In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. The transformed, soon-to-be NYU grad and son of Magic Johnson showed off his new look on Good Day New York. In addition to EJ, the Johnsons adopted Elisa Johnson when she was three days old in 1995. Magic, 63, says his son, whom he shares with his wife Cookie Johnson, "is so beloved all over the world" as a television personality and as an icon for the LGBTQ+ community. When the NBA star first learned that EJ was gay, Magic expressed that this wasnt what he wanted for his son. He also takes great pride in his skills and talents as a make-up artist. His role as an influencer is a staple in his work that is grounded in gender-flouting. (Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) "It. "The key moment was when Cookie took the test and the results came back that her and the baby was fine [sic]," the retired NBA star told Gayle King. That doesn't mean it was always easy, however. He is a television personality, socialite and actor. At the time, HIV/AIDS was widely associated with death at a young age, so for many people this outcome might have seemed impossible. EJ Johnson once told BETthat racism hasn't been a significant problem in his life. [emailprotected]. "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). According to the New York Times, EJ Johnson has been open about his sexuality and perspective on gender over the past few years. It's all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do.. He lived up to that promise by making regular appearances, giving interviews and being an activist for HIV and AIDS organisations. READ ALSO: Emily Faye Miller's bio: life before and after Too Hot To Handle. Magic Johnson quickly issued a statement, saying, "Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. ", A few years later, EJ finally put the public speculation to rest. One thing, of course, was very clear: there had been infidelity on Johnsons part. You have to be prepared for people to say certain things about you, and it just wasn't for me. EJ Johnson was born to his famous parents on June 4, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California. HIV and AIDS are not the only conditions we're still looking to cure. The longtime Inside the NBA host said via Twitter, We are grieving and at the same time so grateful for having been witnesses to a miraculous 33 years with michael., A post shared by Ernie Johnson (@ernie.johnson). Also joining them were Cookie's mom, sister, and their nephew. Since EJ Johnsons sexual orientation has become public, his famous father has appeared in interviews speaking out about the importance of embracing children for who they are. "I'll Deal With It: HIV Has Forced Me To Retire, But I'll Still Enjoy Life As I Speak Out About Safe Sex," by Magic Johnson, "Magic Johnson opens up about his health, career 30 years after HIV diagnosis: 'You just sit there and say, what does this mean? RELATED:See LeBron James' 16-Year-Old Son, Who's Already a Basketball Star. In the series, his relationship with his youngest son, EJ, is explored. All Rights Reserved. "I never thought that I'd look this good, and that is the God's honest truth. Magic often posts about his wife and kids on social media, but heres a closer look at his relationship with EJ, and how he has been the catalyst that changed Magic for the better. The key with Johnson and others has been preventing their incurable disease from progressing into AIDS. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. Its a totally new mindset Im completely dedicated to living a new, healthy lifestyle. And he got it from me, Magic told Varietyin April 2022. He'd come up with stupid rules: 'No scarves in the house.' He revealed on the season finale of "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" that he'd lost about 180 pounds since the procedure. "This character is witty fabulous glamorous and a force to be reckoned as well as unapologetically themselves.". The star even garnered comparisons to Kim Kardashian in 2016 when he attended a wedding wearing a netted jumpsuit that looked like a dress she had worn to Cannes Lion the previous summer. The series lasted just six episodes. section: | slug: magic-johnson-opens-up-on-living-with-hiv-30-years-after-his-diagnosis | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | The HIV-AIDS epidemic began in earnest in the 1980s, but there was still very little knowledge as to how the disease was contracted or what it meant in terms of contagiousness and long-term impact. It was, like, this is supposed to be my show and my moment, and it wasn't what I wanted at all. Magic Johnson was on hand to celebrate his son EJ Johnson's milestone birthday over the weekend. "Yeah, racism, not so much. "I'm ready to go. xhr.send(payload); Miller is an English model . Upon graduation, he worked in A&R for five years at Elektra Entertainment with artists like Jay Z, Missy Elliott, and Gwen Stefani. In response to the headlines, Magic said, Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. EJ said the reaction to his sexuality varied from positive to extremely harsh, but it doesn't look like he gave his haters too much attention. After four seasons, he'd also appeared on "Fashion Police" and worked as a red-carpet special correspondent, and the network gave EJ his own spin-off called "EJNYC" in 2016. ". He also hosts his own podcast, Please Elaborate, where he talks about current events, entertainment, sports and gaming with his friend Mike Dupree. Johnson was first called "Magic" when he was a star at Everett High School. "We were just so astonished at the things he was saying, and not just that he brought my dad into it, but the fact that he was being just blatantly racist. He has previously worked as Editor of video game magazines games and X-ONE and tech magazines iCreate and Apps. EJ Johnson publicly came out as gay in 2013 but only after TMZ essentially outed him, per TheThings. spinoff, EJNYC, which followed his life as he moved to New York City. Yet it was his charisma, especially at his precocious age, that floored. A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Dec 18, 2015 at 12:53pm PST. 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. According to Celebrity Net Worth, EJ Johnson has an estimated $5 million net worth. https://t.co/RQM9OCSd77. 2:38 PM EDT, Sat October 30, 2021. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic Johnson said. Everything has gone right. And last week, the travails of the 1980s Lakersincluding Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and coach Pat . Take on my day. In 2013, Johnson came out as gay to his family at the age of 17 after a TMZ report published pictures of him holding hands with a male friend. 's "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" during his junior year. I like my body. "It wasn't how he got it that was important to me. According to a 2021 profile of Magic, his mother, a devout Christian, felt the nickname was "blasphemous.". During the conversation, EJ, who came out as gay in . He played on the 1992 NBA All-Star Team as well as the "Dream Team" at the Olympics. Im almost 100 percent positive I wont. She studied at FIT and launched her own label, Elisa Johnson Co. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight. "I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do," he said on "Gwissues." Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. Despite indicating the doctors told him there was no risk of transmission, Johnsons return during the 1992 preseason was frowned upon. The tabloid posted a video of the star holding hands with a man named Alessandro Monetti. Andre, EJ, and Elisa have taken on very different career paths. Earlier this year, Magic and Cookie Johnson's 20-year-old son, EJ, caused a stir when TMZ videotaped him walking down Sunset Boulevard holding hands with a male friend. In an interview with The New York Times, he admitted that his mom suspected he may have been gay and tried to initiate the conversation in the past. "I've always been very fashion-forward," he said in an episode of "EJNYC" (via Us Weekly). It was kind of like an 'aha moment,' the realization that people like that still exist," EJ told The Daily Beastthat same year, adding, "He's a walking joke. That pretty much says all we really need to know. News' "Just the Sip" in 2019 (via People). The doctor told him to immediately fly back to Los Angeles, but wouldn't tell him why. having their privacy invaded by paparazzi, some were surprised to learn that he is gay, Magics wife made sure to let him know that his reaction wasnt OK, has been open about his sexuality and perspective on gender. News in 2018 that he had no plans to transition. ?Brandon Scoop B Robinson (@ScoopB) September 4, 2019. The star revealed he was "almost 100 percent positive" that a transition was out of the cards. For more entertainment and celebrity news sent to you directly, sign up for our daily newsletter. The average period between infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and diagnosis of [] AIDS is now ten years, according to experts.. EJ's mom said that her husband was worried about his son living . Shortly thereafter, EJ did his first coming out interview on Gwissues with Howard Bragman. We're very proud of him." "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." While Magics decision to retire was clear enough, the implications were still rather unknown. After I got all the love and support from my family then I knew I could go out and conquer the world, I guess.". Magic Johnson Investments He has had partnerships previously with Starbucks, 24-Hour Fitness, T.G.I Fridays, and AMC Theatres. COMING OUT . The gender-fluid fashionista is always flaunting his amazing wardrobe. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). By knowing and enjoying his privileged life, he has been part of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, for four seasons, and then on his own spinoff called EJNYC, which lasted only 6 episodes. Magic Johnson's net worth is currently estimated to be about $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. After protests from his fellow players, he retired again for four years, but returned in 1996, at age 36, to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { In 1991, Cookie was pregnant with EJ when Magic announced to the world that he was HIV positive. While some of Johnsons Dream Team mateslike Charles Barkleysupported the idea of Johnson returning to the NBA, otherssuch as Utah Jazz forward Karl Maloneshowed outward concern (from the Nov. 1, 1992 edition of the New York Times): Look at this, scabs and cuts all over me, Malone, the Utah Jazz All-Star forward, said last Tuesday night in the visitors locker room at Madison Square Garden before a preseason game against the Knicks. EJshort for Earvin Johnson III, named after his fathermade his debut as a reality TV star on the E! "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and our family. While appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in April 2017, the host talked to Magic about what kind of advice he would give to a parent whose child comes out. Surprisingly, Johnson has seen great success personally and professionally, in part by reflecting on the words of a childhood friend, Reggie Chastine, who died while they were in high school. Lieb said that in the state of Florida alone, hundreds of patients have lived full lives since being diagnosed with HIV in the early 1980s, when the first confirmed AIDS cases were confirmed in the United States (opens in new tab). I like my body., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Sep 3, 2019 at 9:42am PDT. Later, the couple also adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995, bringing Magic Johnsons kids total to two. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including In the photos, EJ Johnson looks confident in an outfit that captures his fashion-forward personality. "We appreciate the love and kindness you shower us with daily.". } 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. Johnson was pivotal in helping to lessen that stigma, as he not only managed to find a way forward and live with the disease, but also returned to playing basketball. The reality TV Star was born on June 2, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, the United States. EJ launched a now-defunctfashion blog in 2014. I feel like this is the body I'm supposed to be in. For Magic Johnson, supporting his gay son Earvin Johnson III, known as "E.J.," wasn't even a question. And now, she is the owner of her own self-titled sunglasses company, Elisa Johnson. (Image credit: Science Photo Library - SCIEPRO via Getty Images). To these days, the whole family supports EJ in every way, as the close and lovely family they all are. His brother, Andre Johnson has a different mother. EJ turned 30 on Saturday and marked the occasion with a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park . He actually helped me get there. As fashionable and fashion-forward as he is, Johnson does not have a fashion line. The date was November 7, 1991. Would love your thoughts, please comment. These and other HIV-fighting drugs are "hideously expensive," said Lieb. Sure, Johnsons Twitter account has become a practical parody because of the Maddenesque analysis he provides, but his genuine care for the players and the game in general is still inherently clear. The son of basketball star Magic Johnson set his sights on NYC staple 1OAK for his own personal fashion show, where he was seen strutting some serious leg in a thigh-high fringe skirt, black tank . A Warner Bros. However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. EJ went on to say, "Now, since everybody's talking about Caitlyn Jenner and being transgender, people are so quick to say, 'Oh, just because you're dressing like that means that you're going to transition to become a woman.'". First of all, the celebrity thingwho are you here for? 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. This also resulted in a good deal of skepticism from some of Johnsons peers. His boardroom pitch wasn't enough to win Schultz over, so he . And we love him. 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. HIV spreads by hijacking a subset of white blood cells called CD4 cells or T cells, which are the body's first line of defense against foreign invaders, and using the cells' DNA to make copies of itself or replicate; in this process, these T cells get destroyed, according to Healthline (opens in new tab). EJ singled out the show's producers, claiming, "Everyone was just worried about me being 'relatable,' and even that word made me want to gag.". Taking a look at his Instagram we can see how clothes are one of his biggest passions. The retired point guard welcomed his first child, son Andre, 42, with ex-girlfriend . Andre is married to Lisa Meyers Johnson, and has two kids, Gigi and Avery. This is something that transcends judgment and ignorance and should be seen as a vehicle to educate and inform people about gender fluidity. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); On this Nov. 7, legendary Lakers point guard Earvin Magic Johnson stunned the entire world when he announced that he had contracted the HIV virus, and would be retiring from NBA immediately. Not only has Magic Johnson carried on the way he likely envisioned prior to a premature retirement, but also he remains one of the games best ambassadors. ), EJ has since gone from reality television to acting. On Mother's Day this year, he shared a photo on Instagram of his entire family celebrating, including his three kids and grandkids. Though his first reaction may not have been perfect, he definitely seems to be in a better place now. Story highlights. However, Magic revealed in that press conference that his biggest fan was less than thrilled. "Feeling all the elation feels today," EJ wrote on Instagram, sharing the news that he'd voice Michael Collins.
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