Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
  1. Games
  2. Strategy
  3. Plants vs Zombies

Plants vs Zombies forced to remove Michael Jackson lookalike zombie

News
By Mark_Raby published 28 July 2010

The Estate of Michael Jackson demands game developer alter undead dancing zombie

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

One of the cartoony undead creatures attacking your house in the hit casual game Plants vs Zombieslooked nearly identical to Michael Jackson fromhis Thriller music video. Amidst a variety of zombies decorated with football uniforms, inflatable duck rafts, and construction cone hats, he wanted only to dance and groove andbreak into your house to eat your bone marrow.

But that's all past tense now. Apparently Michael Jackson's family didn't like the fact that one of the coolest zombies in the game bore a striking resemblance to the late pop star. And they've done something about it.

In a statement issued to MTV'sMultiplayerblog, the game's publisher Popcap said, in part, "The Estate of Michael Jackson objected to our use of the 'dancing zombie' in Plants vs. Zombies based on its view that the zombie too closely resembled Michael Jackson. After receiving this objection, PopCap made a business decision to retire the original 'dancing zombie.'"

A new update to the iPhone version of the game,drastically changes the look of the "Dancing Zombie." The update will be making its way to all other versions of Plants vs Zombies shortly.


Above: The fine text reads, "Any resemblance between Dancing Zombie and persons living or dead is purely coincidental." Butit probably isn't really.

It is unfortunate to see one of the best zombies in the game taken out, but we do kind ofunderstand why Jackson's family doesn't like seeing the recently deceased Michael portrayed as a living dead creature. To be fair to Popcap, Plants vs Zombies was originally released on May 5, 2009, about a month and a half before Jackson's unexpected death, so the zombie's design was intended more as a tribute than a bad joke.

However, in memoriam of the Dancing Zombie, and of the King of Pop himself, at least we'll always have this awesome music video:

Jul 27, 2010

Plants vs. Zombies announced for XBLA, co-op and versus achievements revealed
Xbox LIVE version of Plants vs. Zombies to release this September

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.



iPhone Game of the Day: Plants vs. Zombies
... and possibly game of the year for this tower-defence masterclass



Is Plants vs. Zombies 2 coming soon?
Suggestive subject line in email from PopCap says “PsssssPvZssssst... save the date!”

CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Mark_Raby
Latest in Strategy
How to redeem Dragon Traveler codes
Strategy Games All Dragon Traveler codes (March 2026) for Gold, Summoning Tickets, and more
 
 
Firearms Factory
Strategy Games Master weapon manufacturing and logistics in WW2 strategy game Firearms Factory, coming to Steam Early Access this year
 
 
AstroTechs
Strategy Games Piece a crumbling spaceship back together in sci-fi tactics game AstroTechs, available to wishlist on Steam now
 
 
Shadowstone at the Future Games Show
Strategy Games New 1-4 player tactics roguelite Shadowstone gets a closed playtest to try out your unique abilities
 
 
Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns at the Future Games Show
Strategy Games Swordfight, joust, and siege your way to victory in Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns
 
 
A red-skinned demon in a promotional image for Anime Guardians.
Strategy Games Anime Guardians codes (March 2026) for rerolls, coins, and more
 
 
Latest in News
Grace enters a crime scene in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem's Grace actor "would love" to act in more video games: "I had so much fun"
 
 
Saga
Sci-Fi Movies Dune 3 reveals co-writer as Brian K. Vaughan, writer of one of the best comics of the 21st century
 
 
A screenshot of Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the best RPGs you can play in 2026
Games Daredevil actor Charlie Cox says he's acting in another video game after playing Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
 
 
Tangy TD developer Cakez appears emotional after learning of the game's sales
Games Solo dev breaks down in tears after opening Steam and learning his game made $250,000 in a week
 
 
Donkey Kong Bananza Donkey Kong looking angry with his arms raised
Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Bananza producer says the game's positive reception helps him "communicate the potential for that character"
 
 
Pikmin
Animated Movies New Super Mario Galaxy Movie teaser confirms that Pikmin will appear in the new movie
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Grace enters a crime scene in Resident Evil Requiem
    1
    Resident Evil Requiem's Grace actor "would love" to act in more video games: "I had so much fun"
  2. 2
    Dune 3 reveals co-writer as Brian K. Vaughan, writer of one of the best comics of the 21st century
  3. 3
    Daredevil actor Charlie Cox says he's acting in another video game after playing Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  4. 4
    Arc Raiders has a hidden "magic" system, and you've never noticed it because you're not supposed to
  5. 5
    Solo dev breaks down in tears after opening Steam and learning his game made $250,000 in a week

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...