Elvis Presley was the OG rock star, and he lived a pretty insane life from start to finish. There are plenty of wild stories out there in seemingly endless supply, too. But there are a few stories out there that I still can’t believe are true. Though, one could say that a couple of these stories are a matter of hearsay. Let’s take a look at a few wild Elvis stories that you won’t believe are true!
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Elvis Owned a Chimpanzee
Not only did Elvis Presley actually own a chimpanzee, but that chimpanzee was allegedly an alcoholic. I take no pleasure in covering animal cruelty, but this story was just too wild to ignore.
Apparently, after Elvis got his first big check as an entertainer in the mid-1950s, he decided to get a little crazy with his spending habits. Instead of opting for a nice cat or a fish tank, the King opted to purchase a living, breathing chimpanzee, whom he named Scatter. Eventually, unable to handle the wild animal, Presley would eventually ban him from his main house due to the ape’s destructive behavior.
Elvis Once Shot a Gun at Ginger Alden
Elvis Presley had a habit of being trigger-happy. And this alleged incident could have been very dangerous. According to Presley’s last love, Ginger Alden, the King would often exhibit controlling and dangerous behavior, such as getting his aides to pop her tires to keep her from storming off after fights. Alden alleged several years ago that Presley once shot a gun at her while she was asleep in bed. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Priscilla Presley also claimed that Presley would shoot TVs when he was in a bad mood.
He Used His Influence To Delay a Commercial Plane Over a Beef (Literally and Figuratively)
Elvis Presley stories often involve the King’s love of food in one way or another. One famous story involves Presley using his rock star influence to keep a plane from taking off. The story goes that Presley’s hamburger supplier, aptly named Hamburger James, had once gotten into a scuffle with Presley over stolen funds. James attempted to escape by booking a flight to Memphis. Presley managed to persuade the staff to delay James’ flight so that the King could step on board.
“Elvis reaches over while Hamburger James is looking straight at him, scared to death, and slaps him twice,” Presley’s stepbrother, Rick Stanley, recalled in a 1989 interview with People Magazine. “Like in the movies, A slap, and then a backhand. Pow! Then pow! again.”
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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