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. I'm just very comfortable in my own skin. After Johnson's departure, the Lakers announced they would not fill the position that Johnson left. I think you have to have a certain type of confidence level. 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. Magic Johnson holding the Walter A. "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. Cookie Johnson was worried about Magic, but supportive. "This guy we adopted from Romania in 1991 and diagnosed with. In fact, it was made out of the same material, and the styling was near-identical. 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. 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. Furthermore, a low viral load severely reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others. "Feeling all the elation feels today," EJ wrote on Instagram, sharing the news that he'd voice Michael Collins. He has a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Leeds. "This character is witty fabulous glamorous and a force to be reckoned as well as unapologetically themselves.". In the photos, he is elegantly posing next to a pool wearing a blue mini-dress that fits him just right. In fact, Magic said that he has to bribe his wife to even get her to approve of him returning for one season. Magic Johnson son EJ talks coming out to his father - Yahoo! Am I gonna die? You are our foundation and the backbone," he wrote in the caption. The name stuck despite Magic's mother's distaste for it. 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. "I'm completely dedicated to living a new, healthy lifestyle." But some small number remain, and over time, those HIV cells replicate, attacking the immune system in seven stages, according to the National Institute of Health (opens in new tab)'s HIV info page. 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. EJ Johnson - Wikipedia 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. spinoff, EJNYC, which followed his life as he moved to New York City. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for GLAAD). He was like this when he was a baby, it cant be wrong. News in 2018 that he had no plans to transition. EJ Johnson Sports 180-Pound Weight Loss in a Sheer Shirt - E! Online "Feeling all the elation feels today," EJ wrote on Instagram, sharing the news that he'd voice Michael Collins. 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. "I like myself the way that I am. How Magic Johnson Fought the AIDS Epidemic | The New Yorker EJ Johnson's fans aren't the only ones who speculated about his gender identity, however. Sorry tabloids: EJ is just busy being himself. EJ told the New York Times in 2017 that he learned about his fathers diagnosis while doing a book report and finding a book about his father in the library while in elementary school. Sometimes it's hard being in the middle, kind of in the gray area in my own lane." EJ ultimately decided to come out before beginning college at New York University (NYU). 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. His clothing showed more skin after he dropped more than 100 pounds after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in 2014. 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. Magic Johnson death news is trending on the Internet. The tabloid posted a video of the star holding hands with a man named Alessandro Monetti.. Magic Johnson and His Family Including Son EJ - Yahoo! Celebrities often grow accustomed to having their privacy invaded by paparazzi. Needless to say, basketball legends Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson ceased being true friends a long time ago. EJ's mom said that her husband was worried about his son living . Mar 3, 2013 - 5:20 am. In a 2022 interview with Variety, EJ spoke about how his father initially struggled to accept his identity. All Rights Reserved. EJ has appeared in multiple TV shows such as Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, EJNYC, Real Husbands of Hollywood, and most recently The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. His full name is Earvin Johnson III, but he goes by EJ professionally. In 2013, TMZ published a story with photos of EJ holding hands with his then-boyfriend. "I was just like, 'Well, do I want to transition? "Magic got a jumpstart on experimental drugs before they were released to the general public," Lieb told Life's Little Mysteries, "but there were many people in clinical trials benefitting at the same time.". In 2014, he joined the Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, a reality series following lives of some of the richest kids. When Magic Johnson's iconic basketball career was interrupted by a stunning HIV diagnosis three decades ago, the newlywed NBA legend had no idea how much time he had to live or how the virus. He was 33. His boardroom pitch wasn't enough to win Schultz over, so he . Heres how it works. I also said I was going to beat the disease. 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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. His father took a while to come around to the news. It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' Upon infection with HIV, a person's immune system kills off nearly all of the virus and infected cells. "The surgery was definitely the best thing that ever happened to me," the star said. Also joining them were Cookie's mom, sister, and their nephew. Go do my, Magic Johnson Discusses His Son's Coming Out. When my son came out, I was so happy for him and happy for us as parents. Shortly thereafter, EJ did his first coming out interview on Gwissues with Howard Bragman. Its all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do, Magic once said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In 2017, rumors began to circulate about a possible romantic relationship between EJ and Christopher Milan, a former Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star. 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. Here [in the United States] I do not experience that much racism, I feel like that's probably more prevalent before I was born.". Yet it was his charisma, especially at his precocious age, that floored. 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. The doctor told him to immediately fly back to Los Angeles, but wouldn't tell him why. However, it was not a shock to his parents. EJ often will reflect on his childhood and his innate inclination toward fashion and design. EJ, 30, came out. In the photos, EJ Johnson looks confident in an outfit that captures his fashion-forward personality. Johnson was first called "Magic" when he was a star at Everett High School. "I think you have to have a certain type of confidence level. Cookie Johnson, Magic's 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.". How has Magic Johnson survived with HIV? | Live Science The rising reality star is the son of NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. I also said that I was going to become a spokesperson in the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus and an advocate for practicing safe sex by using condoms. He has the support of his family including his father, Magic Johnson. During an appearance on CBS Mornings, Magic Johnson discussed living with HIV three decades after he was initially diagnosed with the virus prior to the 1991-92 NBA season. What You Don't Know About Magic Johnson's Son EJ - NickiSwift.com You have to be prepared for people to say certain things about you, and it just wasn't for me. The girl who changed Magic Johnson | CNN Johnson attended New York University, studying hospitality with a focus on event planning and design. 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.' "The school called my mom and was like, 'We don't know if you want him to do the book report, because it talks about the H.I.V.,'" EJ said, adding, "I think it was at that point that they told me that he had been sick and he's a lot better.". The origins of Magic Johnson's nickname date back well before Winning Time episode 1's story, as it began when he was in high school. Either way, there's no doubt that this celebrity kid gets a lot of attention. ESPN and Fox aired primetime tributes to Johnson's son Michael, who died Friday at the age of 33 after a lifelong struggle with muscular dystrophy. 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.'". Though his first reaction may not have been perfect, he definitely seems to be in a better place now. Magic Johnson | Biography, Documentary, & Facts | Britannica EJ Johnson's sexuality might've surprised the media, but it didn't surprise his parents. EJshort for Earvin Johnson III, named after his fathermade his debut as a reality TV star on the E! 10 amazing health stories you may have missed in 2021, How mental health affects physical health, "They told me that the three-drug combination was going to save my life, and they were right," Johnson told The Guardian (opens in new tab) in 2021. The NBA star and businesswoman, who met in college, have been together on and off for over 40 years and. Magic Johnson opens up about his health, career 30 years after HIV The Tragic Death of Magic Johnson's Best Friend Inspired Him for Years Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. "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. On Mother's Day this year, he shared a photo on Instagram of his entire family celebrating, including his three kids and grandkids. 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. It's just business as usual and that business is his family. This was the first time he was out in public as gay. (The series was canceled after the first season. xhr.send(payload); Our deepest condolences are with Cheryl, Ernie and their family, friends and loved ones as we mourn with them, the statement read. "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. The average period between infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and diagnosis of [] AIDS is now ten years, according to experts.. He is responsible for directing the statewide Florida HIV/AIDS Research Consortium, whose HIV researchers have been responsible for more than 400 scientific studies. He was given the nickname by a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds. "I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do," he said on "Gwissues." The reality TV Star was born on June 2, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, the United States. EJ Johnson has shown the world that he is an unstoppable force. "I never thought that I'd look this good, and that is the God's honest truth. In scientific terms, this mode of replication classifies HIV as a retrovirus, hence "antiretroviral" drugs. 1:59 Coming for b*tches 5:48 Unlikely friends 7:24 Magic Johnsons Son 9:48 The ho phase 11:06 Transitioning? Today. (Image credit: Science Photo Library - SCIEPRO via Getty Images). #EJNYC premieres tomorrow night at 11 only on E! 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() { "Even in the summer, you had you Winning Time: Where is Magic Johnson's Wife Cookie Today? Thirty Years Later, Magic Johnson Is Still Doing Lifesaving Work Twenty-five years ago today, Magic Johnson announced he had HIV Hydeia Broadbent remains AIDS activist 20 years after TV special with Magic Johnson. He pressed a finger to a small, pinkish hole on his thigh that was developing into a scab. "And he just could not stand it. 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.