He established the Magic Johnson Foundation to support HIV/AIDS research efforts and awareness programs that same year. In 1991, 32-year-old Magic Johnson was at the top of his game, about to start his 13th season in the NBA. 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. "I don't know what would have happened if I'd have got that news that she had HIV as well. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. 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. "I was scared to death about the baby. Earletha Cookie Johnson was born on January 20, 1959, in Alabama. 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. confirmed that the reality star had gone under the knife in August 2014 after hinting. She wrote in her memoir that things came to a head at an industry party, when Magic wasnt interested in dancing with her. He would sit on the couch and watch the Lakers play, thinking, "I should be there," he recalls. [Magic] was standing there by the doorway when I walked in with a friend of mine, she said. I didn't want to wear anything dark or black because to me, it's what it symbolized. "It helped people who were living with not just HIV and AIDS, but with any disease, that you can live on, you can be live a productive life.". Venice is absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed touring the city by water taxi! "'I'm looking at you like this sitting on this couch. Magic Johnson Parents. A post shared by Cookie Johnson (@thecookiej) on Feb 19, 2017 at 5:38pm PST. Am I gonna die?'" The inspirational couple has been married for about 31 years but their relationship goes further back in time. But sport also became a vessel to bring students together. He and Cookie have been together throughout this time, and neither she nor their son, Earvin Johnson III, have HIV. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with HIV. "The key moment was when Cookie took the test and the results came back that her and the baby was fine," the retired NBA star told King, adding he was "scared to death" beforehand. But, as he remembers the period shortly after the diagnosis, he thinks of those he relied on. ", When Johnson walked through the front door, he says Cookie knew something was wrong. The Spartans proved victorious, and the Johnson-Bird rivalry would follow the players to their days with the NBA. Sometimes were going in different directions and its so important for marriages to find that time to reconnect., Joshua Jackson Reveals How His Wife Really Feels About His Sex Scenes, Lukas Gage & Chris Appletons Relationship Timeline Is Short AF, Drake Bell's Wife Janet Von Schmeling Files For Divorce, Rachel Weisz & Daniel Craigs Relationship Timeline Includes Babies & Broadway, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. So they thought you couldn't touch people, you couldn't hug people," she said. The soul comes from her [Cookie]. 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. Thats what made Showtime.. During his 1991 press conference Johnson also made clear that his aspirations in business meant he simply had to go on living. Magic Johnson relationship list. Just as Black Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV and Aids, so has Covid-19 killed at a racially disproportionate rate. Johnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. Mellman told him he had a chance to live for a long time with all the new drugs that were being developed, Johnson said. And Johnsons unique talent (it was while he was at high school that a local newspaper reporter coined his nickname), eventually brought the team a state championship in his final year. My goal is to go out across the country and speak to over 1,000 women; to educate them and to empower them, Cookie told Matt Lauer in the 2007 interview. ET on OWN. "I'm asking him 100 times, 'Are you sure?'" Game-changer Clients wait for a free HIV test at a mobile testing centre as part of the I Stand with Magic programme in Los Angeles in 2006. Plus other revelations from Cookie Johnson's new memoir, Believing in Magic. The latter became a media sensation after her relationship with the basketball icon. I've been in championships. Cookie had been pregnant when Magic broke the news to her, but both have since been given the all clear on a potential diagnoses. She is 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. Earvin "Magic" Johnson is the Los Angeles Lakers' president of basketball operations. Astrological Sign: Leo. 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. 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. Lets just hope we get this one right, in the black and brown community, because we never really got HIV and Aids right.. The following season (1982-1983) saw the third Finals match-up between the Lakers and the 76ers in four years. 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. The NBA star credits his wife for her unconditional support. Aged 15, and with his talent being noticed locally, Johnson faced one of the first big crossroads in his life. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie Johnson's estimated worth is about $50 million. Cookie was instrumental in creating a program called BREATHE, which works to prevent asthma in young children. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. 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. The Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson story is a testament to love, dedication, and commitment to bettering themselves and their community. Leaving college after two years, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. "I ended it the way I wanted it to end.". She educated parents and caregivers on the importance of immunizing children in urban areas against various viruses. But the toughest part of his diagnosis, he said, was to drive home and tell his wife. ", "I didn't have time to get mad about whatever happened, you know, or start asking questions. [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. reality series Rich Kids of Beverly Hills as well as his own spinoff EJNYC in the 2010s. At the time, Magic was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the doctor didn't want to talk about it over the phone. 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. She designs a popular brand of jeans that sells throughout luxury department stores in the US called CJ. Cookie serves on the organizations board of directors. And that's what we did.". It was nothing but a strong sense of trust and commitment that kept them from calling it quits on their relationship. Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed to the world in 1991 that he was HIV positive and retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been a much-lauded couple for many years, and their story is worth being inspired by. 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. That would have been just devastating to me.". Maybe I should look at playing one more time," Johnson said, noting that he wanted to "end it the right way. Public perception about the disease at the time was widely regarded with ignorance. Johnson then teamed up with his old rival Bird to write the 2009 book When the Game Was Ours, which explores their rivalry, their experiences on the court and the sport they love. Cookie recalled so many women being there wanting to meet Magic and was frankly surprised Magic picked her. He created Magic Johnson Enterprises, which has a variety of holdings. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive. Cookie is the first spokeswoman for the I Stand With Magic campaign with Magic Johnson where they continue to fight against HIV/AIDS. I just knew that this is what made him happy. When Quinn isn't producing content for CP, he's writing predictions across the European soccer and NBA world for bettors at Sports Betting Dime, one of the fastest-growing sports betting sites in North America. The latter was adopted in 1995. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. He lights up describing the buzz of it. Against a black-draped backdrop, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and multicoloured tie, Earvin Magic Johnson, spoke calmly into a single microphone and told the world that he had been diagnosed with HIV. At the time, he was a big man on campus, and all of the girls in her dorm room were peering out of their windows waiting for him to pick her up. 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. As you can see, Cookie Johnson has done a lot of good in her life. E.J., when he walks in a room, this is the most confident guy. Celebrity traction Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor at a 20 Years of Aids, 20 Years of Hope event in Santa Monica in 2001. 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. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. And the white suit, to me, symbolized brightness, like a future basically [and] positivity.". 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. They met each other way back in 1977 and hit it off within a few weeks of getting to know each other. I told him Im not giving you my number because youre not even going to remember me in a month. I love you. He wanted to own his own NBA franchise and had harboured a desire to make and create wealth from a young age. On September 14, 2021, Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary. Johnson at an international symposium on HIV and Aids in Tokyo in 1993. 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. "And [Glaser] said, 'One thing I want you to do and that's be the face of it.' He taught him the art of aggressive, fast-paced basketball, and how to read the game. The Magic Johnson Foundation was formed in 1991 to address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. There were mixed reviews about his comeback, with several players uncomfortable with the idea of playing alongside an HIV-positive athlete. I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. He took me on a real date. Magic Johnson Wife . 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. We're still those kids from Michigan. He believed he contracted the disease through unprotected sexual activity. From a large family, Johnson grew up with nine brothers and sisters. But instead, he was among Lansings first students to be bussed across the city to a majority white high school, Everett, on the south side. Youve made me a better man, person, husband, father, and businessman. / CBS News. Magic and Cookie created the Magic Johnson Foundation in an effort to develop and fund programs that are geared at preventing HIV/AIDS while also providing testing, treatment and scholarships. He said, Yes, I will. I gave him the number and literally the day I set foot back on campus he called me., In the same interview, Cookie recounted her first date with Magic. EJ is openly gay and Elisa was adopted in 1995. https://t.co/ZOn80OKybA pic.twitter.com/VvUpELS7h2, Sports Photos (@sportsphotos) September 14, 2016. Theres no way hes going to pick me over all these other women.. "It scared me to death. It was sobering, says Johnson, to see Dr Fauci out front and centre again, during the Covid-19 pandemic. During a period when Magic and Cookie werent together, he dated a woman named Melissa Mitchell, with whom he had a son, Andre, in 1981. She said, I couldnt find jeans to fit my body type. We, as Black people, had never really understood generational wealth and passing that wealth on, he says. He now holds stakes in the LA Dodgers baseball team, the womens basketball team LA Sparks and the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. Wake up to the day's most important news. Aside from being a best-selling author, Cookie is also a businesswoman. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful businesswoman. Racial dynamics also played a part in the way some viewed their opposition (Bird is white). I guess now I get to enjoy some of the other sides of living.. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Jun 10, 2014, 02:02 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. 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. According to Cookie, Magic didnt ask her to dance. He was called back home from a pre-season game in Utah, so that Lakers team physician Dr. Michael . The couple have two children together, Earvin Johnson III(EJ) and Elisa Johnson. 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. Johnson joined president George W Bushs national Aids commission and then publicly quit after eight months, lambasting the presidents inaction. #blackmarriageday earvin johnson jr. and earlitha kelly pic.twitter.com/jPYQrLom8C. Johnson and his team continued to be one of the NBA's top competitors throughout the rest of the 1980s. It was everything rolled into one. And as time went on, it never changed.. 2 Magic Johnson and wife, Cookie, have been married since 1991 Who is Magic Johnson's wife Cookie? Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. "Because she had waited for me, been patient with me, supported me -- and now I'm about to break her heart. At the "They Call Me Magic" premiere, the NBA legend told Access Hollywood about how he. Upon his return, Magic was told that he tested positive for HIV. As a boy, he practised basketball relentlessly, encouraged by his father, who worked grinding shifts at a local General Motors plant. ", "Yeah, you're just in disbelief and in shock," Johnson says. '", "You were on the floor yourself, I heard, for two hours," Oprah says. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. Her mother nicknamed her Cookie based on the character from the show 77 Sunset Strip. Video related to cookie johnson, magics wife: 5 fast facts you need to know. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. While promoting her memoir Believing In Magic in 2017, Cookie spoke to Mocha Man Style about the first time she met Magic. And what I would find out later is that is the way America is. Johnson and his wife, Cookie Johnson (Earlitha Kelly Johnson) have been married for 25 years and have been active philanthropists and have lived worked toward combating HIV in the years after Magics diagnosis announcement. The state-mandated integration of education brought its own tensions: playground fights and bullying. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic said. In 2008, he shared his secrets for success with the book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business. 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. "And what came out of the physical was, 'You have HIV. And so everything is great. Magic Johnson's wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, is a businesswoman and philanthropist. You know, why is he in there so long?' Johnson and his wife, Cookie, also have a daughter named Elisa, whom they adopted in 1995. The trick shots, the no-look passing, the celebrity fans and the Playboy bunnies. Cookie joined her husband on stage for his announcement along with a specially selected outfit. In the year 1991. Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, 63, was born in Huntsville, Alabama. The lights came up and I happen to be walking by where he was sitting and I said it was nice to meet you. One of the only clubs on the campus. Bird was one of the first NBA players Johnson called to inform him of his HIV diagnosis. Initially, Cookie admittedly was not in favor of Magic holding the press conference announcing his HIV diagnosis due to the stigma surrounding the disease. Please enter valid email address to continue. Johnson has never watched a recording of that press conference. Thirty years on, he discusses his relationship with Anthony Fauci, the meaning of money and why hes still optimistic. "In those days, you had to wait almost 10 days to get your results back, so that was agonizing. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC.
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