the accident had been released, <a href="http://evideo.alarabiya.net/ShowClip.aspx?clipid=2009.07.16.05.25.24.777>the video </a>had never been seen. The newly-released video shows the exact moment Jackson's hair caught on fire.

In the footage, Jackson does not realize immediately he is on fire, instead he continues to dance as his head burns. As he turns the flames are extinguished while a numerous people tackle him in order to help. After Jackson finally emerges from the crowd piled on top of him, a bald spot can be seen on the top of his head.

Fans who had witnessed the accident at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles had said that Jackson was very graceful throughout the incident.

"He was wonderful. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on a stretcher," a member of the audience, Virginia Watson, told the BBC at time.

The event allegedly marked what would be the beginning of serious, lifelong addiction to painkillers that is now rumored to have caused Jackson's death at age 50 earlier this month.

In his 1988 autobiography "Moonwalk," Jackson said the accident was caused by "stupidity, pure and simple."

Pepsi compensated the King of Pop $1.5 million, which he donated to a burn center named after him.

No comments have been released about the video's source.

He was wonderful. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on a stretcher

Fan Virginia Watson