", "I was just devastated because I thought I had did everything right," Johnson says. Magic Johnson Parents. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive Who is Magic Johnson's wife Cookie? | The US Sun They met at a party in their freshman year at Michigan State in 1977. Wake up to the day's most important news. On 7 November 1991, a press conference in Inglewood, California, brought America to a standstill. 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. They told me that the three-drug combination was going to save my life, and they were right.. "At that time, people weren't educated. Your login session has expired. 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. I've been in nine [NBA] Finals, so I know pressure. And what does this mean, of course. Everything has gone right. She educated parents and caregivers on the importance of immunizing children in urban areas against various viruses. "It wasn't how he got it that was important to me. He believed he contracted the disease through unprotected sexual activity. Although Andre was raised by his mother, he visited Johnson each summer, and later worked for Magic Johnson Enterprises as a marketing director. That kind of got to me, because it had been boiling, boiling, boiling, boiling anyway. Magic Johnson Reveals His Marriage Wouldn't Have Lasted 30 Years - MSN We have a long way to go. I dont know where they livemaybe under a rock. "In those days, you had to wait almost 10 days to get your results back, so that was agonizing. and Elisa. In 1991, Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly in a small wedding in Lansing which included guests Thomas, Aguirre, and Herb Williams. Now, how can I help you?". It was one of the hardest days of his life; he later disclosed he contracted HIV from unprotected sex. He also became part-owner of the minor league Dayton Dragons and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. He has a combination of both of us, Magic said. He taught him the art of aggressive, fast-paced basketball, and how to read the game. Johnson's son Earvin III was born in 1992. Mellman told him he had a chance to live for a long time with all the new drugs that were being developed, Johnson said. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. And I was still trying to figure it out. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. "At that time, people weren't educated, so they thought you couldn't touch people. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Magic was one of the most prominent basketball players in NBA history. "He said, 'If you want to leave, you know, I don't blame you. It scared me to death, she said. 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. 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. Earvin "Magic" Johnson says telling his wife Cookie about his HIV diagnosis was the "toughest" thing he's ever had to do. The couple got married in September 1991, in a small private wedding in Lansing, Michigan. We had a wonderful conversation. I'm not going to sit here and say that I understood that he was gay at that time, because I didn't. It was so funny because every girl on campus wanted to meet him, Cookie recalls of their first encounter. The Shady Side Of Magic Johnson - NickiSwift.com He would sit on the couch and watch the Lakers play, thinking, "I should be there," he recalls. 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.. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The retired NBA legend and his wife have created a legacy of love, philanthropy, business success, and advocacy that has made them household names. In 1991, Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly in a small wedding in Lansing which included guests Thomas, Aguirre, and Herb Williams. There were mixed reviews about his comeback, with several players uncomfortable with the idea of playing alongside an HIV-positive athlete. The wedding was a long time in the making. It taught me how to work alongside somebody who doesnt look like me, he says. A. Earleatha Johnson was born on January 20th, 1959. The lights came up and I happen to be walking by where he was sitting and I said it was nice to meet you. 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. Fortunately, both his wife and their son, Earvin III, tested negative for HIV. Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is one of the most famous basketball players to ever play in the NBA. 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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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.. "Cookie, our 30 year marriage has been the best time of my life," he wrote. Because of that, she took action and created her own brand. In 1992, he had his latest book, My Life, published. Elisa has mainly stayed away from the public and maintains a pleasant living. "Yes, because I was scared to death," he said. He then bought a small share of the team. And that trumped everything," she told CBS News. Cookie recounted her exact emotions when Magic told her in a 2016 interview with Good Morning America. Magic Johnson is rumoured to have hooked up with Kathleen Sullivan . We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! We always went to the movies once a week, she said. It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' The following year, he played an important role in taking the Spartans all the way to the NCAA Finals. "And I didn't want people to treat us like we were lepers. In her interview with Mocha Man Style, Cookie revealed how they maintain their spark. Im not a go-back person. And that's what I'm doing., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. At the time, Magic was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the doctor didn't want to talk about it over the phone. In the 1987 NBA Finals, they again defeated the Boston Celtics, and Johnson received the NBA Finals MVP Award for the third and final time in his career. Upon his return, Magic was told that he tested positive for HIV. She grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Detroit, Michigan at six years old. From selling jeans to giving numerous speeches to underprivileged people, Cookie Johnson is much more than just a terrific wife. Even one of his Olympic teammates, Karl Malone, expressed concern about having to play against Johnson after he got cut on the court during a game. Let's get on our knees and pray.' Magic Johnson Reveals What Almost Cost Him His Marriage To - HuffPost ", During the ride home, Johnson says he thought about how he would break the devastating news to her. He was put in a bad situation.. "We both fell on our knees and we started crying.". But, as he remembers the period shortly after the diagnosis, he thinks of those he relied on. But we have this incredible relationship that when we see each other youd think wed been talking every day.. He wanted to own his own NBA franchise and had harboured a desire to make and create wealth from a young age. Lets just hope we get this one right, in the black and brown community, because we never really got HIV and Aids right.. Who Is NCAA Tournament Star Brandon Miller? We get popcorn. When Did Magic Johnson Get Married. They met each other way back in 1977 and hit it off within a few weeks of getting to know each other. We're still those kids from Michigan. Magic Johnson announces he is HIV-positive - History He started comparatively small, with a minor investment in the LA Lakers that has since ballooned into a large investment portfolio, centred around sport teams in Los Angeles. That real talk proved effective. ", "Yeah, you're just in disbelief and in shock," Johnson says. It frustrated me to try on every pair in the store and leave with nothing.. Johnson opens up about his 30-year marriage to wife Cookie, saying the couple has come a long way. "Because she had waited for me, been patient with me, supported me -- and now I'm about to break her heart. How long has Magic Johnson been married? He also made headlines when he came out publicly as gay back in April of 2013 during his sophomore year at New York University. His public appearances always make Johnson smile, but his treatment by former president Donald Trump, who often outwardly shunned the countrys foremost infectious disease expert, was infuriating. [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. It also dives deeper into their lives after Magic was hit with the devastating news. Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, 63, was born in Huntsville, Alabama. "I didn't know," Johnson says. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. Magic has another son from another woman, 35-year old Andre. And the medical experts Dr David Ho and Dr Anthony Fauci assured him that he could go on to live a healthy life. The wedding ceremony was attended by many famous personalities including other NBA superstars such as Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas. Had he grappled with his own mortality? When Johnson first heard the news, he was "devastated," he said. There they faced off against the Indiana State Sycamores. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful businesswoman. As a boy, he practised basketball relentlessly, encouraged by his father, who worked grinding shifts at a local General Motors plant. Magic said he had a change of heart after a tough conversation with his son. Powered by. "And they say, 'Hey, we ran the tests a couple of times, and yes, you do have HIV.' Magic Johnson on getting HIV diagnosis in 1991: "I just lost it" - Yahoo We're gonna figure out how to beat this thing,'" she recalled. November 4, 2021 / 8:47 AM 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.. Then I said, 'Are you kidding me? The inspirational couple has been married for about 31 years but their relationship goes further back in time. They started seeing each other January 1, 1991. In 1992, the Johnsons welcomed their first child, E.J. He had always expected to go to his local high school on the citys west side with its renowned basketball team. EJ is openly gay and Elisa was adopted in 1995. "I had to really learn a lot about the disease, HIV as well as AIDS. At the time of his diagnosis, Johnson thought the virus was a death sentence. E.J., when he walks in a room, this is the most confident guy. The two separated, but reunited two weeks later and have since devoted themselves to working on their marriage. Like a date, date. He and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson have been married since 1991. His other ventures include- being co-founder of Love + Light Ventures, LLC in April 2014, and joining The Virtual Reality Company as Head of Business Development. He lights up describing the buzz of it. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with. He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. 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. How many girlfriends did Magic Johnson have? - ElegantQuestion.com Johnson went on to attack the HIV stigma with the same passion he displayed on the court, launching the Magic Johnson Foundation to raise awareness about the virus, then pushing Congress and the White House to spend money to fight the disease. Bird was one of the first NBA players Johnson called to inform him of his HIV diagnosis. "The doctor tells you and you just laid on the floor. In 2008, he shared his secrets for success with the book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business. Aged 15, and with his talent being noticed locally, Johnson faced one of the first big crossroads in his life. The announcement, 20 years ago today, came as a shock: "Because of the HIV virus I have obtained, I will have to retire today from the Lakers," Earvin "Magic" Johnson, with his wife Cookie . Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. It was preceded by the 6 January insurrection in Washington DC, after which the FBI charged a number of militiamen with plotting to kidnap Michigans Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer. "There wasn't a lot of knowledge back in 1991.". Cookie was instrumental in creating a program called BREATHE, which works to prevent asthma in young children. Ultimately you want your child to be happy, 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. Johnson is adamant that she never wavered in supporting her husband. Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19 Johnson. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. 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. How has Magic Johnson survived with HIV? | Live Science Later, the couple also adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995, bringing Magic Johnson's kids total to two. He also appeared on television as a sports commentator. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. "A cocktail, once a day," he said. . ", "My doctor had told me that, but it's different hearing it from somebody who's actually going through it," Magic added. Johnson was born Earvin Johnson Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. I probably wouldnt be here. It empowers our community now these kids dream that they can become not only a basketball player or a football player, but they can become a businessman. She is an entrepreneur and writer. A guy like myself swears by him, he says. I mean, I fell to my knees," she told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts. 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. Cookie Johnson is 64 years of age. During the 1993-1994 basketball season, Johnson tried his hand at coaching with the Lakers. Regardless of his marital status, we are rooting for his. Please logout and login again. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful. In the year 1991. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. 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. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. Cookie and I are in Venice, Italy celebrating our 25th Anniversary! Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. 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. And they didn't have to worry about trying to test the baby because, really, I mean, he hadn't really formed yet, actually. On September 14, 2021, Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary. Before taking on a more prominent role with her husband, Cookie also served as spokeswoman for the National Medical Association Immunization Public Service Announcement. According to Cookie, Magic didnt ask her to dance. "And then the worst thing was Cookie was pregnant with E.J. Best Known For: Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of the world's best basketball players for more than a decade. Much of his efforts have focused on developing urban areas, bringing Starbucks coffee franchises and movie theaters into underserved communities. The couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have raised three children together, Andre, E.J. They were very supportive of their son and his career. 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. 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. Like Magic, Cookie attended and graduated from Michigan State University. "And [Glaser] said, 'One thing I want you to do and that's be the face of it.' A. So we had a lot of conversations and a lot of long walks.". His wife has also recently learned she was pregnant. Initially, Cookie admittedly was not in favor of Magic holding the press conference announcing his HIV diagnosis due to the stigma surrounding the disease. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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. 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. The diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. Today, the Lakers star is a loving father and grandfather, a successful businessman, a philanthropist and the CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. "Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. "That was a difficult day.". The newlyweds had also just found out she was pregnant with their first child, E.J., now 24. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he made for an impressive point guard. [Cookie and I] had a difficult conversation. "I'm asking him 100 times, 'Are you sure?'" Johnson said she agonized while she waited for her test results for herself and her unborn child. They had great conversation all night long as if they were old friends. 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. 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. 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. In November 1991, Johnson retired from the Lakers after revealing that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. .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. In. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. It was referred to as "gay cancer" but that's because so little was understood about the disease. "I walk in the office and he started talking about the test," Johnson says. Johnson met Cookie while she was working as a flight attendant for American Airlines. Everything Ive done in my lifetime after that involved whites. We do simple things. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. How Did Magic Johnson Contract HIV? What We Know - Distractify Magic's HIV is currently undetectable, though the former basketball star must still take a "cocktail once a day" of medications to help keep it under control. Cookie wrote in her 2016 memoir, Believing in Magic about the night he revealed to her that he had been diagnosed with HIV. He also became the all-time leader in NBA assists per game, with an average of 11.2a title that he continues to hold today. [Magic] was standing there by the doorway when I walked in with a friend of mine, she said. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. 2 Magic Johnson and wife, Cookie, have been married since 1991 Who is Magic Johnson's wife Cookie? In the years following Magics diagnosis, he and Cookie have remained active in combating HIV and AIDS. I always live now and in the future. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. 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. She has always been a woman of charitable interests. While their early days werent the easiest, the couple has stuck it out together and continues to be advocates against HIV/AIDS. When and How Did Magic Johnson Get HIV? - The Cinemaholic February 18, 2022, 10:40 AM. How had he acquired the virus? He knows how he wants it done. The Celtics beat the Lakers in a tight competitionfour games to threefor the 1984 championship. That would have been just devastating to me.". Magic and Cookie married in LA in September 1991. 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. Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991. 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. I was about to say something back, and my father grabbed me. That's not the man I married,'" she recalls telling him. Jun 10, 2014, 02:02 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. From winning five NBA titles to making 12 All-Star teams, his career was nothing short of amazing. I often tell people when you make a mistake, you not only hurt yourself, but you hurt the ones that love you. That hurt me." After college, she worked as a fashion buyer for several department stores before marrying Magic on September 14th, 1991. And the white suit, to me, symbolized brightness, like a future basically [and] positivity.". We, as Black people, had never really understood generational wealth and passing that wealth on, he says. Racial dynamics also played a part in the way some viewed their opposition (Bird is white). 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. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with HIV. — -- Magic Johnson's wife, Cookie Johnson, recalls the moment her NBA star husband told her the devastating news that he was HIV-positive. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The Truth About Magic Johnson And Cookie Johnson's Marriage Magic Johnson opens up about his health, career 30 years after HIV No. Im his father, so I got to be the first one to say, It's OK and I love you. And she was dying at that time. NBC April 15, 2022 at 12:04 AM Magic Johnson is glad he and wife Cookie got married when they did! While Magic testing positive for HIV was devastating, its given Cookie a platform to make a difference. 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. 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. Magic Johnson opens up about 30-year marriage to wife Cookie - Yahoo News / CBS News. ", "It proved to be the right decision," he said. She wrote in her memoir that things came to a head at an industry party, when Magic wasnt interested in dancing with her. Magic Johnson relationship list. The couple has three children together: Andre, EJ, and Elisa.
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