At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Johnson was a mountain of a man, the biggest, most powerful point guard anyone had ever seen. While some of Johnsons Dream Team mateslike Charles Barkleysupported the idea of Johnson returning to the NBA, otherssuch as Utah Jazz forward Karl Maloneshowed outward concern (from the Nov. 1, 1992 edition of the New York Times): Look at this, scabs and cuts all over me, Malone, the Utah Jazz All-Star forward, said last Tuesday night in the visitors locker room at Madison Square Garden before a preseason game against the Knicks. EJ Johnson's fans aren't the only ones who speculated about his gender identity, however. The death fake caused the Twittersphere to go crazy, as usual. They should probably start highlighting people who are doing it in the streets, as opposed to whatever celebrity they're putting in a skirt for five seconds just for publicity.". This seemed all the more evident during the 1992 Olympics, when Johnson joined Team USA as a member of the famed Dream Team in Barcelona. EJ's mom said that her husband was worried about his son living . About a year later, EJ had a similar heart-to-heart chat with his father. The second enzyme, known as protease, creates new, functional HIV particles by cutting up the proteins produced by our hijacked cellular machinery. "I've always loved being in front of people, being on stage and performing. He has the support of his family including his father, Magic Johnson. The NBA regular season had just started, with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls looking to defend their championship. Shortly thereafter, EJ did his first coming out interview on Gwissues with Howard Bragman. Michael Johnson, the son of Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson, has died, his father announced Friday night. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. "I've always been very fashion-forward," he said in an episode of "EJNYC" (via Us Weekly). His star hasnt dimmed as he has become a celebrity in his own right over the past few years, and sharing his own story about coming out to his parents as a gay Black man. When the NBA star first learned that EJ was gay, Magic expressed that this wasnt what he wanted for his son. Both were recently reunited for debut of . He was cast in the first season of E! Remember, HIV-AIDS were still primarily labeled gay diseasesback then. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, In addition to EJ, the Johnsons adopted Elisa Johnson when she was three days old in 1995. He is known for wearing both men's and womens clothing and putting his own spin on it. Magic Johnson played in five of Los Angeles eight preseason games that year, but he officially called it quits on Nov. 3, 1992 after an outpouring of criticism and concern from players and executives around the league. The youngest of the group, Elisa, was adopted by the Johnsons in 1995 when she was just three days old. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at ", EJ Johnson is aware that as a public figure who is a member of two marginalized groups, he has a responsibility to be a role model. Magic Johnson death news is trending on the Internet. EJ Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, addressed his gender identity Wednesday during an interview on E!News' Just the Sip. In 2018, EJ Johnson and his mom Cookie Johnson made an appearance on Willow and Jada Pinkett Smiths Red Table Talk, where Cookie revealed that when EJ came out to his parents, it was a little tough because Magic Johnson wasnt supportive at first. Find out why exercise can be important to mental health too. However, thanks to advancements in antiretroviral drugs and management of the condition, the 63-year-old continues to thrive in his roles as a sports analyst, businessman and HIV activist more than 30 years later. "Magic got a jumpstart on experimental drugs before they were released to the general public," Lieb told Life's Little Mysteries, "but there were many people in clinical trials benefitting at the same time.". 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.". Unlike other former professional athletes' kids who have followed in their footsteps onto the court or field, Magic Johnson's children have all forged their own paths. When the TMZ story broke, EJ's parents rallied around their son. Michael Johnson, son of TNT sportscaster Ernie "E.J." Johnson, has died, his father said on social media Friday night. EJs mom said that her husband was worried about his son living his life in a world that would not understand him. In 2013, TMZ published a story with photos of EJ holding hands with his then-boyfriend. Upon graduation, he worked in A&R for five years at Elektra Entertainment with artists like Jay Z, Missy Elliott, and Gwen Stefani. According to Too Fab, the discussion on Smiths talk show revealed that Magics initial reaction didnt have quite the same tone and message. During the NBA icon's first visit to Ellen's show, he opened up about his son, and shared his advice for other parents. Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, EJNYC, Real Husbands of Hollywood, and most recently The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder are just a few of the TV programs in which EJ has made appearances. A five-time world champion, three-time league and Finals MVP and a man who played in the Finals nine of his 12 professional seasons, or for 75 percent of his career. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); The 62-year-old was first drafted on the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and continued to play for them for 13 seasons.. Despite new advances in medical science HIV remains incurable thanks to "the presence of a latent viral reservoir. He actually helped me get there. The most common drugs in the ART regimen target two of the enzymes that HIV uses to replicate itself. 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. Here is what you need to know about EJ Johnson: A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:48pm PDT, EJs mother was two months pregnant with her son when Magic Johnson revealed to the world that he had tested positive for HIV in November 1991. Related: Winning Time: Why Magic Johnson Is At The Doctor's In 1991 & What Happened. 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. 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. Spencer Lieb is a HIV/AIDS research coordinator with The AIDS Institute. It was kind of like an 'aha moment,' the realization that people like that still exist," EJ told The Daily Beastthat same year, adding, "He's a walking joke. EJ was born June 4, 1992, during a turbulent time in Magic's life. During that same 2016 episode of "EJNYC," the reality star told his therapist that the cover story made him consider transitioning. And we love him. ", EJ also gave advice to closeted young people who might be looking to his lifestyle as a road map for their own. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. When the former professional basketball player was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (opens in new tab) in 1991, a lack of understanding and stigmatization surrounding the virus (opens in new tab) led to questions being raised over his future life prospects. Sometimes it's hard being in the middle, kind of in the gray area in my own lane." The familys love, faith and commitment to one another will forever be an inspiration to us. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. "It proved to be the right decision," Magic Johnson said. 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We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Walton was fired and the team eventually hired former Pacers and Magic coach Frank Vogel to . "Thank you for teaching us how to be people of action, not words, and to always be a blessing to those around you," Andre wrote in the caption. EJ said its hard to date, lamenting, "It's always been a struggle. EJ Johnson was born to his famous parents on June 4, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California. News, EJ Johnson once weighed about 360 pounds but underwent gastric sleeve surgery in early 2015. Bernadette Giacomazzo Dec 17, 2021. "I told her how I was feeling and she obviously told me that she had known and always would love me anyway," he said during an interview with "Gwissues" host Howard Bragman (via ESPN). A video surfaced on Twitter of Lopez and EJ Johnson getting their dance on to Teena Maries Square Biz while at his Magic Johnsons 60th Birthday party in Saint Tropez. Did you encounter any technical issues? Johnson wanted to bring Starbucks to the inner city, and he had to convince Schultz that his coffee shops would prosper there. "I walk in the office and he started talking about the test," Johnson says. Johnson, 37, and his wife of 13 years, Chastity, were . The reality TV Star was born on June 2, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, the United States. Since Dec. 2018, he's been the vice president of business development at a computer gaming company called Mythical Games. Johnson attended New York University where he studied hospitality with a focus on event planning and design, according to various different profiles. Mental health continues to be a field that we hope to understand and appreciate more. 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. Magic does have a relationship with his son EJ. News in 2018 that he had no plans to transition. Im just very comfortable in my own skin. She said, That was a very hard thing for me. Youve got to support your child. News' "Just the Sip" in 2019 (via People). "There is nothing unique about Magic," Spencer Lieb, senior epidemiologist (opens in new tab) and HIV/AIDS research coordinator for the Florida Consortium for HIV/AIDS Research told Live Science. "And what came out of the physical was, 'You have HIV.'". She was a part of her brother's EJNYC show in 2016, but Elisa, who is now 26, has said that she didn't exactly enjoy being on reality TV. From massive pop hits to classic R&B ballads, you can count on these numerical tracks. Please respect my privacy and my process., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on May 4, 2016 at 12:39pm PDT. I feel like this is the body Im supposed to be in. As well as drugs to help manage HIV we now have drugs such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, that can prevent transmission in the first place. He shared that it was his mother who taught him a lot about brands like Chanel and Versace. EJ Johnson has shown the world that he is an unstoppable force. "The surgery was definitely the best thing that ever happened to me," the star said. We lost michael johnson today and were crushed. 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. AboutPressCopyrightContact. I also said I was going to beat the disease. Im almost 100 percent positive I wont. I like my body.. He was like this when he was a baby, it cant be wrong. Theres so many factors. EJ told the Times, The school called my mom and was like, We dont know if you want him to do the book report, because it talks about the H.I.V., I think it was at that point that they told me that he had been sick and hes a lot better., In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2016, EJs mother admitted that she struggled to come to terms with her son coming out. His boardroom pitch wasn't enough to win Schultz over, so he . Ive never done anything on television that is this honest and real, he shared in an Instagram post promoting the segment. "I love you and enjoy your day to rest.". Now, Johnson has never been shy about his gender-defying sense of fashion. He was unhappy with his portrayal on the show, saying, "I don't even recognize that person. Interestingly enough, EJ spilled all the inside tea when he appeared on Jada Pinkett Smiths Red Table Talk. In response to the headlines, Magic said, Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. Earvin "EJ" Johnson III is the son of NBA Hall of famer and Los Angeles Lakers legendary point guard, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a five-time NBA Champion, entrepreneur and Earletha "Cookie". CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. I really think its important that you not listen to so many fads; you really need to find what works for you, EJ told Page Six in September 2015. It was sad. It is a "myth," said Lieb, that Johnson, who is wealthy, is buying himself special treatments. Johnson was first called "Magic" when he was a star at Everett High School.