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He is an openly gay man who champions the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community. Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get In 1995, the Johnson family adopted Elisa Johnson when she was a baby. 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. The story of how the Lakers won a title in his first season and went on to win many more over the next decade is chronicled in HBO's latest series, 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.' Magic Johnson might be a legendary basketball player, but to his three kids, his most important role is dad. 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. He was 33. Mental health continues to be a field that we hope to understand and appreciate more. From massive pop hits to classic R&B ballads, you can count on these numerical tracks. Magic actually launched a comeback attempt prior to the 1992-93 season, but fears resurfaced when he took the floor. According to a 2021 profile of Magic, his mother, a devout Christian, felt the nickname was "blasphemous.". EJ turned 30 on Saturday and marked the occasion with a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park . Heres how it works. It was a little tough, said Cookie during the interview. He also questioned if EJ was sure he knew what he was saying. 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. Johnson, 37, and his wife of 13 years, Chastity, were . Hopefully this answers your question about why Magic Johnson retired. EJ Johnson Sets the Record Straight on Transitioning | Just The Sip | E! I never really thought it was under investigation. "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). Like her mom and brother EJ, Elisa is interested in fashion, and launched her own sunglass line in 2021. 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. She studied at FIT and launched her own label, Elisa Johnson Co. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight. 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. 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 | Today he is becoming a fashionista who is looking to give a stronger voice to the transgender community through his own experience. Magic Johnson has three children. According to Celebrity Net Worth, EJ Johnson has an estimated $5 million net worth. When you're close with your siblings, you don't ever really consider that one day you might be competing for boyfriends. 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. Magic Johnson went from an unequivocal role in the NBA to a businessman and a legend in his own right. "This character is witty fabulous glamorous and a force to be reckoned as well as unapologetically themselves.". We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. "Obviously, my family's always been in the spotlight," EJ told Out in 2014. 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. News and hosting other shows. This was the first time he was out in public as gay. After Magic Johnson's scuffle with Ron Boone in Episode 4 of 'Winning Time', you might be wondering what happened in the Lakers' locker room. EJ Johnson has shown the world that he is an unstoppable force. I like my body., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Sep 3, 2019 at 9:42am PDT. Despite indicating the doctors told him there was no risk of transmission, Johnsons return during the 1992 preseason was frowned upon. In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. ", A few years later, EJ finally put the public speculation to rest. Cookie Johnson was worried about Magic, but supportive. Related: Try Dopamine Dressing With 20 New Looks. I could really feel the love. He was given the nickname by a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds. 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. How has Magic Johnson survived with HIV? The U.S. would go on to capture the gold medal in overwhelming fashion, and Magics beaming smile might otherwise have been a symbol of his triumph. He revealed on the season finale of "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" that he'd lost about 180 pounds since the procedure. EJ was born June 4, 1992, during a turbulent time in Magic's life. EJ Johnson publicly came out as gay in 2013 but only after TMZ essentially outed him, per TheThings. You can also learn about some of the cancers we're still battling and why they're so challenging. I'm very happy with myself," he said during an appearance on E! 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. Magic Johnson was invited to participate as a member of the Western Conference during the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the MVP after scoring 25 points and adding nine assists in a feel-good performance. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. EJ Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, addressed his gender identity Wednesday during an interview on E!News' Just the Sip. He became a household name when he appeared on Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, and got his spinoff show called EJNYC. I feel like this is the body Im supposed to be in. And that trumped everything," Cookie Johnson said. 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. According to Magic's comments at that press conference, Cookie threatened to leave him if he tried to return for more than one season. "Feeling all the elation feels today," EJ wrote on Instagram, sharing the news that he'd voice Michael Collins. This past May, it was announced that EJ will be co-starring on the new Disney+ show The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. 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. ESPN's Chris Fowler spoke over a video montage . In 2013, EJ was outed by TMZ. Medication can disrupt these processes, and to that end, Johnson is currently taking reverse transcriptase inhibitor and protease inhibitor drugs, which are contained in the pharmaceuticals Trizivir and Kaletra, respectively, according to the Daily Beast. Johnson began to speak out and he has never retreated. Cookie Johnson, Magic's wife, and EJ talked about the experience during an episode of Facebook's Red Table Talk show. Find out why exercise can be important to mental health too. 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.'". Michael Johnson, son of TNT sportscaster Ernie E.J. Johnson, has died, his father said on social media Friday night. Today. EJ said, Its always been a struggle. 's "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" during his junior year. And he got it from me, Magic told Varietyin April 2022. "I feel like I wasn't cut out for it," she told SSENSE Magazine in April 2017. Both she and EJ tested negative for HIV. He has six siblings and three half-siblings, all of whose names are unknown. ", EJ concluded, "I don't feel the need to transition. I also said I was going to beat the disease. 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. "I'm ready to go. 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. How and When Did Magic Johnson Contract HIV? Everyone expected his life to suffer after his diagnosis. He is hardly known by his birth name, Earvin Johnson III. Not only does a low viral count stave off symptoms of HIV and AIDS, but it also slashes the odds of a randomly mutated copy of the virus emerging that can prove resistant to the therapy. She's following in her mother's footsteps in more ways than one. "I always say that if you feel like you're not in the right body, then by all means get to where you want to be. I dont feel the need to transition. Johnson wanted to bring Starbucks to the inner city, and he had to convince Schultz that his coffee shops would prosper there. Magic Johnson is not only a legendary basketball player but a father of three. Magic Johnson was on hand to celebrate his son EJ Johnson's milestone birthday over the weekend. This seemed all the more evident during the 1992 Olympics, when Johnson joined Team USA as a member of the famed Dream Team in Barcelona. Magic even posted on social media how proud he was of EJs new role. Magic Johnson held a press conference to formally announce the retirement, an occasion so monumental that former NBA Commissioner David Stern would be seen sitting just to Johnsons left. Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. Reality TV star E.J. Were getting a closer look into the life and career of NBA legend Magic Johnson with They Call Me Magic streaming on Apple TV+. Cookie revealed that she noticed her son was different since he was a little boy, however, she thought he would grow out of it, but it happened the opposite. In scientific terms, this mode of replication classifies HIV as a retrovirus, hence "antiretroviral" drugs. EJ is 62, just seven inches shorter than his father Magic. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. I'm so blessed to help continue the conversation about our community and what it means to truly live your truth. EJ doesnt plan to transition either. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Youve got to support your child. However, Magic's playing career was suddenly cut short in 1991 when he learned that he tested positive for HIV. He'd come up with stupid rules: 'No scarves in the house.' Jennifer Lopez, Magic Johnsons Son Rump Shake in San Tropez https://t.co/ZAaXbYEnks pic.twitter.com/djPolv14Wz, ? His approach acted as a "public-health catalyst," wrote Alexander Cardazzi, Joshua C. Martin, and Zachary Rodriguez in their 2021 paper "Information Avoidance and Celebrity Exposure: The Effect of "Magic" Johnson on AIDS Diagnoses and Mortality in the U.S. (opens in new tab)" for West Virginia University, as they attempted to quantify the impact his announcement in 1991 had on heterosexual men getting tested for HIV. But I don't feel incomplete in that way. As I grew older, as my wife talked to me, I couldnt [judge EJ]. It cant be wrong. The fact that the gay man is the son of legendary NBA player, Magic Johnson . By Barbara Pavone / Updated: Aug. 3, 2021 7:23 pm EDT. ', It all goes down Tomorrow night ! That pretty much says all we really need to know. It is a "myth," said Lieb, that Johnson, who is wealthy, is buying himself special treatments. In fact, Magic said that he has to bribe his wife to even get her to approve of him returning for one season. 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. Because he was so proud. "It helped people who were living with not just HIV and AIDS, but with any disease, that you can live on, you can be live a productive life.". Johnson says meeting her as a girl changed his life. "Very European," says EJ Johnson, the son of Magic Johnson, as he recalls when he came out as gay to his father. "I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do," he said on "Gwissues." 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 . "Yeah, racism, not so much. } else { New York, "I like myself the way that I am. "I was told not to say anything about him kissing me, but he did. EJ Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, spoke about what it was like coming out as gay to his father. 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. NBA legend Magic Johnsons son, EJ Johnson, is on his way of becoming a fashion icon as well as a voice for the transgender community. You are our foundation and the backbone," he wrote in the caption. Originally published on Live Science on 04 March 2022 and updated on 24 August 2022. 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. However, Magic revealed in that press conference that his biggest fan was less than thrilled. Im very happy with myself. EJ said its hard to date, lamenting, "It's always been a struggle. The tabloid posted a video of the star holding hands with a man named Alessandro Monetti.. Are you dating me or are you trying to date my dad?" These and other HIV-fighting drugs are "hideously expensive," said Lieb. 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. Its still the toughest thing Ive ever had to do in my life: @MagicJohnson says that he hated having to tell his wife about his HIV diagnosis. EJ Johnson was one of the stars of the reality series Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, but he's probably best known for being the son of basketball superstar Magi. "I've always been very fashion-forward," he said in an episode of "EJNYC" (via Us Weekly). Magic Johnson's remarkable life was thrown into question after he was diagnosed with HIV. He has a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Leeds. RELATED:See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. "And he just could not stand it. And now, she is the owner of her own self-titled sunglasses company, Elisa Johnson. 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. During his career as an NBA player, Johnson's annual salary was around $24 million, an amount . In the photos, EJ Johnson looks confident in an outfit that captures his fashion-forward personality. Taking a look at his Instagram we can see how clothes are one of his biggest passions. COMING OUT . var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); I get these every night, every game, he said. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. I don't feel that I'm in the wrong body. However, it was not a shock to his parents. The average period between infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and diagnosis of [] AIDS is now ten years, according to experts.. 2. However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. Hydeia Broadbent remains AIDS activist 20 years after TV special with Magic Johnson. On the red carpet, the Johnsons also ran into Samuel L. Jackson, and posed for photos with the Academy Award-winning actor.. After the show, both Magic and his wife raved about the Broadway show . 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. He appeared on CNNs This Is Life in 2018 and opened up about his identity. The retired point guard welcomed his first child, son Andre, 42, with ex-girlfriend . Upon infection with HIV, a person's immune system kills off nearly all of the virus and infected cells. An insider told ET,"The cast was upset because they wanted at least one more season to give closure to their storylines," but it sounds like EJ was ready to be done with all things E! The first enzyme, called reverse transcriptase, turns the virus' genetic instructions encoded in a single RNA strand into double-stranded DNA. "I've always definitely mixed men's and women's fashion in my life, but I never thought that it would raise so many questions about my own gender. } ); 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. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and our family. His boardroom pitch wasn't enough to win Schultz over, so he . 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). 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. EJ ultimately decided to come out before beginning college at New York University (NYU). During the NBA icon's first visit to Ellen's show, he opened up about his son, and shared his advice for other parents. Watch! Here is what you need to know about EJ Johnson: A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:48pm PDT, EJs mother was two months pregnant with her son when Magic Johnson revealed to the world that he had tested positive for HIV in November 1991. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Upon graduation, he worked in A&R for five years at Elektra Entertainment with artists like Jay Z, Missy Elliott, and Gwen Stefani. "I love you and enjoy your day to rest.". Nov 6, 2021. Please respect my privacy and my process., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on May 4, 2016 at 12:39pm PDT. EJ was born June 4, 1992, during a turbulent time in Magics life. Despite new advances in medical science HIV remains incurable thanks to "the presence of a latent viral reservoir. Mar 3, 2013 - 5:20 am. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic Johnson said. It is precisely these kinds of drugs that have helped Magic Johnson manage the disease and have made HIV a chronic health condition rather than a fatal disease. ". His brother, Andre Johnson has a different mother. He is Cookie Johnsons oldest child but Magic Johnsons middle child. The doctor told him to immediately fly back to Los Angeles, but wouldn't tell him why. Since his fathers relationship with HIV, as a spokesperson and being positive himself, EJ was introduced to gay culture from a very early age, so he has longtime been related to the activism and discrimination that surrounds it. 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 . In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. E.J. Next, meet the MVP in Michael Jordans life, his wife Yvette Prieto. The 29-year-old reality TV personality came out to the basketball great, 62, in 2010, and at first, the latter wasn't too. But perhaps the most resonating phrase from Johnson that day is this: Im going to go on, Im going to beat it, and and Im going to have fun.. He also takes great pride in his skills and talents as a make-up artist. The key weapon in the beginning was a regimen of three or four antiretroviral drugs, collectively known as antiretroviral therapy, or ART. 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. Discovery Company. TMZ Sportspublished the last known paparazzi photo of the pair in 2017 and called Alcaraz Elisa's "quasi-boyfriend." 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. Things got rocky after the socialite was outed in 2013 when TMZposted a video of him holding hands with his then-boyfriend. When talking about his positionas the Celebrity Grand Marshall of the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade in 2014 (via E!