is amazing, he added. 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. But today, thanks to advancements in antiretroviral drugs, the life expectancy (opens in new tab) of a young person diagnosed with HIV is not dissimilar from that of a similarly aged person without HIV, according to Healthline (opens in new tab). Researchers have developed a number of powerful drugs to help people like Johnson block and contain the virus. Crediting dad Magic Johnson for giving him the following advice, EJ recalled, "Make sure you check your surroundings and be you, do you, but make sure you're not putting yourself in dangerous situations where you could get hurt.". Magic Johnson's net worth is currently estimated to be about $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. They have a son, EJ, and in 1995, they adopted a girl, Elisa. But while Johnson and many others are able to manage their condition, many others are not as fortunate. Related: Try Dopamine Dressing With 20 New Looks. "I always wanted to come into the spotlight," EJ told the YouTube talk show "Gwissues" shortly after (via ESPN). Magic Johnson, byname of Earvin Johnson, Jr., (born August 14, 1959, Lansing, Michigan, U.S.), American basketball player who led the National Basketball Association (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers to five championships. 2022 Galvanized Media. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is best-known for his skills on the basketball court, but he's also a devoted family man. I dont feel the need to transition. "This character is witty fabulous glamorous and a force to be reckoned as well as unapologetically themselves.". Both were recently reunited for debut of . We're very proud of him." After receiving criticism for not publicly mourning his friend on social media. It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' Johnson Reveals 100+ Weight Loss on Good Day NY! Today he is becoming a fashionista who is looking to give a stronger voice to the transgender community through his own experience. This past May, Magic shared photos of his family celebrating the launch of Elisa's brand. When he was younger, he would love to play with dolls. Our deepest condolences are with Cheryl, Ernie and their family, friends and loved ones as we mourn with them, the statement read. The virus was a lot scarier at the time. Early Childhood and Education. 's "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" during his junior year. The first enzyme, called reverse transcriptase, turns the virus' genetic instructions encoded in a single RNA strand into double-stranded DNA. He has six siblings and three half-siblings, all of whose names are unknown. By Barbara Pavone / Updated: Aug. 3, 2021 7:23 pm EDT. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. NBA legend Magic Johnsons son, EJ Johnson, is on his way of becoming a fashion icon as well as a voice for the transgender community. Johnson announced his retirement from the NBA and made his diagnosis public very quickly and then opened up about his experience. AboutPressCopyrightContact. In a 2022 interview with Variety, EJ spoke about how his father initially struggled to accept his identity. In honor of Father's Day last year, he posted a photo of Magic, Cookie, Gigi, and Andre, along with a heartfelt tribute. "We are so proud of her and I love that she's doing what she always wanted to do, work in the fashion industry," Magic wrote in an Instagram post. However, neither of them confirmed or denied the relationship. When it was time to come out, I was, obviously, scared as most people are. "High ART costs are among many structural barriers that lead to poor treatment access and adherence, contributing to suboptimal HIV outcomes in the United States," according to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine (opens in new tab) in 2020. 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. "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). EJ ultimately decided to come out before beginning college at New York University (NYU). In. Yet it was his charisma, especially at his precocious age, that floored. It is not known if Johnson is among this "scarce breed," as Lieb called them, but more than likely "without medications, he'd be progressing.". EJ (Earvin Johnson III) can relate to this all too well. 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 Johnson, a notable Hollywood actress and successful entrepreneur. In 1977, he met Earlitha . As it turns out, he was planning on publicly revealing his sexuality anyway. "Feeling all the elation feels today," EJ wrote on Instagram, sharing the news that he'd voice Michael Collins. In scientific terms, this mode of replication classifies HIV as a retrovirus, hence "antiretroviral" drugs. Oh, snap. "As we talk today, right now, I'm thinking, 'Wow' its been 30 years and I'm still here, healthy. In 2013, TMZ published a story with photos of EJ holding hands with his then-boyfriend. Its given me a whole new view on life. "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.". He previously served as the Executive Vice President of his dads company, Magic Johnson Enterprises. From massive pop hits to classic R&B ballads, you can count on these numerical tracks. E.J. "I've always definitely mixed men's and women's fashion in my life, but I never thought that it would raise so many questions about my own gender. That doesn't mean it was always easy, however. Andre also shows a lot of love for his dad on social media, as well. Magic even posted on social media how proud he was of EJs new role. When did Magic Johnson have his son? Despite indicating the doctors told him there was no risk of transmission, Johnsons return during the 1992 preseason was frowned upon. But while Jordan and the Bulls began the year healthy and optimistic, the Los Angeles Lakerswho were the Western Conference representatives in the 1991 NBA Finalswere about to be blindsided. Not only does a low viral count stave off symptoms of HIV and AIDS, but it also slashes the odds of a randomly mutated copy of the virus emerging that can prove resistant to the therapy. READ ALSO: Emily Faye Miller's bio: life before and after Too Hot To Handle. EJ Johnson Sets the Record Straight on Transitioning | Just The Sip | E! EJ Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, spoke about what it was like coming out as gay to his father. EJ often will reflect on his childhood and his innate inclination toward fashion and design. Bernadette Giacomazzo Dec 17, 2021. I think its all about you not trying to decide what your daughter or son should be or what you want them to become. 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. As it turns out, he would be one of the foremost voices in educating the public, including the notion that heterosexuals could contract the disease. We are grieving and at the same time so grateful for having been witnesses to a miraculous 33 years with michael. At the time, EJ was still a student at New York University. Did you encounter any technical issues? They cant tell you that youre not at risk, and you cant tell me theres one guy in the N.B.A. I dont feel the need to transition. Magic Johnson, whom they drafted in 1979, was a vital cog in their championship runs. He was cast in the first season of E! xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Rather than deny the existence of his boyfriend, the then-20-year-old star rolled with the punches. Speculation about the couples possible relationship began to circulate after they were spotted having lunch together. Magic and Cookie Johnson may have one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. 2. Mental health continues to be a field that we hope to understand and appreciate more. 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. 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". Heres how it works. I also said I was going to beat the disease. And he got it from me, Magic told Varietyin April 2022. Not only has Magic Johnson carried on the way he likely envisioned prior to a premature retirement, but also he remains one of the games best ambassadors. EJ is an openly gay graduate of New York University who has appeared on his own reality shows. New York, A New York Times review of the show referred to EJ as the most likeable character on the show. In fact, it was made out of the same material, and the styling was near-identical. EJ said its hard to date, lamenting, "It's always been a struggle. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. There was one drug then, now we have 30-something drugs.". It was a total bombshell and one that inadvertently triggered an onslaught of rumors about EJ Johnson. Magic Johnson abruptly quit as the Los Angeles Lakers' president of basketball operations earlier this month, and now, according to reports, it's because management sent emails criticizing . Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. His father took a while to come around to the news. I like my body., A post shared by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Sep 3, 2019 at 9:42am PDT. Powered by. ", "It's a totally new mindset," EJ told Page Sixthat September. The singer's two younger daughters are his little lookalikes. I like my body. The rise of the Los Angeles Lakers from years of a title drought was helped in big part by them drafting Earvin "Magic" Johnson in 1979. Andre Johnson is a businessman, podcaster, and proud father of two. "The man that led me on is now hooking up with my sister, and I'm supposed to be OK with it.". You can also learn about some of the cancers we're still battling and why they're so challenging. While appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in April 2017, the host talked to Magic about what kind of advice he would give to a parent whose child comes out. Related:Meet Quincy Isaiah, the Michigan Man Playing Magic Johnson in HBO Maxs Winning Time. More from Magic Johnsons Interview and Chat with the Ellen Show below: Its all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do, Magic Johnson told Ellen. Johnson was pivotal in helping to lessen that stigma, as he not only managed to find a way forward and live with the disease, but also returned to playing basketball. Magic was diagnosed with HIV 45 days after Cookie and Magic married, and their lives were permanently transformed. ", Related: Magic Johnson Supports His Gay Son One Million Percent, EJ identifies as gender-fluid and is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He'd come up with stupid rules: 'No scarves in the house.' EJ Johnson was born to his famous parents on June 4, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California. However, much like Earvin Johnson Jr. goes by Magic, his son is called EJ. This is something that transcends judgment and ignorance and should be seen as a vehicle to educate and inform people about gender fluidity. Awood "Mr. Magic" Johnson, a rapper best known for his work in the 90's on the No Limit Records label, has died. They claimed the pair were an official item. His style is androgynous, from ankle boots, sheer tops, diamond chokers, and furs to feminine with dresses with thigh-high slits. In the series, his relationship with his youngest son, EJ, is explored. Admit it, these tracks are so good, you actually thought they were originals. He was like this when he was a baby, it cant be wrong. 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. Upon infection with HIV, a person's immune system kills off nearly all of the virus and infected cells. The tabloid posted a video of the star holding hands with a man named Alessandro Monetti. xhr.send(payload); One thing, of course, was very clear: there had been infidelity on Johnsons part. Although Johnson reacted at first, he talked to his son the next day and at that moment, they knew everything was going to be fine between them. EJ was born June 4, 1992, during a turbulent time in Magics life. She said, That was a very hard thing for me. The reality TV Star was born on June 2, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, the United States. Are you dating me or are you trying to date my dad?" Michael Johnson, son of TNT sportscaster Ernie E.J. Johnson, has died, his father said on social media Friday night. Johnson is the greatest point guard to ever walk the planet. In 1991, Cookie was pregnant with EJ when Magic announced to the world that he was HIV positive. 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. In response to the headlines, Magic said, Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. Im very happy with myself. I love the attention. Photo: Getty Images They were one of the greatest NBA teams to ever take the hardwood. "I always say that if you feel like you're not in the right body, then by all means get to where you want to be. The son of an autoworker, Johnson earned his nickname "Magic" in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. An epidemiologist explains how Magic Johnson has survived HIV. His full name is Earvin Johnson III, but he goes by EJ professionally. who hasnt thought about it.. ", Earlier this month on EJ's 29th birthday, his dad posted on Instagram: "To my beautiful and fabulous son EJ, Happy Birthday!! He is known to have owned 105 Starbucks outlets and a 4.5% stake in . According to the New York Times, EJ Johnson has been open about his sexuality and perspective on gender over the past few years. Updated The key weapon in the beginning was a regimen of three or four antiretroviral drugs, collectively known as antiretroviral therapy, or ART. Johnson was first called "Magic" when he was a star at Everett High School. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and our family. It is a "myth," said Lieb, that Johnson, who is wealthy, is buying himself special treatments. He has previously worked as Editor of video game magazines games and X-ONE and tech magazines iCreate and Apps.