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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. He then bought a small share of the team. Fortunately, both his wife and their son, Earvin III, tested negative for HIV. She even released a book called "Believing in Magic" which. I plan on going on living for a long time, bugging you guys like I always have, he told reporters, his optimism surprising those who viewed his condition as a death sentence. Johnson said she agonized while she waited for her test results for herself and her unborn child. I thought he was going to take me to Arbys, she said. During Johnson's third season (1981-1982) with the team, the Lakers made the NBA Finals 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. Are we where were supposed to be? It was tough, because Cookie was afraid of what might happen, the backlash if we went public. Magics departure from the NBA remains one of the most shocking moments in sports history. E.J. Its really sad. Everything has gone right. We met in college as freshmen [at Michigan State]. In 2008, he shared his secrets for success with the book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business. Elisa has mainly stayed away from the public and maintains a pleasant living. His most virulent experiences with racism during childhood, however, came on trips down south to visit his grandparents in Mississippi. He currently has a voice role on The Proud Family reboot Louder And Prouder. And the white suit, to me, symbolized brightness, like a future basically [and] positivity.". With the first pick in the 1979 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Magic, bringing him to Los Angeles. He's very intelligent, and his mindset is like his dad's. "I don't know what would have happened if I'd have got that news that she had HIV as well. I'm gonna stay here and help you live. How Magic Johnson Told His Wifeand Ex-LoversHe Had HIV. Magic Johnson's diagnosis in 1991 only inspired him to achieve greater heights professionally. Quinn Allen is a freelance sports journalist and full-time editor for ClutchPoints. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. Please logout and login again. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic said. He had all these ideas. On 7 November 1991, a press conference in Inglewood, California, brought America to a standstill. "He said, 'If you want to leave, you know, I don't blame you. You know sometimes when you meet people and you have to make conversation until you really get to know them? 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. He created Magic Johnson Enterprises, which has a variety of holdings. All rights reserved. I didn't want to wear anything dark or black because to me, it's what it symbolized. We're gonna figure out how to beat this thing,'" she recalled. Venice is absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed touring the city by water taxi! "Cookie, our 30 year marriage has been the best time of my life," he wrote. You know, he was changing the world. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. High times as guard for Michigan State, Johnson cuts down the net after winning a championship game in Salt Lake City in 1979. Aged 15, and with his talent being noticed locally, Johnson faced one of the first big crossroads in his life. Johnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. Best Known For: Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of the world's best basketball players for more than a decade. At the "They Call Me Magic" premiere, the NBA legend told Access Hollywood about how he. Magic Johnson Parents. "At that time, people weren't educated, so they thought you couldn't touch people. Help us understand, you know, "Look Earvin, you're gonna have to take a lot of meds, but it's about your attitude, your mindset. Cookie joined her husband on stage for his announcement along with a specially selected outfit. He and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson have been married since 1991. Ahead of HBOs new limited series Winning Time, which chronicles the rise of the Showtime Lakers in the 80s including Johnsons signing to the team, look back at his and Cookies relationship. Additionally, Johnson, who scored 13 points and added 13 rebounds with 13 assists in Game 6 of the 1982 Finals, earned his second series MVP award. 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. The couple turned their mess into their message, becoming advocates for HIV awareness programs, education and prevention, and the couple's relationship grew stronger, Johnson said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? ", In a 2021 interview with Gayle King on CBS, he explained how his decision and diagnosis weighed on his relationship with Cookie. 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. The two separated, but reunited two weeks later and have since devoted themselves to working on their marriage. Relationship history. We do simple things. His wife has also recently learned she was pregnant. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. When the Lakers would travel to Boston, Johnson recalls, some Black residents of the city would approach him and say they were backing the Lakers over their local team. "It scared me to death. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He had always expected to go to his local high school on the citys west side with its renowned basketball team. "Everything is great," he said. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. Larry is a quiet guy and wants a quiet life. He was raised by his mom and would visit his. This is just the start though. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive. This time, however, L.A. was defeated by Philadelphia, losing four consecutive games to the 76ers and winning none during the series. I hope we can turn a corner. Rumours swirl that Johnsons wealth now exceeds $1bn. I went to Bible study, talked to a Bible study teacher about it a lot. At the time of his diagnosis, Johnson thought the virus was a death sentence. As a boy, he practised basketball relentlessly, encouraged by his father, who worked grinding shifts at a local General Motors plant. He ended up retiring again before returning to the sport he loved one more time in 1996. I know when I come here [home], I'm not Magic. A. Earleatha Johnson was born on January 20th, 1959. Magic Johnson news, gossip, photos of Magic Johnson, biography, Magic Johnson girlfriend list 2023. Leaving college after two years, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. Instead, they went to a steak house. Everything about Magic seems so wholesome, including the fact that he has been married to his wife, Cookie, for over 30 years now and that the duo has been together since they first met in. Johnson explored other options after leaving basketball. 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. ", During the ride home, Johnson says he thought about how he would break the devastating news to her. (modern). But Cookie came home one day and said something that "changed my life," Johnson said. It scared me to death, she said. You couldn't hug people. Denim was always a huge passion of hers growing up so this is truly a dream come true. While promoting her memoir Believing In Magic in 2017, Cookie spoke to Mocha Man Style about the first time she met Magic. There was a lot of breaking up and getting back together, a lot of ups and downs. uring his 1991 press conference Johnson also made clear that his aspirations in business meant he simply had to go on living. It's OK. And I was still trying to figure it out. The following year, he played an important role in taking the Spartans all the way to the NCAA Finals. ", We know that religion says no and I did have a big problem with that and I prayed about it a lot, Cookie said. 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. 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. Youve made me a better man, person, husband, father, and businessman. 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. Im not a go-back person. I told him Im not giving you my number because youre not even going to remember me in a month. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. "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. The 63-year-old American basketball player is married to Cookie Johnson. I mean, it was very early on.. The Magic Johnson Foundation was formed in 1991 to address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. There were his teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers, who embraced him, and would go on to support him when he returned to play again, first as part of the 1992 Olympics dream team and then during another stint at the Lakers. That year Johnson also averaged a career-best 23.9 points per game, resulting in his first regular-season NBA MVP awardan honor he would receive again in 1989 and 1990. This was the first of several match-ups between the two teams. Jun 10, 2014, 02:02 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. And as time went on, it never changed.. Cookie was instrumental in creating a program called BREATHE, which works to prevent asthma in young children. And she wanted me to go public. I went to a club. The late actor Elizabeth Glaser, who herself contracted HIV after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion, encouraged his public advocacy. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful. The trick shots, the no-look passing, the celebrity fans and the Playboy bunnies. Now they have been married for thirty years. So we had a lot of conversations and a lot of long walks.". And what I would find out later is that is the way America is. 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.. According to Cookie, Magics ego reached outsized proportions in 2001 after his name was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "That was a difficult day.". I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he made for an impressive point guard. The state-mandated integration of education brought its own tensions: playground fights and bullying. She wrote her booka few years back, which discusses her choice to stay by her husbands side during his HIV diagnosis instead of leaving. Her mother nicknamed her Cookie based on the character from the show 77 Sunset Strip. He said, Yeah, by the way, give me your number. Im like what? How long have Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson been Married. It was partly realising the publics general ignorance about the virus that spurred him into a career of advocacy work. Her fathers name is Earl and her mothers name is Cora. And that hurt me. 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. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie Johnson's estimated worth is about $50 million. Along with her husband she founded The Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) which focuses on developing programs that encourage academic achievement while also promoting healthy lifestyles among underserved communities nationwide including HIV/AIDS awareness programs targeted toward urban youth populations. 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. He took me on a real date. He did well in his first season (1979-80) with the team, averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. According to Cookie, that was the moment she fell in love with him. Public perception about the disease at the time was widely regarded with ignorance. BASKETBALL legend, Magic Johnson has been married to his wife, Cookie, since 1991. Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. 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. Magic Johnson is rumoured to have hooked up with Kathleen Sullivan . Magic Johnsons wife Cookie is a very accomplished woman who has stood by his side for many, many years. On October 24, 1991, he got a call from the Lakers physician asking him to come home right away. The couple have worked together to promote awareness of the disease, they told Haute Living. "I told Cookie, I said, 'You know what? Today, the Lakers star is a loving father and grandfather, a successful businessman, a philanthropist and the CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. ET on OWN. The couple has been married for 25 years and have three children together. The One Thing That Almost Cost Magic Johnson His Marriage. 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. "You're sitting there like, 'Man, how could this happen to me?' Upon his return, Magic was told that he tested positive for HIV. I think we both gotta give Elizabeth Glaser a lot of credit for our strength in helping us to really understand what we had to go through as a family and then myself, what I had to go through, Magic said. We get popcorn. During the 1993-1994 basketball season, Johnson tried his hand at coaching with the Lakers. Im his father, so I got to be the first one to say, It's OK and I love you. "There wasn't a lot of knowledge back in 1991.". She educated parents and caregivers on the importance of immunizing children in urban areas against various viruses. [My mind] went to 'He is possibly going to die,'" Johnson told Roberts. The Celtics beat the Lakers in a tight competitionfour games to threefor the 1984 championship. How long has Magic Johnson been married? ", When Johnson walked through the front door, he says Cookie knew something was wrong. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Today, he remains one of the most famous people in the world living with the virus. How had he acquired the virus? 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. I've been in nine [NBA] Finals, so I know pressure. Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, 63, was born in Huntsville, Alabama. I mean, I fell to my knees," she told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts. (@elisajohnson) on May 28, 2016 at 3:13pm PDT, EJ was a star on the reality TV show, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.. The Johnsons adopted their daughter, Elisa, when she was three days old. After receiving the diagnosis that he was HIV positive, Magic announced in a press conference that he was leaving basketball in order to dedicate his life to "battl[ing] this deadly disease. Initially, Cookie admittedly was not in favor of Magic holding the press conference announcing his HIV diagnosis due to the stigma surrounding the disease. 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. And that trumped everything.". 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. On September 14, 2021, Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary. "Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. In the above clip from "Oprah's Next Chapter," Johnson remembers that fateful day. E.J., when he walks in a room, this is the most confident guy. I'm Earvin. Because of that, she took action and created her own brand. "Because she had waited for me, been patient with me, supported me -- and now I'm about to break her heart. Johnson recalls asking his doctor. A post shared by Elisa J. They told me that the three-drug combination was going to save my life, and they were right.. As the Lansing protests unfolded last year Johnson found himself sending messages to his parents and siblings to make sure they were OK: To stay away and stay safe., I think what it did was make people quiet about who they were going to actually vote for, he says. It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' I often tell people when you make a mistake, you not only hurt yourself, but you hurt the ones that love you. The lights came up and I happen to be walking by where he was sitting and I said it was nice to meet you. "And what came out of the physical was, 'You have HIV. Johnson had previously written two books about himself and the game, 1983's Magic and 1989's Magic's Touch. We have a good time., The couple also enjoys spending time at their beach house together. There were his teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers, who embraced him, and . "You just sit there and say, what does this mean? Magic has another son from another woman, 35-year old Andre. Video related to cookie johnson, magics wife: 5 fast facts you need to know. "I walk in the office and he started talking about the test," Johnson says. The couple got married in September 1991, in a small private wedding in Lansing, Michigan. The latter was adopted in 1995. His father would send his children in groups of three to use the bathroom at truck stops to watch each others backs. [Magic] was standing there by the doorway when I walked in with a friend of mine, she said. 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. "I'm asking him 100 times, 'Are you sure?'" He was so full of life. In. As you can see, Cookie Johnson has done a lot of good in her life. Johnson was instrumental in bringing LeBron James to the Lakers in 2018, and part of his pitch to James was that James would be able to use the city as a base to further his business interests, which now include his own media company and investments in sports clubs, including Liverpool Football Club. He remembers in detail how his parents would pack food for the entire drive and eat on the side of the road rather than risk entering an unknown restaurant. They got married in September of 1991 in a private ceremony in Lansing, Los Angeles. The couple live in Beverly Hills with their family. As for children, Cookie and Magic have two named EJ Johnson and Elisa Johnson. Earvin "Magic" Johnson says telling his wife Cookie about his HIV diagnosis was the "toughest" thing he's ever had to do. Johnson at an international symposium on HIV and Aids in Tokyo in 1993.