BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: (L-R) EJ Johnson and Lea Michele speak onstage during the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 28, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. 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+. ", Earlier this month on EJ's 29th birthday, his dad posted on Instagram: "To my beautiful and fabulous son EJ, Happy Birthday!! 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. Where Are Magic Johnson's Parents Now? - The Cinemaholic Did you encounter any technical issues? Nonetheless, Jenner's transition raised questions among some of Johnson's fans. Im almost 100 percent positive I wont. "I always had dreams and plans of doing my own thing and creating my own image, so it came a little sooner than I thought it would but this is still something I knew I would be going through and would have to experience.". (Image credit: Science Photo Library - SCIEPRO via Getty Images). xhr.send(payload); In the series, his relationship with his youngest son, EJ, is explored. New Orleans rapper Awood 'Mr. Magic' Johnson has died NY 10036. He is hardly known by his birth name, Earvin Johnson III. 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. I also said I was going to beat the disease. "This guy we adopted from Romania in 1991 and diagnosed with. ", A few years later, EJ finally put the public speculation to rest. "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. The reality series followed the eponymous star, sister Elisa Johnson, and their high-class crew living their best lives in the Big Apple. "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills"was simultaneously canceled. When he was younger, he would love to play with dolls. ", EJ also gave advice to closeted young people who might be looking to his lifestyle as a road map for their own. 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. The Hall of Fame point guard also insisted he would become a spokesman for HIV. Magic Johnson Apologized to His Son EJ Johnson After EJ - Sportscasting In the photos, he is elegantly posing next to a pool wearing a blue mini-dress that fits him just right. 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. 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The series lasted just six episodes. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { And I will," Johnson wrote. However, it was not a shock to his parents. Thirty Years Later, Magic Johnson Is Still Doing Lifesaving Work Turner sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson shared photo of son Michael, who died Friday at the age of 33. The key with Johnson and others has been preventing their incurable disease from progressing into AIDS. In a 2022 interview with Variety, EJ spoke about how his father initially struggled to accept his identity. But while Jordan and the Bulls began the year healthy and optimistic, the Los Angeles Lakerswho were the Western Conference representatives in the 1991 NBA Finalswere about to be blindsided. EJ Johnson was born on June 4, 1992. Its a totally new mindset Im completely dedicated to living a new, healthy lifestyle. Maybe you've heard about him on the internet or in a tabloid headline. "I was just like, 'Well, do I want to transition? The 62-year-old was first drafted on the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and continued to play for them for 13 seasons.. Both she and EJ tested negative for HIV. According to a 2021 profile of Magic, his mother, a devout Christian, felt the nickname was "blasphemous.". "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. 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. He also shared some insight into his diet and exercise routine. "When my son came out, I was so happy for him and happy for us as parents," the former basketball player said. Find out why so many people want to know about the famous father-son duo and why Magic apologized to EJ several years ago. 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. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including Magic Johnson Death News Trending On Internet: What Happened To Him 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). EJ often will reflect on his childhood and his innate inclination toward fashion and design. sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. Johnson attended New York University, studying hospitality with a focus on event planning and design. EJ, 30, came out. Sometimes it's hard being in the middle, kind of in the gray area in my own lane." Walton was fired and the team eventually hired former Pacers and Magic coach Frank Vogel to . Awood "Mr. Magic" Johnson, a rapper best known for his work in the 90's on the No Limit Records label, has died. 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 . But 30 years later, the NBA legend is still pursuing his passions, with Cookie by his side. When talking about his positionas the Celebrity Grand Marshall of the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade in 2014 (via E! And that trumped everything," Cookie Johnson said. Nowadays, EJ Johnson seems to be living his dreams. 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. It was a total bombshell and one that inadvertently triggered an onslaught of rumors about EJ Johnson. The reality TV Star was born on June 2, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, the United States. In 2013, EJ was outed by TMZ. 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. This guy we adopted from Romania in 1991 and diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy lived a miraculous life of 33 years, the TNT anchor said in an Instagram post that included a photo of Michael. 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. Besides recognizing himself as a gender-fluid person, he has also been known for enjoying his lavish way of living. The 29-year-old reality TV personality came out to the basketball great, 62, in 2010, and at first, the latter wasn't too. spinoff, EJNYC, which followed his life as he moved to New York City. Now, Johnson has never been shy about his gender-defying sense of fashion. 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. Photo: Getty Images They were one of the greatest NBA teams to ever take the hardwood. Magic Johnson's net worth is currently estimated to be about $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She studied at FIT and launched her own label, Elisa Johnson Co. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight. READ ALSO: Emily Faye Miller's bio: life before and after Too Hot To Handle. 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. Magic Johnson Likely Beefed With Teammates, But Not How We're very proud of him." scientific studies and medical journals. Although the unfortunate response to Johnsons condition will forever be somewhat of a black mark on the NBAgranted, HIV was a mostly unknown diseaseit is interesting to look back at some of the phrases and words Johnson used during his first retirement press conference in 1991. Hopefully this answers your question about why Magic Johnson retired. I like my body. In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner infamously debuted her transition on the cover of Vanity Fair. However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. ESPN's Chris Fowler spoke over a video montage . EJ was born June 4, 1992, during a turbulent time in Magics life. Magic Johnson's 3 Kids: Everything to Know - people.com 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. Inside The Lives Of Magic Johnson's Children - NickiSwift.com In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. Johnson says meeting her as a girl changed his life. This was the first time he was out in public as gay. "I've always loved being in front of people, being on stage and performing. Johnson insisted, even then, that he would be around the league and the Lakers. 2022 Galvanized Media. Magic Johnson - Son, Stats & Wife - Biography She said, That was a very hard thing for me. Im very happy with myself. I mean, I looked good, but that was just me doing me." "I always wanted to come into the spotlight," EJ told the YouTube talk show "Gwissues" shortly after (via ESPN). RELATED:See LeBron James' 16-Year-Old Son, Who's Already a Basketball Star. ", Related: Magic Johnson Supports His Gay Son One Million Percent, EJ identifies as gender-fluid and is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.