Michael Jackson made history when a hologram of the King of Pop, who died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50, performed "Slave to the Rhythm" complete with a five-piece band and 16 dancers live onstage.
The hologram performed a number of Jackson's trademark moves, which included the moonwalk, and it was perfectly in sync with the other dancers.
The hologram was the result of one year's planning and BBMA director and producer Larry Klein said that they tried to make the performance as close to as what would have been if Jackson was performing.
"We've been talking about it for the last five months and while we were talking about it they were still inventing the process," Klein told Billboard. "It was really strange talking about something that did not exist."
"You were watching the magic of Michael Jackson just like you would have when he was performing," he added.
Jackson's hologram sported a gold jacket, white T-shirt and a pair of red trousers and his act opened with the King of Pop sitting on a throne. A few Jackson fans were clearly emotional, as they were seen wiping away tears while the hologram danced.
Twitter, too, has been abuzz with comments on Jackson's performance, and clearly, the singer's popularity has not faded.
Check out some of the messages below.
Hologram Michael Jackson moonwalking. HOLOGRAM MICHAEL JACKSON MOONWALKING! pic.twitter.com/OoM0AJRXTR
— Logan Rhoades (@LoganRhoades) May 19, 2014
You know music has gotten so bad that they have to bring you back via #hologram to save the night #MichaelJackson #thatsnotweird
— Debbie Castro (@DebLuxCastro) May 19, 2014
I teared up watching Michael Jackson's hologram performance at the Billboard Music Awards :') — Hairy Buddha (@VeilMyScars) May 19, 2014
I didn't like seeing Hologram Michael Jackson...It made me sad...made me miss him more :-( #HologramMichael @MichaelJackson
— Shelley Wade (@shelleywade) May 19, 2014
There were a few funny reactions as well.
if michael jackson can preform through a hologram can i show up to school tomorrow through a hologram — anthony spears (@LOHANTHONY) May 19, 2014
If Michael Jackson can perform at the Billboard Music Awards as a hologram I can take my finals as a hologram. I am so exacerbated.
— ǝɔnɹq (@brucejjensen98) May 19, 2014