In her interview with Mocha Man Style, Cookie revealed how they maintain their spark. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. She said in the book that going through it was like being in her own personal hell filled with silence and darkness, numbness., She wrote that after telling his wife, he locked himself in a room and called the long list of women with whom hed been intimate. Cookie added in the memoir about the night and experience after, In just one moment our world, this perfect union wed fought so hard and so long to have was obliterated.. As we talk today, right now, Im thinking, Wow its been 30 years and Im still here, healthy. There were his teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers, who embraced him, and . It was nothing but a strong sense of trust and commitment that kept them from calling it quits on their relationship. "It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' And Im this guy who is completely the opposite. We had a great time. "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.". [Cookie and I] had a difficult conversation. When EJ was on the show, Magic told TMZ that he was very happy for his son to be featured. It was tough, because Cookie was afraid of what might happen, the backlash if we went public. 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 would affect his wife and their unborn child. And that's what we did.". Earvin "Magic" Johnson is the Los Angeles Lakers' president of basketball operations. So thats whats important, that we have power and that we have a seat at the table., Magic Johnson: 20 years on from an All-Star game that changed basketball, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. "'I'm looking at you like this sitting on this couch. He and Cookie have been together throughout this time, and neither she nor their son, Earvin Johnson III, have HIV. He established the Magic Johnson Foundation to support HIV/AIDS research efforts and awareness programs that same year. However, she advanced her career and has become a force to reckon with. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. I thought he was going to take me to Arbys, she said. "This woman here, God let me know why I married her, why he brought us together, Cookie told Roberts. Today, sitting in his offices in California, in a brown executive chair, that famous, dimpled smile beaming down the camera over Zoom, Johnson finds it hard to fathom that this year marks three decades since his diagnosis. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic, 62, told King, 66. Among them was the 1979 NBA Draft first overall pick, Irvin "Magic" Johnson. He knows what he wants. It was referred to as "gay cancer" but that's because so little was understood about the disease. Magic Johnson's rivalry with fellow basketball legend Larry Bird began when the two attended college and lasted throughout their time in the NBA. It was Nov. 7, 1991, when Los Angeles Lakers star player Earvin "Magic" Johnson publicly announced his diagnosis and sent shock waves across the nation. And it just wasn't his thing. Against a black-draped backdrop, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and multicoloured tie, Earvin Magic Johnson, spoke calmly into a single microphone and told the world that he had been diagnosed with HIV. No. They met at a party in their freshman year at Michigan State in 1977. Ultimately you want your child to be happy, she said. We get popcorn. Everything about Magic seems so wholesome, including the fact that he has been married to his wife, Cookie, for over 30 years now and that the duo has been together since they first met in. "And what came out of the physical was, 'You have HIV. "A cocktail, once a day," he said. As the Lansing protests unfolded last year Johnson found himself sending messages to his parents and siblings to make sure they were OK: To stay away and stay safe., I think what it did was make people quiet about who they were going to actually vote for, he says. "That was a difficult day.". I didn't want to wear anything dark or black because to me, it's what it symbolized. The Spartans proved victorious, and the Johnson-Bird rivalry would follow the players to their days with the NBA. And Johnsons unique talent (it was while he was at high school that a local newspaper reporter coined his nickname), eventually brought the team a state championship in his final year. Cookie and I are in Venice, Italy celebrating our 25th Anniversary! Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991. He had married his long-time girlfriend Cookie in September of that year and they were expecting a baby. "It was like, 'Who is he calling? Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. Cookie recounted her exact emotions when Magic told her in a 2016 interview with Good Morning America. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? Everybody who was somebody during the 80s had to be at the Forum for a Lakers game, because it was the place to be, he says. We, as Black people, had never really understood generational wealth and passing that wealth on, he says. A post shared by Elisa J. I had to make sure that I was open-minded enough to ask a lot of questions, go get a lot of information from different people," he said. At the time of his diagnosis, Johnson thought the virus was a death sentence. The wedding ceremony was attended by many famous personalities including other NBA superstars such as Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas. He also has a son, Andre Johnson, from a previous relationship. I understand.' In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. EJ has become quite popular himself over the years and has appeared on several TV shows including his reality show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills. ", During the ride home, Johnson says he thought about how he would break the devastating news to her. "He said, 'If you want to leave, you know, I don't blame you. "I wanted to make sure that she was gonna be OK, the baby was gonna be OK, and then I could move forward with trying to make sure I was gonna be OK.". Everything Ive done in my lifetime after that involved whites. The Trump presidency made even more stark the entrenched legacy of racism and white supremacy all over the country, including in Michigan, where Johnsons parents still live. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. "I don't know what would have happened if I'd have got that news that she had HIV as well. The NBA star and businesswoman,. The couple wed on Sept. 14, 1991, just 45 days before Magic revealed his diagnosis to his wife. There were his teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers, who embraced him, and would go on to support him when he returned to play again, first as part of the 1992 Olympics dream team and then during another stint at the Lakers. "I'm asking him 100 times, 'Are you sure?'" Johnson met Cookie while she was working as a flight attendant for American Airlines. Together, Magic and Cookie have been blessed with two children Earvin III (also known as EJ) who was born on June 4, 1992, and Elisa who was born on December 21, 1995. Astrological Sign: Leo. He was called back home from a pre-season game in Utah, so that Lakers team physician Dr. Michael . Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19 Johnson. That's a huge milestone for any couple, but especially when one of the involved parties. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie has a net worth of $50 million. You know sometimes when you meet people and you have to make conversation until you really get to know them? Despite being married to one of the greatest NBA players of all time, Cookie Johnson established a very successful career as an entrepreneur and writer. Cameras flashed and reporters clamoured to ask questions, but Johnson, National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar and one of the worlds most revered athletes, appeared unfazed as he announced his immediate retirement. I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. However, she was upset when he told her he'd understand if she wanted. The One Thing That Almost Cost Magic Johnson His Marriage. "We both fell on our knees, and we started crying," she tells Robin Roberts. In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple said that they are still madly in love with each other and are soul mates. We have a long way to go. Fortunately, both his wife and their son, Earvin III, tested negative for HIV. Cookie also has authored a best-selling book about her and Magic Johnsons life named Believing in Magic. We're gonna figure out how to beat this thing,'" she recalled. Just as he had dominated the courts, Johnson became a powerful force in business. She is an entrepreneur and writer. Cookie Johnson, Magics Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Rumours swirl that Johnsons wealth now exceeds $1bn. It scared me to death, she said. She grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Detroit, Michigan at six years old. They started seeing each other January 1, 1991. I've been in nine [NBA] Finals, so I know pressure. Johnson came out as gay to his family at the age of 17 and came out publicly in 2013 after a report by TMZ published pictures of him holding hands with a male friend. Everything has gone right. The two separated, but reunited two weeks later and have since devoted themselves to working on their marriage. We cant be cheering for Boston, those white guys, he recalls them saying. As a boy, he practised basketball relentlessly, encouraged by his father, who worked grinding shifts at a local General Motors plant. The couple got married in September 1991, in a small private wedding in Lansing, Michigan. The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team. And they didn't have to worry about trying to test the baby because, really, I mean, he hadn't really formed yet, actually. The late actor Elizabeth Glaser, who herself contracted HIV after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion, encouraged his public advocacy. She stands at 5 foot 6 inches. We sit down and this guy says: Boy, what you want? he recalls. he told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. If you have new or updated information on Magic Johnson dating status, please send us a tip. And what does this mean, of course. Magic and Cookie married in LA in September 1991. "I was a broke college student, and so she had to use her book money so that we could order a pizza and . The couple celebrated 25 years of marriage in Italy in September 2016 with a big party and trip to Europe. Although Andre was raised by his mother, he visited Johnson each summer, and later worked for Magic Johnson Enterprises as a marketing director. Magic said he had a change of heart after a tough conversation with his son. Johnson recalls asking his doctor. Additionally, Johnson, who scored 13 points and added 13 rebounds with 13 assists in Game 6 of the 1982 Finals, earned his second series MVP award. Now 29, hes gone on to work in fashion, and starred on the E! By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. In the years following Magics diagnosis, he and Cookie have remained active in combating HIV and AIDS. E.J. I don't know who this is. Theyve continued the tradition long into their marriage, making time for a date each Friday night. The doctor told him to immediately fly back to Los Angeles, but wouldn't tell him why. A post shared by Cookie Johnson (@thecookiej) on Feb 19, 2017 at 5:38pm PST. He did well in his first season (1979-80) with the team, averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. The couple never kept it secret that their son, Earvin Johnson III, who goes by E.J., is gay, but Cookie and Magic Johnson explained how they came to terms with it. He made a splash in July 2018 by signing megastar free agent LeBron James, but abruptly resigned his post at the end of the 2018-2019 NBA season. And he's gonna be just that. I felt bad for him. At the time, Magic was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the doctor didn't want to talk about it over the phone. That would have been just devastating to me.". I mean, it was very early on.. She has been a key part in reducing the number of infections of the virus in the African-American community by further educating women about the disease and further testing thats available. He and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson have been married since 1991. Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is one of the most famous basketball players to ever play in the NBA. He is bashful, however, when I ask about this and says only: Im happy Ive got a great life and that my kids are going to be fine.. She even released a book called "Believing in Magic" which. Its really sad. Maybe I should look at playing one more time," Johnson said, noting that he wanted to "end it the right way. Andre is known for staying out of the public eye. Their legacy will undoubtedly live on for generations to come as they serve as role models for anyone looking to make positive changes in the world today. Cookie stood by her husband's side all along, but she initially did not want him to hold the now-famous Nov. 7, 1991 news conference announcing his diagnosis and short-lived retirement because of the stigma surrounding AIDS. That hurt me." Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The lights came up and I happen to be walking by where he was sitting and I said it was nice to meet you. The newlyweds had also just found out she was pregnant with their first child, E.J., now 24. He took me on a real date. He also appeared on television as a sports commentator. The soul comes from her [Cookie]. That kind of got to me, because it had been boiling, boiling, boiling, boiling anyway. Cookie and Magic Johnson on His HIV Diagnosis, Their Son Being Gay, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. I often tell people when you make a mistake, you not only hurt yourself, but you hurt the ones that love you. You couldn't hug people. When Magic retired from the NBA, he became a spokesperson for HIV/AIDS prevention. He is less coy, though, when describing the reason he sought wealth, and was not content with the riches of his earnings as a player. The two contested back-to-back NBA finals in 1984 and 1985, their differing personas Bird, the insular, precision shotmaker and Johnson the flamboyant superstar making the rivalry all the more intense. She wrote in her memoir that things came to a head at an industry party, when Magic wasnt interested in dancing with her. The Celtics beat the Lakers in a tight competitionfour games to threefor the 1984 championship. Before taking on a more prominent role with her husband, Cookie also served as spokeswoman for the National Medical Association Immunization Public Service Announcement. When Magic Johnson revealed his HIV diagnosis to his new wife, Cookie Johnson, in 1991, she didn't turn and run away. I'm not going to sit here and say that I understood that he was gay at that time, because I didn't. She has two siblings - an older sister Pat and a younger brother Harold Earl. Youve made me a better man, person, husband, father, and businessman. The Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson story is a testament to love, dedication, and commitment to bettering themselves and their community. Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. Despite being diagnosed with such a life-threatening disease at the height of his career, he managed to survive and thrive as a businessman with the help and support of people like his wife Cookie. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful businesswoman. I'm only as good as Cookie.. He spent 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring due to contracting HIV in 1991. Johnson opens up about his 30-year marriage to wife Cookie, saying the couple has come a long way. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. From winning five NBA titles to making 12 All-Star teams, his career was nothing short of amazing. The following year, he played an important role in taking the Spartans all the way to the NCAA Finals. You need to get up and figure that out.'". The two were married in 1991 and have been together ever since. The NBA star and businesswoman, who met in college, have been together on and off for over 40 years and share two children together. Had he grappled with his own mortality? Johnson and his wife, Cookie, also have a daughter named Elisa, whom they adopted in 1995. He was put in a bad situation.. Larry is a quiet guy and wants a quiet life. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Its just its not America.. Johnson formally returned to the Lakers in early 2017 as president of basketball operations. My goal is to go out across the country and speak to over 1,000 women; to educate them and to empower them, Cookie told Matt Lauer in the 2007 interview. 10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Magic Johnson, Birth Year: 1959, Birth date: August 14, 1959, Birth State: Michigan, Birth City: Lansing, Birth Country: United States. Were finally starting to understand that. Let's get on our knees and pray.' He also made headlines when he came out publicly as gay back in April of 2013 during his sophomore year at New York University. He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. He's very intelligent, and his mindset is like his dad's. Trump asks for mistrial in E. 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Zooey Zephyr disciplined by GOP-controlled state House, GOP lawmakers seek "disciplinary consequences" for Montana transgender lawmaker. Johnson and his wife, Cookie Johnson (Earlitha Kelly Johnson) have been married for 25 years and have been active philanthropists and have lived worked toward combating HIV in the years after Magics diagnosis announcement. Weve been through everything together, Cookie later said of she and Magics relationship, per Essence. But I also knew that Earvin didn't understand. Quinn Allen is a freelance sports journalist and full-time editor for ClutchPoints. "You just sit there and say, what does this mean? Over his long career, Johnson scored 17,707 points and recorded 10,141 assists, 6,559 rebounds and 1,724 steals. Today, Johnson runs point in the boardroom as CEO of his namesake company, an investment company focused on providing high-quality products and services to underserved communities. Magic returned for the 1992 Olympic gold medal winning Dream Team, as well as another season for the Los Angeles Lakers for the 1995-96 team. And then, finally, the results came in and what they told me was that if the mother is negative, then the baby is automatically negative. Johnson also shared her heartache as she waited behind closed doors as her husband made phone calls to the various women he had slept with. At the time, many people thought the virus mostly affected homosexuals or intravenous drug users. Regardless of his marital status, we are rooting for his. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he made for an impressive point guard. The couple opened up about the impact the diagnosis had on their relationship in an interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King that aired Thursday. In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. Even today, as were talking about it right now, I still cant believe all the events that happened within a year. Later, the couple also adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995, bringing Magic Johnson's kids total to two. On 7 November 1991, a press conference in Inglewood, California, brought America to a standstill. "You're sitting there like, 'Man, how could this happen to me?' (@elisajohnson) on May 28, 2016 at 3:13pm PDT, EJ was a star on the reality TV show, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.. During the 1993-1994 basketball season, Johnson tried his hand at coaching with the Lakers. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with. It was Nov. 7, 1991, when Los Angeles Lakers star player Earvin "Magic" Johnson publicly announced his diagnosis and sent shock waves across the nation. Elisa has mainly stayed away from the public and maintains a pleasant living. Both of them were set to go home for Christmas break the next day. No matter where you turned, whether I was coached by one, whether they owned the team I played for, or the partnerships I was trying to create in business everywhere you turned, it was somebody white in charge.. As a result, Magic had a very active sexual life and admitted to having some 300 to 500 sexual encounters per year prior to contracting HIV in 1991. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. But she was able to meet with both of us and really help us, you know, really calm us down. That year Johnson also averaged a career-best 23.9 points per game, resulting in his first regular-season NBA MVP awardan honor he would receive again in 1989 and 1990. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for nearly 0 years and thanks to advances in medical science the disease is now more manageable than it was when he first revealed his diagnosis. High times as guard for Michigan State, Johnson cuts down the net after winning a championship game in Salt Lake City in 1979. Plus other revelations from Cookie Johnson's new memoir, Believing in Magic. went public with his sexual orientation in 2013 and owned his public debut as the news was picked up by entertainment sites. After years of unsuccessful dieting, EJ Johnson underwent gastric sleeve surgery when he was 22 years old. Aside from being a best-selling author, Cookie is also a businesswoman. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful. A. The retired NBA legend and his wife have created a legacy of love, philanthropy, business success, and advocacy that has made them household names. Basketball legend Magic Johnson joins Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager ahead of the NBA All-Star game on Sunday. The couple has three children together: Andre, EJ, and Elisa. Please enter valid email address to continue. ", In a 2021 interview with Gayle King on CBS, he explained how his decision and diagnosis weighed on his relationship with Cookie. When Quinn isn't producing content for CP, he's writing predictions across the European soccer and NBA world for bettors at Sports Betting Dime, one of the fastest-growing sports betting sites in North America. He ended up retiring again before returning to the sport he loved one more time in 1996. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive. Magic wore a white tuxedo while Cookie looked stunning in her off-shoulder lace gown with puffed sleeves. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. Tensions were also felt on the basketball court: Johnson recalls, in his 1992 autobiography, My Life, that some of his white teammates were initially reluctant to even pass him the ball. I love you. Magic and Cookie Johnson may have one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. '", "You were on the floor yourself, I heard, for two hours," Oprah says. I plan on going on living for a long time, bugging you guys like I always have, he told reporters, his optimism surprising those who viewed his condition as a death sentence. Without those two, he says. Johnson joined president George W Bushs national Aids commission and then publicly quit after eight months, lambasting the presidents inaction. Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. That was the beginning of when I fell in love with him.. That's not the man I married,'" she recalls telling him. He said to me: Earvin, youve got to remember youre in the south and thats how theyre used to talking to Blacks. It was a real eye-opener.. It frustrated me to try on every pair in the store and leave with nothing.. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Magic Johnsons wife Cookie is a very accomplished woman who has stood by his side for many, many years. February 18, 2022, 10:40 AM. In 2008, he shared his secrets for success with the book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business.
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