I thought he was going to take me to Arbys, she said. There was, of course, his wife, Cookie the love of his life, whom he had met at college and had recently married. Weve been through everything together, Cookie later said of she and Magics relationship, per Essence. I'm gonna stay here and help you live. A post shared by Earvin "Magic" Johnson (@magicjohnson) on Sep 3, 2016 at 9:28am PDT, Essence wrote that Magic organized a black tie affair on the Yacht Club de Monaco with over 100 of their famous friends to honor their special day., Having birthday lunch with family is always special #Blessed #FamilyIsEverything #Grateful, A post shared by Cookie Johnson (@thecookiej) on Jan 20, 2017 at 1:46pm PST. Cookie and I are in Venice, Italy celebrating our 25th Anniversary! We have a good time., The couple also enjoys spending time at their beach house together. E.J. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. What would he do next? The couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have raised three children together, Andre, E.J. Undeterred, Johnson played in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. And the medical experts Dr David Ho and Dr Anthony Fauci assured him that he could go on to live a healthy life. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? For Johnson, seeing Fauci speak about a new epidemic while reflecting on the HIV crisis of the 1980s has been sobering the racial disparities in American healthcare are stark. "I wanted to make sure that she was going to be okay, the baby was going to be okay, and then I can move forward with making sure I was going to be okay," the former Lakers president said. ", "And that's why I came back," he said. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. . "We both fell on our knees and we started crying.". Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? / CBS News. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. He created Magic Johnson Enterprises, which has a variety of holdings. "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.". Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. You know, he was changing the world. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? Lansing itself has become a hotbed of extremist militia activity and Johnson watched in horror as armed conservative groups stormed into the state Capitol in April last year, protesting against Covid-19 lockdown laws. 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 just knew that this is what made him happy. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Even though Johnson had not played a single regular season game, fans voted him onto the NBA All-Star team in 1992. The latter became a media sensation after her relationship with the basketball icon. He said, Yes, I will. I gave him the number and literally the day I set foot back on campus he called me., In the same interview, Cookie recounted her first date with Magic. And so why am I judging him? Magic said. Leaving college after two years, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. She designs a popular brand of jeans that sells throughout luxury department stores in the US called CJ. We have a long way to go. Cookie Johnson is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and clothing designer. Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been a much-lauded couple for many years, and their story is worth being inspired by. That's not the man I married,'" she recalls telling him. Cookie, our 30 year marriage has been the best time of my life, he wrote on Instagram. She attended an all-black school called Council Training School and later graduated from Michigan State University in 1981 which is where she met Magic Johnson. [My mind] went to 'He is possibly going to die,'" Johnson told Roberts. ", During the ride home, Johnson says he thought about how he would break the devastating news to her. "A cocktail, once a day," he said. 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. And the white suit, to me, symbolized brightness, like a future basically [and] positivity.". Johnson, who remains HIV-undetectable to this day, opened up about living with the virus and his career in an exclusive interview for "CBS Mornings" nearly 30 years after he publicly announced his HIV diagnosis. As for children, Cookie and Magic have two named EJ Johnson and Elisa Johnson. Earvin "Magic" Johnson is the Los Angeles Lakers' president of basketball operations. He taught him the art of aggressive, fast-paced basketball, and how to read the game. Racial dynamics also played a part in the way some viewed their opposition (Bird is white). But he still longed for the game of basketball, and his first retirement would not last long. "I don't know what would have happened if I'd have got that news that she had HIV as well. The trick shots, the no-look passing, the celebrity fans and the Playboy bunnies. Steps Out in Public With New Boyfriend, Earlitha Kelly (Magic Johnson'un ei) Doum Y.: Doum T.: Ei: Magic Johnson (e. 1991)https://t.co/Or205EQKf5 pic.twitter.com/gz5H4jKPJ2, XKimdir (@xkimdircom) February 19, 2017, Cookie has become involved in various ventures in her life, one of which is a clothing line called CJ by Cookie Johnson., Cookies products largely include jeans because, as she wrote in her About Me on 6pm.com, she despaired over hte lakc of premium denim for women with a figure like hers. "And that just broke her heart. Yet despite the rivalry, Johnson and Bird eventually became close friends, so the story goes, after Birds mother cooked Johnson lunch during the filming of a 1985 Converse shoe advert starring them both. Magic Johnson is rumoured to have hooked up with Kathleen Sullivan . The NBA star and businesswoman,. And so I just lost it right there, you know?". (modern). The couple live in Beverly Hills with their family. It was sobering, says Johnson, to see Dr Fauci out front and centre again, during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stunned basketball fans and transformed HIV awareness by announcing his diagnosis in 1991. We're still those kids from Michigan. I know when I come here [home], I'm not Magic. That would have been just devastating to me.". ", "Yeah, you're just in disbelief and in shock," Johnson says. Kelly had virtually remained quiet on the issue for 16 years, but in an interview on NBCs Today Show, the couple spoke out against the fatal disease. "There wasn't a lot of knowledge back in 1991.". He had married his long-time girlfriend Cookie in September of that year and they were expecting a baby. Powered by. 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. 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. He had all these ideas. "I was scared to death about the baby. Astrological Sign: Leo. You know, why is he in there so long?' Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. "And then the worst thing was Cookie was pregnant with E.J. Cookie serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Magic Johnson Foundation where she focuses on the health, social, and educational needs of those residing in underserved communities and is involved in the development of the Foundations programs, objectives, and goals. That kind of got to me, because it had been boiling, boiling, boiling, boiling anyway. While Cookie thought their first date would be nonchalant, Magic took her to an actual steakhouse. And I was very upset at the backlash 'cause I just played with a lot of the guys who didn't want me to come back," Johnson said. But his professional career was also defined by a bitter rivalry with the Boston Celtics star player Larry Bird, who had been his competitor since college. On 7 November 1991, a press conference in Inglewood, California, brought America to a standstill. I don't know who this is. Like Magic, Cookie attended and graduated from Michigan State University. I mean, it was very early on.. "This woman here, God let me know why I married her, why he brought us together, Cookie told Roberts. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," he said. In 1992, he had his latest book, My Life, published. The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team. "Yes, because I was scared to death," he said. Johnson said it was a huge relief when his wife's and baby's test results came back negative. I thank God every day for you and for bringing you into my life! Upon his return, Magic was told that he tested positive for HIV. He was raised by his mom and would visit his. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. Cookie had been pregnant when Magic broke the news to her, but both have since been given the all clear on a potential diagnoses. And it has interesting parallels for today, when the world continues to battle another public health crisis. I had to come to realize that this is who he is, and he's going to be happy. and Elisa. The couple opened up about the impact the diagnosis had on their relationship in an interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King that aired Thursday. 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. 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. High times as guard for Michigan State, Johnson cuts down the net after winning a championship game in Salt Lake City in 1979. Celebrity traction Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor at a 20 Years of Aids, 20 Years of Hope event in Santa Monica in 2001. Wake up to the day's most important news. She has two siblings - an older sister Pat and a younger brother Harold Earl. Professional rivalry and racial dynamics Larry Bird of Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson during the 1984 NBA Finals at the Forum in Los Angeles. "Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. The couple celebrated 25 years of marriage in Italy in September 2016 with a big party and trip to Europe. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson story is a testament to love, dedication, and commitment to bettering themselves and their community. Johnson is adamant that she never wavered in supporting her husband. At the "They Call Me Magic" premiere, the NBA legend told Access Hollywood about how he. No. According to Cookie, Magics ego reached outsized proportions in 2001 after his name was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is one of the most famous basketball players to ever play in the NBA. Cookie joined her husband on stage for his announcement along with a specially selected outfit. Part of HuffPost News. Todd Williamson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, receiving the diagnosis that he was HIV positive. The 63-year-old American basketball player is married to Cookie Johnson. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful businesswoman. In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple said that they are still madly in love with each other and are soul mates. "Everything is great," he said. 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. 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. She wrote in her memoir that things came to a head at an industry party, when Magic wasnt interested in dancing with her. He is also a published author. ", When Johnson walked through the front door, he says Cookie knew something was wrong. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The two separated, but reunited two weeks later and have since devoted themselves to working on their marriage. In 1992, the Johnsons welcomed their first child, E.J. We go to the movies. Venice is absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed touring the city by water taxi! "The worst thing about it is I knew I was going to hurt her," he says. But instead, he was among Lansings first students to be bussed across the city to a majority white high school, Everett, on the south side. At the time, many people thought the virus mostly affected homosexuals or intravenous drug users. Magic wore a white tuxedo while Cookie looked stunning in her off-shoulder lace gown with puffed sleeves. BASKETBALL legend, Magic Johnson has been married to his wife, Cookie, since 1991. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. "I ended it the way I wanted it to end.". "Because she had waited for me, been patient with me, supported me -- and now I'm about to break her heart. The latter was adopted in 1995. "You're sitting there like, 'Man, how could this happen to me?' But there was no greater pressure than driving home to tell her." Its just its not America.. He currently has a voice role on The Proud Family reboot Louder And Prouder. There was also a lot of fear and confusion regarding how the disease could be transmitted. His career in business did not begin in earnest until his second retirement in the mid-90s. Magic became a father in 1981 when his then-girlfriend, Melissa Mitchell, gave birth to a baby boy. That hurt me." On November 7th, 1991, Earvin "Magic" Johnson sent shockwaves through the basketball community and the world when he announced his abrupt retirement from basketball due to contracting HIV. His wife has also recently learned she was pregnant. Magic was one of the most prominent basketball players in NBA history. But the toughest part of his diagnosis, he said, was to drive home and tell his wife. Regardless of his marital status, we are rooting for his. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. Its certainly not the America that Magic Johnson came to embody during his heyday with the LA Lakers throughout the 80s. And I didn't want people to treat us like we were lepers," she told King. This is just the start though. Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed to the world in 1991 that he was HIV positive and retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers. ", In a 2021 interview with Gayle King on CBS, he explained how his decision and diagnosis weighed on his relationship with Cookie. "In those days, you had to wait almost 10 days to get your results back, so that was agonizing. And he was like, "Love your child." Johnson and his team continued to be one of the NBA's top competitors throughout the rest of the 1980s. I understand.' Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. How Magic Johnson Told His Wifeand Ex-LoversHe Had HIV. During a period when Magic and Cookie werent together, he dated a woman named Melissa Mitchell, with whom he had a son, Andre, in 1981. They had great conversation all night long as if they were old friends. "That was a difficult day.". Game-changer Clients wait for a free HIV test at a mobile testing centre as part of the I Stand with Magic programme in Los Angeles in 2006. When had he found out? 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. #blackmarriageday earvin johnson jr. and earlitha kelly pic.twitter.com/jPYQrLom8C. went on to become a reality star of Es Rich Kids of Beverly Hills and his own spinoff show, EJNYC, which premiered this summer. 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. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . "God blessed us when the test results came back on her and the baby that she didn't have HIV and the baby didn't either," Johnson says. They were very supportive of their son and his career. That's a huge milestone for any couple, but especially when one of the involved parties. "I was a broke college student, and so she had to use her book money so that we could order a pizza and . 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. It was like, I dont want you dancing with me. It was referred to as "gay cancer" but that's because so little was understood about the disease. Plus other revelations from Cookie Johnson's new memoir, Believing in Magic. According to Cookie, Magic didnt ask her to dance. Her fathers name is Earl and her mothers name is Cora. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic said. 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. The late actor Elizabeth Glaser, who herself contracted HIV after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion, encouraged his public advocacy. And she was dying at that time. Jun 10, 2014, 02:02 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. 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.. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Nat Sweetwater Cliftons First NBA Season, The True Story of the Michael Jordan Film Air, Michael Jordans Two Requests for The Movie Air, What Sonny Vaccaro Did After Nike Air Jordan Deal, Get to Know NCAA Tournament Star Caitlin Clark. Both of them were set to go home for Christmas break the next day. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Magic Johnson news, gossip, photos of Magic Johnson, biography, Magic Johnson girlfriend list 2023. I dont live in the past, he says. Quinn Allen is a freelance sports journalist and full-time editor for ClutchPoints. He finally retired for good that same year, leaving behind an impressive legacy. Advertisement Lakers champion Magic Johnson found a brilliant woman, Cookie, to call his own in 1991. [protected-iframe id=d38edc4e43748d8b05dc4bf57f6176c2-62957618-114657895 info=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32545640 width=420 height=245], Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy. Cookie also has authored a best-selling book about her and Magic Johnsons life named Believing in Magic. Cookie Johnsons Profession and Charitable Interests. Magic Johnson's diagnosis in 1991 only inspired him to achieve greater heights professionally. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. But sport also became a vessel to bring students together. In 1991, Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly in a small wedding in Lansing which included guests Thomas, Aguirre, and Herb Williams. Earlitha Cookie Kelly and Earvin Magic Johnson (Getty). Magic Johnsons Son E.J. Video related to cookie johnson, magics wife: 5 fast facts you need to know. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. In one of the most famous matchups in college basketball history, Johnson went head-to-head with Indiana's star forward, .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Larry Bird. It was a seismic moment, not only in the history of basketball, but in the continuing war on HIV and Aids, as an athlete of Johnsons stature vowed in public to raise awareness about the virus. She even released a book called Believing in Magic which highlighted the journeys theyve gone through together and how she dealt with the sad news. I guess now I get to enjoy some of the other sides of living.. In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. During an appearance on CBS Mornings, Magic. We started this in college. Best Known For: Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of the world's best basketball players for more than a decade. So he never makes a quick decision. As we talk today, right now, Im thinking, Wow its been 30 years and Im still here, healthy. The Magic Johnson Foundation was formed in 1991 to address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. At that time, in the 1970s, he idolised players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, and Dave Bing, the Detroit Pistons point guard, who went on to become the citys mayor in 2009. From selling jeans to giving numerous speeches to underprivileged people, Cookie Johnson is much more than just a terrific wife. I mean, I had just found out I was pregnant so it was really early in the pregnancy," she said. Had he grappled with his own mortality? Basketball legend Magic Johnson joins Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager ahead of the NBA All-Star game on Sunday. Maybe I should look at playing one more time," Johnson said, noting that he wanted to "end it the right way. "At that time, people weren't educated. Were very simple. He was called back home from a pre-season game in Utah, so that Lakers team physician Dr. Michael Mellman could deliver the news in person. There were his teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers, who embraced him, and . "'I'm looking at you like this sitting on this couch. He had married his long-time girlfriend Cookie in September of that year and they were expecting a baby. And I lost it. However, their separation only lasted two weeks. The two were married in 1991 and have been together ever since. They told me that the three-drug combination was going to save my life, and they were right Earvin Magic Johnson Jr at his offices in Los Angeles. Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been married for 31 years since 14th Sep 1991. view relationship. The Spartans proved victorious, and the Johnson-Bird rivalry would follow the players to their days with the NBA. Johnson says he told her, "I can understand if you want to leave me because I'm now turning your life upside down," he says. Cookie Johnson and Magic Johnson got married in 1991 in Lansing, Michigan, just 45 days before Magic was diagnosed with HIV. By far, marrying you was one of the best decisions Ive ever made.. It also dives deeper into their lives after Magic was hit with the devastating news. He also has a son, Andre Johnson, from a previous relationship. ", First published on November 4, 2021 / 8:47 AM. At that time, when you got something like HIV, there were so many things I didnt know, so they had to educate me about how the virus was going to act in my body, what I could expect. After years of unsuccessful dieting, EJ Johnson underwent gastric sleeve surgery when he was 22 years old. Magics departure from the NBA remains one of the most shocking moments in sports history. 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.. And he's gonna be just that. Magic Johnson's wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, is a businesswoman and philanthropist. [Magic] was standing there by the doorway when I walked in with a friend of mine, she said. Like her brother EJ, Elisa is interested in fashion, and launched her own sunglass line in 2021. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent.
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