The inspirational couple has been married for about 31 years but their relationship goes further back in time. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age.
Magic Johnson Says He Hated Telling His Wife Cookie About - People Magic Johnson Parents. I'm not going to sit here and say that I understood that he was gay at that time, because I didn't. He finally retired for good that same year, leaving behind an impressive legacy. Johnson's decision to go public with his medical condition helped raise awareness about the disease. You know sometimes when you meet people and you have to make conversation until you really get to know them? Magic credits Elizabeth Glaser, who founded the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation after she contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, for bringing out the courage in him to become a public advocate for HIV awareness.
Who is Magic Johnson's wife Cookie? | The US Sun She stands at 5 foot 6 inches. "'You know, the man I married was a hard worker. We started this in college. During The Lakers ShowTime Era, the team was led by capable players, all of whom played a significant role in the 5 Championships that the Lakers won in the 80s. I hope we can turn a corner. 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. I told him Im not giving you my number because youre not even going to remember me in a month. They met at a party in their freshman year at Michigan State in 1977. As for children, Cookie and Magic have two named EJ Johnson and Elisa Johnson.
The Shady Side Of Magic Johnson - NickiSwift.com Bird was one of the first NBA players Johnson called to inform him of his HIV diagnosis. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. Professional rivalry and racial dynamics Larry Bird of Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson during the 1984 NBA Finals at the Forum in Los Angeles. The newlyweds had also just found out she was pregnant with their first child, E.J., now 24.
Cookie Johnson: 'I Fell to My Knees' When Magic Revealed His HIV At the time, many people thought the virus mostly affected homosexuals or intravenous drug users. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. We see each other at events.
31 Years Later, Magic Johnson Reflects On Contracting HIV - EBONY ", "And that's why I came back," he said. Weve been through everything together, Cookie later said of she and Magics relationship, per Essence. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. Larry is a quiet guy and wants a quiet life. 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. Its certainly not the America that Magic Johnson came to embody during his heyday with the LA Lakers throughout the 80s. In 1991, the 13-season Los Angeles Lakers star married his wife, Cookie, who gave birth to their son EJ Johnson soon after. In 1992, the Johnsons welcomed their first child, E.J. And the medical experts Dr David Ho and Dr Anthony Fauci assured him that he could go on to live a healthy life.
The couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have raised three children together, Andre, E.J. "This woman here, God let me know why I married her, why he brought us together, Cookie told Roberts. No. In the year 1991. Cookie also has authored a best-selling book about her and Magic Johnsons life named Believing in Magic. Were finally starting to understand that. Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. Am I gonna die?'" 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. "I didn't know," Johnson says. She educated parents and caregivers on the importance of immunizing children in urban areas against various viruses. The diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. He has a combination of both of us, Magic said. 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. I don't know who this is. The NBA star and businesswoman, who met in college, have been together on and off for over 40 years and share two children together. And I was still trying to figure it out. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Venice is absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed touring the city by water taxi!
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. But the toughest part of his diagnosis, he said, was to drive home and tell his wife.
Magic Johnson Credits Wife with Helping Him Get Through HIV Diagnosis A guy like myself swears by him, he says. "I had to really learn a lot about the disease, HIV as well as AIDS. Plus other revelations from Cookie Johnson's new memoir, Believing in Magic. Two decades later, Magic and Cookie are still married. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with HIV. The couple, who met as students at Michigan State University in the 1970s, had married about a month before his diagnosis and they had just learned about her pregnancy. At the centre was Johnson, the tallest point guard in NBA history (2.06 metres; 6ft 9ins), whose adaptability, court vision and creativity fundamentally transformed the position. Part of HuffPost News. And they didn't have to worry about trying to test the baby because, really, I mean, he hadn't really formed yet, actually. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Magic Johnson's wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, is a businesswoman and philanthropist. Who Is NCAA Tournament Star Brandon Miller? Like her brother EJ, Elisa is interested in fashion, and launched her own sunglass line in 2021. 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. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Magic Johnson's diagnosis in 1991 only inspired him to achieve greater heights professionally. Cookie Johnson is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and clothing designer. All Rights Reserved. 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. Maybe I should look at playing one more time," Johnson said, noting that he wanted to "end it the right way. Both of them were set to go home for Christmas break the next day. confirmed that the reality star had gone under the knife in August 2014 after hinting. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? "You're sitting there like, 'Man, how could this happen to me?' I've been in championships. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. Johnson was born Earvin Johnson Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. ", "I didn't have time to get mad about whatever happened, you know, or start asking questions. Undeterred, Johnson played in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
Magic Johnson Says He & Cookie Johnson Would've Divorced 'Fast - Yahoo Magic Johnson Who Tried to Call Off Wedding to Cookie 3 Times It was referred to as "gay cancer" but that's because so little was understood about the disease. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? ", In a 2021 interview with Gayle King on CBS, he explained how his decision and diagnosis weighed on his relationship with Cookie. He hoped to return to professional basketball for the next season, but he dropped that plan amidst fear from other players who were concerned about playing with an HIV-positive competitor. 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. According to Cookie, Magics ego reached outsized proportions in 2001 after his name was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Magic Johnson got married on September 14, 1991, to Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly. You need to get up and figure that out.'". 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. When Magic Johnson revealed his HIV diagnosis to his new wife, Cookie Johnson, in 1991, she didn't turn and run away. He's very intelligent, and his mindset is like his dad's. His father would send his children in groups of three to use the bathroom at truck stops to watch each others backs. When Magic retired from the NBA, he became a spokesperson for HIV/AIDS prevention. E.J., when he walks in a room, this is the most confident guy. Im not a go-back person. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic, 62, told King, 66. I just thought forget it. 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 that trumped everything," she told CBS News.
Who is Magic Johnson dating? Magic Johnson girlfriend, wife Magic has had his wife Cookie along for the ride. Cookie wrote in her 2016 memoir, Believing in Magic about the night he revealed to her that he had been diagnosed with HIV. I'm only as good as Cookie.. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
How Did Magic Johnson Get Hiv? - celebritiesobserver.com Magic Johnson Reveals What Almost Cost Him His Marriage To - HuffPost "I was a broke college student, and so she had to use her book money so that we could order a pizza and . "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," said the former NBA champion in a joint interview with his wife Cookie on CBS Mornings. Johnson says he was sitting in a hotel in Utah, getting ready for an exhibition game when he got the call. His wife has also recently learned she was. "Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. After an agonizing wait, the couple soon got some wonderful news. 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. 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.. For the second time in his pro career, the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers for the championship title. 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. And it has interesting parallels for today, when the world continues to battle another public health crisis. She also successfully launched CJ by Cookie Johnson denim line catered towards women who desire fashionable clothing options available beyond size zero standards often seen within mainstream brands; empowering these same demographics financially through employment opportunities via production facilities located domestically provides economic growth potentiality serving could-be overlooked audiences. E! But I also knew that Earvin didn't understand. When Magic informed Cookie that he had likely contracted the disease via sexual contact, she was more concerned about his well-being. Celebrity traction Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor at a 20 Years of Aids, 20 Years of Hope event in Santa Monica in 2001. But he still longed for the game of basketball, and his first retirement would not last long. Rumours swirl that Johnsons wealth now exceeds $1bn. "I walk in the office and he started talking about the test," Johnson says. Now, how can I help you?". We always went to the movies once a week, she said. He wore a white tux and she a white gown and large tiara. "We both fell on our knees and we started crying.". Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19 Johnson. he told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King.
Magic Johnson opens up about 30-year marriage to wife Cookie - Yahoo News Magic Johnson's wife: Cookie Johnson - ClutchPoints Magic said he had a change of heart after a tough conversation with his son. "And I didn't want people to treat us like we were lepers. It was one of the hardest days of his life; he later disclosed he contracted HIV from unprotected sex. After college, she worked as a fashion buyer for several department stores before marrying Magic on September 14th, 1991. Magic Johnson Wife . Even today, as were talking about it right now, I still cant believe all the events that happened within a year. (@elisajohnson) on May 28, 2016 at 3:13pm PDT, EJ was a star on the reality TV show, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.. When Johnson broke the news to her, Cookie knew it was "probably through sexual contact," since he hadn't had any blood transfusions, but she was worried about something else. 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. It also dives deeper into their lives after Magic was hit with the devastating news. And while his HIV is still undetectable, he must take his medication everyday. Wake up to the day's most important news. A. Earleatha Johnson was born on January 20th, 1959. You know, why is he in there so long?' Because of that, she took action and created her own brand. NBA legend Earvin Magic Johnson was named the Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, the organization said in an announcement February 21. He and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson have been married since 1991. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. Please logout and login again. 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. Quinn Allen is a freelance sports journalist and full-time editor for ClutchPoints. If you have new or updated information on Magic Johnson dating status, please send us a tip. Earvin "Magic" Johnson says telling his wife Cookie about his HIV diagnosis was the "toughest" thing he's ever had to do. Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19, he says, but then he returns to that same sense of optimism. He and Cookie have been together throughout this time, and neither she nor their son, Earvin Johnson III, have HIV. She grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Detroit, Michigan at six years old. "Everything is great," he said. He ended up retiring again before returning to the sport he loved one more time in 1996. 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. Aged 15, and with his talent being noticed locally, Johnson faced one of the first big crossroads in his life. Johnson, who was vaccinated in public in April to help combat hesitancy over the jab, feels history repeating itself with a sense of personal sadness. She even released a book called "Believing in Magic" which. When had he found out? Cookie details this story and others in her memoir, Believing in Magic. Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. One of the only clubs on the campus. The team also included such strong players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon. He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 after revealing that he had tested positive for. There was one drug then, now we have 30-something drugs, he says. and Elisa. 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. It was like we were old friends, she continued. "And that just broke her heart. Im his father, so I got to be the first one to say, It's OK and I love you. The doctor told him to immediately fly back to Los Angeles, but wouldn't tell him why.
How Magic Johnson Told His Wifeand Ex-LoversHe Had HIV Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "At that time, people weren't educated, so they thought you couldn't touch people. He knows what he wants. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. She has two siblings - an older sister Pat and a younger brother Harold Earl. Tall order Johnson shoots for Michigan State Spartans against the Kentucky Wildcats in c 1977 in East Lansing, Michigan.
Magic Johnson on getting HIV diagnosis in 1991: "I just lost it" - Yahoo According to Cookie, that was the moment she fell in love with him. Johnson met Cookie while she was working as a flight attendant for American Airlines. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful businesswoman. The couple has three children together: Andre, EJ, and Elisa. "I told Cookie, I said, 'You know what? 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. Todd Williamson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, receiving the diagnosis that he was HIV positive. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. "And they say, 'Hey, we ran the tests a couple of times, and yes, you do have HIV.' 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. Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, 63, was born in Huntsville, Alabama.
I went to Bible study, talked to a Bible study teacher about it a lot. 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. Johnson said it was a huge relief when his wife's and baby's test results came back negative. It scared me to death, she said.
While promoting her memoir Believing In Magic in 2017, Cookie spoke to Mocha Man Style about the first time she met Magic. Magic has another son from another woman, 35-year old Andre. March 6, 2022 Todd Williamson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images Magic and Cookie Johnson may have one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. And that's what we did.". Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of the world's best basketball players for more than a decade. ", "My doctor had told me that, but it's different hearing it from somebody who's actually going through it," Magic added. . Its just its not America.. He wanted to own his own NBA franchise and had harboured a desire to make and create wealth from a young age. "That was a difficult day.". Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been married for 31 years since 14th Sep 1991. view relationship. Now 61, he is one of those rare public figures who has redefined his purpose at different stages in life: first as an athlete, then as a public health advocate, and later as a successful businessman and philanthropist. I always live now and in the future. [Magic] was standing there by the doorway when I walked in with a friend of mine, she said. Cookie opened up to Oprah about how Magic broke off. "And [Glaser] said, 'One thing I want you to do and that's be the face of it.' The couple has been married for 25 years and have three children together. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. "At that time, people weren't educated. . ", During the ride home, Johnson says he thought about how he would break the devastating news to her. Like Magic, Cookie attended and graduated from Michigan State University. Magic Johnsons wife Cookie is a very accomplished woman who has stood by his side for many, many years. He said, Yeah, by the way, give me your number. Im like what? In this post, were taking a look at Magic Johnsons wife, Cookie Johnson. Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991.
Magic Johnson Reveals His Marriage Wouldn't Have Lasted 30 Years - MSN "Cookie, our 30 year marriage has been the best time of my life," he wrote. We met in college as freshmen [at Michigan State]. Had he grappled with his own mortality? Magic continued to go all out, dedicating three posts to her with a gallery of images of them from over the years. And the white suit, to me, symbolized brightness, like a future basically [and] positivity.". I want to dance with these people over here, she said. 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. "A cocktail, once a day," he said. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! 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.. Magic Johnson news, gossip, photos of Magic Johnson, biography, Magic Johnson girlfriend list 2023. And that trumped everything.". 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. 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. I'm Earvin. It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' BASKETBALL legend, Magic Johnson has been married to his wife, Cookie, since 1991. Heres what you need to know about Cookie: #OnThisDay in 1991 NBA star Magic Johnson marries Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly. Cookie serves on the organizations board of directors. And a few months later, he would play on the U.S. Olympic "Dream Team. 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. Johnson joined president George W Bushs national Aids commission and then publicly quit after eight months, lambasting the presidents inaction. I thought he was going to take me to Arbys, she said. The couple, who met as students at Michigan State University in the 1970s, had married about a month before his diagnosis and they had just learned about her pregnancy. ET on OWN. EJ is openly gay and Elisa was adopted in 1995. All About Susan Benedetto, Serena Williams Shares Her Reaction to Will Smith's Oscars Slap: 'We're All Imperfect', Gayle King Goes from Getting a Colonoscopy to Watching Drake at the Apollo Theater, LeBron James Becomes Second NBA Player in History to Score 38,000 Points as He Closes in on All-Time Record. I probably wouldnt be here. NBC April 15, 2022 at 12:04 AM Magic Johnson is glad he and wife Cookie got married when they did! When EJ was on the show, Magic told TMZ that he was very happy for his son to be featured. That's a huge milestone for any couple, but especially when one of the involved parties. During Johnson's third season (1981-1982) with the team, the Lakers made the NBA Finals again. This time, however, L.A. was defeated by Philadelphia, losing four consecutive games to the 76ers and winning none during the series. I love you. Johnson had previously written two books about himself and the game, 1983's Magic and 1989's Magic's Touch. Today, the Lakers star is a loving father and grandfather, a successful businessman, a philanthropist and the CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises.
Ever since the day I laid eyes on you in 1978 I knew you were the one for me. They told me that the three-drug combination was going to save my life, and they were right.. ohnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan.