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. As for Louis Vuitton using Will Smith's son, Jaden Smith, in its women's line adsthe previous year, EJ claimed,"If you're going to do it, I think you should go with somebody who's actually doing it because they genuinely get it as opposed to somebody who just has a name and was doing it just to be out there." And he got it from me, Magic told Varietyin April 2022. In 2017, rumors began to circulate about a possible romantic relationship between EJ and Christopher Milan, a former Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star. News and hosting other shows. "The man that led me on is now hooking up with my sister, and I'm supposed to be OK with it.". Find out why exercise can be important to mental health too. In response to the headlines, Magic said, Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. 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 . 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. A Warner Bros. There's [sic] so many factors. Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. The series lasted just six episodes. 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. #EJNYC premieres tomorrow night at 11 only on E! As of this writing in 2022, EJ has not launched his own fashion line, but we're certainly keeping an eye out for it. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. From the highlights from Magics career, but the evolution of Johnson as a person including his role as a husband and father. I had to accept who he was and who he wanted to be. EJ ultimately decided to come out before beginning college at New York University (NYU). sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. Public and private medical insurance, as well as various assistance programs, make the medicines more affordable and available to the vast majority of patients in the United States and other parts of the world. Magics retirement is a true landmark in sports history. The son of an autoworker, Johnson earned his nickname "Magic" in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. In 2016, he starred on his own short-lived E! I like my body.. On this Nov. 7, legendary Lakers point guard Earvin Magic Johnson stunned the entire world when he announced that he had contracted the HIV virus, and would be retiring from NBA immediately. To see what Magic Johnson's three children are up to and to learn more about the tight-knit Johnson family, read on. TMZ Sportspublished the last known paparazzi photo of the pair in 2017 and called Alcaraz Elisa's "quasi-boyfriend." EJ Johnson Sports 180-Pound Weight Loss in a Sheer Shirt - E! Online During his career as an NBA player, Johnson's annual salary was around $24 million, an amount . "I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do," he said on "Gwissues." He is responsible for directing the statewide Florida HIV/AIDS Research Consortium, whose HIV researchers have been responsible for more than 400 scientific studies. "And he just could not stand it. 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. Magic Johnson's Kids: Meet The NBA Legend's 3 Children - Hollywood Life About a year later, EJ had a similar heart-to-heart chat with his father. Before the Los Angeles Lakers' final game of the 2018-19 season, Magic Johnson stunned the team and the NBA world at large by stepping down as the team's president of basketball operations.. Brown championship trophy after winning the NBA title in 1980 with the Los Angeles Lakers. EJ Johnson, Magic Johnson's Son: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know Magic Johnson's remarkable life was thrown into question after he was diagnosed with HIV. Either way, there's no doubt that this celebrity kid gets a lot of attention. In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner infamously debuted her transition on the cover of Vanity Fair. He did have a fashion blog, but it no longer exists. "I've always loved being in front of people, being on stage and performing. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Dwyane Wade's Trans Daughter Knew Her Gender Identity at 3 & Revealed Her Boyfriend at 14 Inside Zaya's Life, Millionaire's Son Kicks Wife and Baby Out into the Cold, Loses His Inheritance the Next Day Story of the Day, Twins Send Dad to Nursing Home, Learn He Left Inheritance to Janitor Who Is Their Carbon Copy Story of the Day. Magic Johnson: the NBA superstar who smashed HIV stigma - the Guardian (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for GLAAD). 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.'". This also resulted in a good deal of skepticism from some of Johnsons peers. 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. 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. 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. He also takes great pride in his skills and talents as a make-up artist. EJ Johnson's bio: age, height, net worth, and weight loss The star even garnered comparisons to Kim Kardashian in 2016 when he attended a wedding wearing a netted jumpsuit that looked like a dress she had worn to Cannes Lion the previous summer. EJ told Jada Pinkett Smith in an April 2019 episode of Red Table Talk that dating was hard because of his famous father. 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. } 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. In 1991, Cookie was pregnant with EJ when Magic announced to the world that he was HIV positive. The son of basketball star Magic Johnson set his sights on NYC staple 1OAK for his own personal fashion show, where he was seen strutting some serious leg in a thigh-high fringe skirt, black tank . Magic Johnson Apologized to His Son EJ Johnson After EJ - Sportscasting } Also joining them were Cookie's mom, sister, and their nephew. According to Magic's comments at that press conference, Cookie threatened to leave him if he tried to return for more than one season. Next, meet the MVP in Michael Jordans life, his wife Yvette Prieto. At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Johnson was a mountain of a man, the biggest, most powerful point guard anyone had ever seen. It was, like, this is supposed to be my show and my moment, and it wasn't what I wanted at all. 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. NY 10036. At the time, EJ was still a student at New York University. I feel like this is the body that Im supposed to be in, he said in a 2019 interview. 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. The year was 2010, and scarves were in. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get The Rolling Stones frontman has a huge family. Rather than deny the existence of his boyfriend, the then-20-year-old star rolled with the punches. EJ was born June 4, 1992, during a turbulent time in Magics life. His brother, Andre Johnson has a different mother. Magic had been married to his wife, Cookie, not more than two months before he made his announcement, and questions surrounded Johnsons sexuality as a result. What You Don't Know About Magic Johnson's Son EJ, Caitlyn Jenner infamously debuted her transition on the cover of Vanity Fair, reality series followed the eponymous star, Louis Vuitton using Will Smith's son, Jaden Smith, in its women's line ads. 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. "I'm ready to go. Michael Johnson, son of TNT sportscaster Ernie E.J. Johnson, has died, his father said on social media Friday night. When he was younger, he would love to play with dolls. His father took a while to come around to the news. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive The gender-fluid fashionista is always flaunting his amazing wardrobe. ", Earlier this month on EJ's 29th birthday, his dad posted on Instagram: "To my beautiful and fabulous son EJ, Happy Birthday!! This past May, Magic shared photos of his family celebrating the launch of Elisa's brand. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, "It was a little tough", said Cookie during the interview. COMING OUT . Ernie Johnson's son Michael dies at age of 33 | CNN Hopefully this answers your question about why Magic Johnson retired. News, EJ Johnson once weighed about 360 pounds but underwent gastric sleeve surgery in early 2015. According to research and estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (opens in new tab), as of 2019 about 1.18 million Americans have HIV, and 13 percent of them are undiagnosed. However, it was not a shock to his parents. Johnson announced his retirement from the NBA and made his diagnosis public very quickly and then opened up about his experience. EJ Johnson has shown the world that he is an unstoppable force. When and How Did Magic Johnson Get HIV? - The Cinemaholic Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas squash decades-long feud in tearful 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. 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). Winning Time: Where is Magic Johnson's Wife Cookie Today? Johnson says meeting her as a girl changed his life. Its all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do, Magic once said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. appreciated. Originally published on Live Science on 04 March 2022 and updated on 24 August 2022. EJ put out a statement reading, Im going to make this clear to everyone there will be no mourning post because Im not going to reduce a 25yr friendship to 1 Instagram post. The reality series followed the eponymous star, sister Elisa Johnson, and their high-class crew living their best lives in the Big Apple. He is Cookie Johnsons oldest child but Magic Johnsons middle child. EJ Johnson once told BETthat racism hasn't been a significant problem in his life. I love everything about it." 12:30 Lyric McHenry #EJJohnson #JustTheSip #JustinSylvester #transitioning #LyricMcHenry #MagicJohnson #comingforpeople #hoephase, he joined the Rich Kids of Beverly Hills,. 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. EJ (Earvin Johnson III) can relate to this all too well. In June, Andre posted a photo of his familystep mom Cookie includedat Gigi's sixth-grade graduation. Powered by. Heavy.com's Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson details 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know about EJ Johnson, son of NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson. EJ, 30, came out. After I got all the love and support from my family then I knew I could go out and conquer the world, I guess.". 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. Magic actually launched a comeback attempt prior to the 1992-93 season, but fears resurfaced when he took the floor. (Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) "It. And now, she is the owner of her own self-titled sunglasses company, Elisa Johnson. Hopefully, Magic Johnson and his son will continue to put the work in and have a positive relationship. Please respect my privacy and my process., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on May 4, 2016 at 12:39pm PDT. This is a gradual process known as the HIV life cycle and it is by blocking the virus at each stage of this process that it can be prevented from advancing to AIDS. They cant tell you that youre not at risk, and you cant tell me theres one guy in the N.B.A. 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. How Magic Johnson's Children Are Holding Up His Legendary - AfroTech The NBA star and businesswoman, who met in college, have been together on and off for over 40 years and. "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. 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. "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. EJ singled out the show's producers, claiming, "Everyone was just worried about me being 'relatable,' and even that word made me want to gag.". "I like myself the way that I am. Former New York Yankees All Star Alex Rodriguez, CBS This Mornings Gayle King, NBA on TNTs Kenny The Jet Smith, ESPN First Takes Stephen A. Smith, NBA Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas and former New York Knicks coach, Mike Woodson were some of the notables in attendance at the party.