Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, As fashionable and fashion-forward as he is, Johnson does not have a fashion line. He was supported by his family in his decision to come out publicly. EJ said, Its always been a struggle. He is known to have owned 105 Starbucks outlets and a 4.5% stake in . As it turns out, he was planning on publicly revealing his sexuality anyway. According to Magic's comments at that press conference, Cookie threatened to leave him if he tried to return for more than one season. ?Brandon Scoop B Robinson (@ScoopB) September 4, 2019. When the former professional basketball player was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (opens in new tab) in 1991, a lack of understanding and stigmatization surrounding the virus (opens in new tab) led to questions being raised over his future life prospects. "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills"was simultaneously canceled. 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. Indeed, Magic made one more brief comeback with the Purple and Gold during the 1995-96 season, and he has served in a variety of roles for the Lakers ever since. I Image: Getty Images. The youngest of the group, Elisa, was adopted by the Johnsons in 1995 when she was just three days old. For more entertainment and celebrity news sent to you directly, sign up for our daily newsletter. In 2018, EJ Johnson and his mom Cookie Johnson made an appearance on Willow and Jada Pinkett Smiths Red Table Talk, where Cookie revealed that when EJ came out to his parents, it was a little tough because Magic Johnson wasnt supportive at first. 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. 2. And I will," Johnson wrote. And he got it from me, Magic told Varietyin April 2022. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is best-known for his skills on the basketball court, but he's also a devoted family man. News' "Just the Sip" in 2019 (via People). "And what came out of the physical was, 'You have HIV.'". ", According to E! EJ Johnson has long thought about taking a stab at the fashion industry. He was 33. In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner infamously debuted her transition on the cover of Vanity Fair. Magic was diagnosed with HIV 45 days after Cookie and Magic married, and their lives were permanently transformed. Yet it was his charisma, especially at his precocious age, that floored. Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at It was a total bombshell and one that inadvertently triggered an onslaught of rumors about EJ Johnson. I had to accept who he was and who he wanted to be. All Rights Reserved. Today he is becoming a fashionista who is looking to give a stronger voice to the transgender community through his own experience. Johnson says meeting her as a girl changed his life. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. EJ recalled, "[Magic] just was like, we're gonna get through this, I just need time and we both just started crying a little bit. Despite the stunning realization that Magic Johnson would no longer be taking the court, the league did give him one of the more memorable sendoffs in recent sports history. EJ is an openly gay graduate of New York University who has appeared on his own reality shows. "The surgery was definitely the best thing that ever happened to me," the star said. "We love him and EJ is amazing, so you gotta support your child. } Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Theres so many people who try to discriminate against them. "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. By taking the right regimen every day, most people living with HIV can see the number of virus particles in a sample of their blood, or viral load, become undetectably low. As it turns out, EJ Johnson and his younger sister, Elisa Johnson, have the same type so much so that she started dating his pseudo-ex in 2016. "I was just like, 'Well, do I want to transition? However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. 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). Magic Johnson, byname of Earvin Johnson, Jr., (born August 14, 1959, Lansing, Michigan, U.S.), American basketball player who led the National Basketball Association (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers to five championships. Shortly thereafter, EJ did his first coming out interview on Gwissues with Howard Bragman. I think you have to have a certain type of confidence level. Where is Magic Johnson from? ", 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." 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. Find out why so many people want to know about the famous father-son duo and why Magic apologized to EJ several years ago. However, a 2017 article in Urbo states that Johnson graduated from the prestigious school with a degree in event management and design with an interest in fashion, journalism, and media. America's Favorite Gay Newsman: Openly Gay Anderson Cooper Split With Restauranter Partner; Boyfriend Still Family. This latency of HIV allows some infected cells to escape immune detection and elimination, and these latently infected cells constitute the viral reservoir," wrote Nathan W. Cummins, MD and Andrew D. Badley, MD for Mayo Clinic Proceedings (opens in new tab) in 2015. His boardroom pitch wasn't enough to win Schultz over, so he . Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. ", EJ concluded, "I don't feel the need to transition. The Hall of Fame point guard also insisted he would become a spokesman for HIV. In June, Andre posted a photo of his familystep mom Cookie includedat Gigi's sixth-grade graduation. "I think you have to have a certain type of confidence level. ". In 2013, TMZ published a story with photos of EJ holding hands with his then-boyfriend. Magic Johnson might be a legendary basketball player, but to his three kids, his most important role is dad. We're gonna be fine. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { The most common drugs in the ART regimen target two of the enzymes that HIV uses to replicate itself. Johnson, 37, and his wife of 13 years, Chastity, were . reality series, "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" and its spin-off "EJNYC." Now, Johnson has never been shy about his gender-defying sense of fashion. Since Dec. 2018, he's been the vice president of business development at a computer gaming company called Mythical Games. I like my body., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Sep 3, 2019 at 9:42am PDT. 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. 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? That was a very, very hard thing for me. By Barbara Pavone / Updated: Aug. 3, 2021 7:23 pm EDT. Everything has gone right. Its all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do, Magic once said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 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. 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. Later, the couple also adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995, bringing Magic Johnson's kids total to two. The 62-year-old was first drafted on the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and continued to play for them for 13 seasons.. "I told her how I was feeling and she obviously told me that she had known and always would love me anyway," he said during an interview with "Gwissues" host Howard Bragman (via ESPN). 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. Related:Meet Quincy Isaiah, the Michigan Man Playing Magic Johnson in HBO Maxs Winning Time. Johnson, now 60, is currently the CEO and the founder of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), an investment conglomerate valued at an estimated $1 billion dollars, according to its website. Needless to say, basketball legends Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson ceased being true friends a long time ago. Magic added that he just needed more time. He is an openly gay man who champions the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community. Johnson is the greatest point guard to ever walk the planet. The doctor told him to immediately fly back to Los Angeles, but wouldn't tell him why. However, thanks to advancements in antiretroviral drugs and management of the condition, the 63-year-old continues to thrive in his roles as a sports analyst, businessman and HIV activist more than 30 years later. Johnson and his wife Cookie Johnson tied the knot in 1991, one year before the Los Angeles Lakers player retired. He appeared on CNNs This Is Life in 2018 and opened up about his identity. In 2014, he joined the Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, a reality series following lives of some of the richest kids. One of Johnson's doctors who helped pioneer the treatment placed him on the then-experimental drug cocktail in 1994, about a year and a half before it came into widespread use in 1996, according to the Daily Beast (opens in new tab). EJshort for Earvin Johnson III, named after his fathermade his debut as a reality TV star on the E! About a year later, EJ had a similar heart-to-heart chat with his father. Because he was so proud. "I really think it's important that you not listen to so many fads; you really need to find what works for you," the "EJNYC" star explained, going on to note, "But that doesn't mean you're done after that because you don't like what's hot. The NBA star and businesswoman, who met in college, have been together on and off for over 40 years and. He is responsible for directing the statewide Florida HIV/AIDS Research Consortium, whose HIV researchers have been responsible for more than 400 scientific studies. His star hasnt dimmed as he has become a celebrity in his own right over the past few years, and sharing his own story about coming out to his parents as a gay Black man. When talking about his positionas the Celebrity Grand Marshall of the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade in 2014 (via E! Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. He did have a fashion blog, but it no longer exists. News), EJ said, "Whether it's the African-American community, or in my case, the gay community, it's important to make sure that we represent those communities in a positive way. Researchers continue to study long-term nonprogressors to get insights on HIV resistance that could help the 37.7 million people battling the virus, the current estimate of UNAIDS according to HIV.gov (opens in new tab). It's just business as usual and that business is his family. But it's really not about scarves; it's really about him seeing you be you. Presenting your official soundtrack to falling (or staying) in love. Its given me a whole new view on life. After Johnson's departure, the Lakers announced they would not fill the position that Johnson left. Approximately 36,000 people are diagnosed with HIV each year, and more than 15,000 die annually, although these deaths can be from any cause, not necessarily from an AIDS-related illness. TMZ Sportspublished the last known paparazzi photo of the pair in 2017 and called Alcaraz Elisa's "quasi-boyfriend." He was given the nickname by a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds. 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. This is something that transcends judgment and ignorance and should be seen as a vehicle to educate and inform people about gender fluidity. Later, the couple also adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995, bringing Magic Johnsons kids total to two. This was the first time he was out in public as gay. When he was younger, he would love to play with dolls. Magic Johnson is not only a legendary basketball player but a father of three. After I got all the love and support from my family then I knew I could go out and conquer the world, I guess.". Furthermore, a low viral load severely reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others. A five-time world champion, three-time league and Finals MVP and a man who played in the Finals nine of his 12 professional seasons, or for 75 percent of his career. Related: Try Dopamine Dressing With 20 New Looks. The son of an autoworker, Johnson earned his nickname "Magic" in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. He is Cookie Johnsons oldest child but Magic Johnsons middle child. However, it was not a shock to his parents. A video surfaced on Twitter of Lopez and EJ Johnson getting their dance on to Teena Maries Square Biz while at his Magic Johnsons 60th Birthday party in Saint Tropez. His two kids with Cookie, EJ Johnson and Elisa Johnson, are now in their 20s and are making names for themselves in two very different careers, and Magic's oldest child, 40-year-old Andre Johnson, from his relationship with Melissa Mitchell, is now a dad of his own. The death fake caused the Twittersphere to go crazy, as usual. RELATED:See LeBron James' 16-Year-Old Son, Who's Already a Basketball Star. A New York Times review of the show referred to EJ as the most likeable character on the show. Magic Johnson abruptly quit as the Los Angeles Lakers' president of basketball operations earlier this month, and now, according to reports, it's because management sent emails criticizing . EJ Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, addressed his gender identity Wednesday during an interview on E!News' Just the Sip. In 2013, EJ was outed by TMZ. On Mother's Day this year, he shared a photo on Instagram of his entire family celebrating, including his three kids and grandkids. On Nov. 8, 1991, the day after the Los Angeles Lakers star announced he had been diagnosed with the virus, Mark Heisler of the Los Angeles Times (opens in new tab) wrote: "Many people [diagnosed] with HIV live many years with few serious effects on their health. Already a trailblazer who's been challenging long-standing gender stereotypes when it comes to his attire, EJ was considering launching his own fashion collection back in 2017, according to The New York Times.