An epidemiologist explains how Magic Johnson has survived HIV. So, if you're wondering what exactly happened back then, we've got you covered. According to the Associated Press, EJ Johnson attended New York University with an event management and design major while minoring in fashion, journalism, and media. "Thank you for teaching us how to be people of action, not words, and to always be a blessing to those around you," Andre wrote in the caption. According to a 2021 profile of Magic, his mother, a devout Christian, felt the nickname was "blasphemous.". He was supported by his family in his decision to come out publicly. EJ dropped the bombshell during an episode of "EJNYC," where he claimed that Elisa's then-boyfriend, French model Anthony Alcaraz, was the same guy he had previously kissed in a club. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=3f04818d-0c52-47fe-9dbf-229a559738e6&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=8719156970272511032'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); In a 2022 interview with Variety, EJ spoke about how his father initially struggled to accept his identity. Nov 6, 2021. Magic Johnson has had a very busy life, from his days in college to his NBA tenure and everything that happened between that and the things he had to live after calling it a career. Before the Los Angeles Lakers' final game of the 2018-19 season, Magic Johnson stunned the team and the NBA world at large by stepping down as the team's president of basketball operations.. Bernadette Giacomazzo Dec 17, 2021. HIV and AIDS are not the only conditions we're still looking to cure. On "Oprah's Next Chapter," Cookie and Magic open up about how they learned their son was gay and why their love is unconditional. Remember, HIV-AIDS were still primarily labeled gay diseasesback then. EJshort for Earvin Johnson III, named after his fathermade his debut as a reality TV star on the E! First of all, the celebrity thing who are you here for, are you dating me or are you trying to date my dad?, In August 2018, EJ lost his best friend, Lyric McHenry, to a drug overdose. He has previously worked as Editor of video game magazines games and X-ONE and tech magazines iCreate and Apps. However, neither of them confirmed or denied the relationship. "Yeah, racism, not so much. At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Johnson was a mountain of a man, the biggest, most powerful point guard anyone had ever seen. Find out why exercise can be important to mental health too. More from Magic Johnsons Interview and Chat with the Ellen Show below: Its all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do, Magic Johnson told Ellen. Magic Johnson played in five of Los Angeles eight preseason games that year, but he officially called it quits on Nov. 3, 1992 after an outpouring of criticism and concern from players and executives around the league. News' recap, EJ urged his sister to call it quits with Alcaraz, and it looks like she eventually heeded his advice. Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, EJNYC, Real Husbands of Hollywood, and most recently The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder are just a few of the TV programs in which EJ has made appearances. The singer's two younger daughters are his little lookalikes. "I walk in the office and he started talking about the test," Johnson says. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for nearly 0 years and thanks to advances in medical science the disease is now more manageable than it was when he first revealed his diagnosis. She was 26 years old when she was found dead above the Major Deegan Expressway. I feel like this is the body Im supposed to be in. Magic Johnson's Change Of Heart: From Homophobia To Pride That was a very, very hard thing for me. He is currently based in Bournemouth, UK. By Barbara Pavone / Updated: Aug. 3, 2021 7:23 pm EDT. His boardroom pitch wasn't enough to win Schultz over, so he . Legends profile: Magic Johnson | NBA.com EJ put out a statement reading, Im going to make this clear to everyone there will be no mourning post because Im not going to reduce a 25yr friendship to 1 Instagram post. "There is nothing unique about Magic," Spencer Lieb, senior epidemiologist (opens in new tab) and HIV/AIDS research coordinator for the Florida Consortium for HIV/AIDS Research told Live Science. Related:Meet Quincy Isaiah, the Michigan Man Playing Magic Johnson in HBO Maxs Winning Time. Magic Johnson has remained a central part of the Lakers franchise in his life since, serving as a coach and executive, as well as a player when he came out of retirement for the 1996 season. Things got rocky after the socialite was outed in 2013 when TMZposted a video of him holding hands with his then-boyfriend. EJ Johnson has long thought about taking a stab at the fashion industry. However, despite the frenzied headlines and strained family dynamic, EJ was not even aware of his father's illness until he learned about it by accident after stumbling upon a reference to his dad while researching a book report in elementary school. Former basketball star Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie Johnson tied the knot back in 1991, one year before the longtime Los Angeles Lakers player retired from the NBA. EJ Johnson once told BETthat racism hasn't been a significant problem in his life. Cookie Johnson was worried about Magic, but supportive. Since EJ came out in 2013 he has set his own path in the transgender pop-culture. Sorry tabloids: EJ is just busy being himself. In June, Andre posted a photo of his familystep mom Cookie includedat Gigi's sixth-grade graduation. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { His full name is Earvin Johnson III, but he goes by EJ professionally. Its all about you not trying to decide what your daughter or son should be or what you want them to become, Magic Johnson told Ellen DeGeneres on the Ellen Show. At the time, HIV/AIDS was widely associated with death at a young age, so for many people this outcome might have seemed impossible. But being a fashion icon on the making has not to stop EJ from being a loving family guy with his parents and siblings. "It proved to be the right decision," Magic Johnson said. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? Magic Johnson on movie theaters: 'I don't know how they come back' - CNBC In 2017, EJ Johnson got candid with The New York Times about his sports star father's very public journey with HIV, which began when EJ's mother was two months pregnant with him. 1:59 Coming for b*tches 5:48 Unlikely friends 7:24 Magic Johnsons Son 9:48 The ho phase 11:06 Transitioning? How Magic Johnson's Children Are Holding Up His Legendary - AfroTech Researchers have developed a number of powerful drugs to help people like Johnson block and contain the virus. "I say dance around in your closet when no one is looking until the time is right," he toldBET, advising readers to "just make sure you're safe." As I grew older, as my wife talked to me, I couldnt [judge EJ]. Our deepest condolences are with Cheryl, Ernie and their family, friends and loved ones as we mourn with them, the statement read. This was the first time he was out in public as gay. Heavy.com's Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson details 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know about EJ Johnson, son of NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson. NY 10036. EJs real name is Earvin Johnson III, named after his father. As well as drugs to help manage HIV we now have drugs such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, that can prevent transmission in the first place. He shared that it was his mother who taught him a lot about brands like Chanel and Versace. When and How Did Magic Johnson Get HIV? - The Cinemaholic Magic Johnson's net worth is currently estimated to be about $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Johnson wanted to bring Starbucks to the inner city, and he had to convince Schultz that his coffee shops would prosper there. While Magics decision to retire was clear enough, the implications were still rather unknown. He was cast in the first season of E! Magic Johnson, Cookie Johnson and EJ Johnson attend "To Kill A Mockingbird" Broadway Opening Night at Shubert Theatre on December 13, 2018 in New York City. Cookie Johnson, Magics wife, and EJ talked about the experience during an episode of Facebook's Red Table Talk show. "This character is witty fabulous glamorous and a force to be reckoned as well as unapologetically themselves.". During that same 2016 episode of "EJNYC," the reality star told his therapist that the cover story made him consider transitioning. News in 2018 that he had no plans to transition. 's "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" during his junior year. When the former "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" cast member came out to his father, the longtime NBA legend did not take it so well. They claimed the pair were an official item. Although Johnson reacted at first, he talked to his son the next day and at that moment, they knew everything was going to be fine between them. "It's almost like they're attacking me for being me and so to that I can only say, 'Well, I can only be myself, so I don't know really what you want me to do,'" he said. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at "We love him and EJ is amazing, so you gotta support your child. Former basketball star Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie Johnson tied the knot back in 1991, one year before the longtime Los Angeles Lakers player retired from the NBA. EJ turned 30 on Saturday and marked the occasion with a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park . } ); He also questioned if EJ was sure he knew what he was saying. While Johnson can now attest to 30 years of life after being diagnosed with HIV, his journey living with the disease has been far from easy. Rather than deny the existence of his boyfriend, the then-20-year-old star rolled with the punches. Magic posts about his wife and kids often on social media. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Johnson attended New York University where he studied hospitality with a focus on event planning and design, according to various different profiles. He has the support of his family including his father, Magic Johnson. Upon infection with HIV, a person's immune system kills off nearly all of the virus and infected cells. The reality series followed the eponymous star, sister Elisa Johnson, and their high-class crew living their best lives in the Big Apple. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive That pretty much says all we really need to know. Magic recalls their first meeting some 20 years ago as a moment that further focused his commitment to HIV/AIDS awareness : "Hydeia means the world to me," Johnson said. spinoff, EJNYC, which followed his life as he moved to New York City. (Image credit: Science Photo Library - SCIEPRO via Getty Images). She was a part of her brother's EJNYC show in 2016, but Elisa, who is now 26, has said that she didn't exactly enjoy being on reality TV. "My ignorance could cost me my life, but I wanted to try and ensure that no one else would become infected with HIV for the same reason" Johnson wrote in Sports Illustrated (opens in new tab) on November 18, 1991. When he spoke to The New York Times about the incident in 2017, he noted that TMZ reached out to his father for a comment on the photos of his son holding hands with another young man. EJ Johnson - Wikipedia Its given me a whole new view on life. Michael Johnson, the son of Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson, has died, his father announced Friday night. ?Brandon Scoop B Robinson (@ScoopB) September 4, 2019. The key weapon in the beginning was a regimen of three or four antiretroviral drugs, collectively known as antiretroviral therapy, or ART. Yet through all the ups and downs, he remains the same bubbly person he has always been. (Image credit: YakubovAlim via Getty Images). Magic does have a relationship with his son EJ. The NBA regular season had just started, with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls looking to defend their championship. READ ALSO: Emily Faye Miller's bio: life before and after Too Hot To Handle. He is now flexing his acting chops in With Love and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder revival. His clothing showed more skin after he dropped more than 100 pounds after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in 2014. xhr.send(payload); Andre doesn't post much about his professional life online, but according to what appears to be his LinkedIn page, he was the vice president of his dad's investment company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, from 2012 to 2014. Magic Johnson reveals his son EJ's coming out 'changed' him News and hosting other shows. In the photos, he is elegantly posing next to a pool wearing a blue mini-dress that fits him just right. The tabloid posted a video of the star holding hands with a man named Alessandro Monetti. During a period when Magic and Cookie had broken up, he dated a woman named Melissa Mitchell, with whom he had a son, Andre, on Feb. 20, 1981. Magic had been married to his wife, Cookie, not more than two months before he made his announcement, and questions surrounded Johnsons sexuality as a result. How Magic Johnson Fought the AIDS Epidemic | The New Yorker During his career as an NBA player, Johnson's annual salary was around $24 million, an amount . Magic Johnson's Son E.J. Comes Out as Gay - PEOPLE.com During an appearance on CBS Mornings, Magic. During his time on the show, EJ could be seen yachting, shopping at Chanels flagship store in Manhattan and driving in the $120,000 Mercedes his parents bought him for this 21st birthday. I mean, I looked good, but that was just me doing me." I enjoyed the Trump presidency more than I should have but sense that I'll be paying the bill by having to explain to the kiddos what really happened. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Magic Johnson quickly issued a statement, saying, "Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. Magic even posted on social media how proud he was of EJs new role. But 30 years later, the NBA legend is still pursuing his passions, with Cookie by his side. Maybe you've heard about him on the internet or in a tabloid headline. ", "It's a totally new mindset," EJ told Page Sixthat September. Mental health continues to be a field that we hope to understand and appreciate more. (The series was canceled after the first season. EJ is 62, just seven inches shorter than his father Magic. scientific studies and medical journals. Who is Magic Johnson's Youngest Son EJ Johnson? - Parade: Entertainment The star revealed he was "almost 100 percent positive" that a transition was out of the cards. These "long-term nonprogressors" or "elite controllers," estimated at as few as one in 500, have lived for decades with HIV, despite not being on antiretroviral therapy. He'd come up with stupid rules: 'No scarves in the house.' He is Cookie Johnsons oldest child but Magic Johnsons middle child. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. The retired point guard welcomed his first child, son Andre, 42, with ex-girlfriend . EJ Johnson, Magic Johnson's Son: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know When TMZ featured EJ Johnsons boyfriend, some were surprised to learn that he is gay. EJ Johnson Sets the Record Straight on Transitioning | Just The Sip | E! He also hosts his own podcast, Please Elaborate, where he talks about current events, sports, gaming and more with his friend Mike Dupree. EJ Johnson's sexuality might've surprised the media, but it didn't surprise his parents. When he was younger, he would love to play with dolls. Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of Magic Johnson's decision to retire from basketball upon learning he had been diagnosed with HIVone of the biggest, most impactful moments for . EJ added, "I'm fortunate that I'm in a world where I can do what I want to do and walk down the street in whatever I want to wear and break those walls down. Magic Johnson On Gay Son EJ: 'I Was Just Waiting On Him To Tell Me In the past, EJ has consistently nabbed headlines for his unapologetic sense of fashion and candid attitude, whether he's speaking about the realities of LGBTQ+ adults or sparring with his sister, Elisa Johnson, on screen. Speculation about the couples possible relationship began to circulate after they were spotted having lunch together. Andre also shows a lot of love for his dad on social media, as well. From massive pop hits to classic R&B ballads, you can count on these numerical tracks. I dont feel the need to transition. Continue to change and educate the world! He was unhappy with his portrayal on the show, saying, "I don't even recognize that person. #teamthis, A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Jun 18, 2016 at 2:44pm PDT. Nevertheless, the media too often shows a lack of boundaries. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. And now, she is the owner of her own self-titled sunglasses company, Elisa Johnson. Magic Johnson Retirement: Why Did Magic Johnson Retire - ClutchPoints He was given the nickname by a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds. I think its all about you not trying to decide what your daughter or son should be or what you want them to become. "I thought about it, for sure," he said (via Us Weekly). In the 1988 NBA Finals between the Pistons and the Lakers, Thomas and Johnson. Johnson remembered the devastation of his diagnosis, and said that the most difficult part was having to tell his wife Cookie -- who he had just married, and whom had just become pregnant with their child. "Johnson went on to attack the HIV stigma with the same passion he displayed on the court, launching the Magic Johnson Foundation to raise awareness about the virus, then pushing Congress and the White House to spend money to fight the disease," wrote Nelson Oliveira for CBS News (opens in new tab). It was a little tough, said Cookie during the interview. When you're close with your siblings, you don't ever really consider that one day you might be competing for boyfriends. "Feeling all the elation feels today," EJ wrote on Instagram, sharing the news that he'd voice Michael Collins. In fact, it was made out of the same material, and the styling was near-identical. Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has become a living testament to advances in medicine that have turned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a death sentence into something that can be managed and lived with. Magic and Cookie Johnson may have one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. It was seemingly just like any other in basketball circles. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Dwyane Wade's Trans Daughter Knew Her Gender Identity at 3 & Revealed Her Boyfriend at 14 Inside Zaya's Life, Millionaire's Son Kicks Wife and Baby Out into the Cold, Loses His Inheritance the Next Day Story of the Day, Twins Send Dad to Nursing Home, Learn He Left Inheritance to Janitor Who Is Their Carbon Copy Story of the Day. The second enzyme, known as protease, creates new, functional HIV particles by cutting up the proteins produced by our hijacked cellular machinery. EJ Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, spoke about what it was like coming out as gay to his father. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Magic Johnson might be a legendary basketball player, but to his three kids, his most important role is dad. The death fake caused the Twittersphere to go crazy, as usual. Magic Johnson is one proud father to his son Earvin "EJ" Johnson. When the former Rich Kids of Beverly Hills cast member came out to his father, the longtime NBA legend did not take it so well. We've come across little random tidbits maybe, obviously when I'm in different parts of the world and other countries, things are different," he claimed. Like her mom and brother EJ, Elisa is interested in fashion, and launched her own sunglass line in 2021. TMZ Sportspublished the last known paparazzi photo of the pair in 2017 and called Alcaraz Elisa's "quasi-boyfriend." I Image: Getty Images. What happened to Cleveland's Magic Johnson Theatre seen on Apple TV's He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 after revealing that he had tested positive for. 2022 Galvanized Media. "I've always been very fashion-forward," he said in an episode of "EJNYC" (via Us Weekly). ", According to BET, he also recognizes how lucky he is to be able to live freely as "a young Black man in the public eye who plays with gender norms." He is an openly gay man who champions the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community. Magic Johnson's 3 Kids: Everything to Know - people.com Before this, he worked as a senior epidemiologist with the Bureau of HIV/AIDS at the Florida Department of Health. Magic Johnson son EJ talks coming out to his father - Yahoo! When my son came out, I was so happy for him and happy for us as parents.