when did magic johnson get married

And that trumped everything.". Todd Williamson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, receiving the diagnosis that he was HIV positive. Cookie serves on the organizations board of directors. Cookie, our 30 year marriage has been the best time of my life, he wrote on Instagram. That was the beginning of when I fell in love with him.. When Magic retired from the NBA, he became a spokesperson for HIV/AIDS prevention. February 18, 2022, 10:40 AM. We started this in college. "Because she had waited for me, been patient with me, supported me -- and now I'm about to break her heart. He also appeared on television as a sports commentator. 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. We had a great time. In the year 1991. They had great conversation all night long as if they were old friends. 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. Cookie serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Magic Johnson Foundation where she focuses on the health, social, and educational needs of those residing in underserved communities and is involved in the development of the Foundations programs, objectives, and goals. And the medical experts Dr David Ho and Dr Anthony Fauci assured him that he could go on to live a healthy life. 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. And they didn't have to worry about trying to test the baby because, really, I mean, he hadn't really formed yet, actually. ", "And that's why I came back," he said. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. If you have new or updated information on Magic Johnson dating status, please send us a tip. He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 after revealing that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, though he later returned in 1996 for one final season. You know, he was changing the world. But he still longed for the game of basketball, and his first retirement would not last long. Johnson and Cookie have one son, . This was the first of several match-ups between the two teams. He has a combination of both of us, Magic said. E! Earvin "Magic" Johnson says telling his wife Cookie about his HIV diagnosis was the "toughest" thing he's ever had to do. Lansing itself has become a hotbed of extremist militia activity and Johnson watched in horror as armed conservative groups stormed into the state Capitol in April last year, protesting against Covid-19 lockdown laws. The NBA star and businesswoman,. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. https://t.co/ZOn80OKybA pic.twitter.com/VvUpELS7h2, Sports Photos (@sportsphotos) September 14, 2016. That hurt me." Johnson has since built up a business empire, which includes real estate holdings, Starbucks franchises, movie theaters and shares of professional sports teams. While Johnson can now attest to 30 years of life after being diagnosed with HIV, his journey living with the disease has been far from easy. he told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. The diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. While Magic testing positive for HIV was devastating, its given Cookie a platform to make a difference. They calmed me down, because I was thinking I was going to die, he says. The couple celebrated 25 years of marriage in Italy in September 2016 with a big party and trip to Europe. Johnson and his team continued to be one of the NBA's top competitors throughout the rest of the 1980s. Today, sitting in his offices in California, in a brown executive chair, that famous, dimpled smile beaming down the camera over Zoom, Johnson finds it hard to fathom that this year marks three decades since his diagnosis. The Lakers, however, took down the Celtics the following year in the Finals. He knows what he wants. I'm not going to sit here and say that I understood that he was gay at that time, because I didn't. Denim was always a huge passion of hers growing up so this is truly a dream come true. 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. Magic said he had a change of heart after a tough conversation with his son. Jun 10, 2014, 02:02 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. "I had to really learn a lot about the disease, HIV as well as AIDS. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. BASKETBALL legend, Magic Johnson has been married to his wife, Cookie, since 1991. Cookie and I are in Venice, Italy celebrating our 25th Anniversary! It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' Johnson met Cookie while she was working as a flight attendant for American Airlines. And that trumped everything," she told CBS News. Your login session has expired. "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. And he was like, "Love your child." Please logout and login again. And that hurt me. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. 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. But the toughest part of his diagnosis, he said, was to drive home and tell his wife. I mean, I fell to my knees," she told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts. Even today, as were talking about it right now, I still cant believe all the events that happened within a year. 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. He was supported by his family in his decision to come out publicly. He said, Yeah, by the way, give me your number. Im like what? The NBA star and businesswoman, who met in college, have been together on and off for over 40 years and share two children together. EJ is openly gay and Elisa was adopted in 1995. Even though Johnson had not played a single regular season game, fans voted him onto the NBA All-Star team in 1992. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie Johnson's estimated worth is about $50 million. Cookie was previously a college basketball player and later became a successful. On September 14, 2021, Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary. There are so many misconceptions out there, and because of that, it has caused so much discrimination. After an agonizing wait, the couple soon got some wonderful news. It was one of the hardest days of his life; he later disclosed he contracted HIV from unprotected sex. I mean, I had just found out I was pregnant so it was really early in the pregnancy," she said. Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19 Johnson. . He believed he contracted the disease through unprotected sexual activity. Undeterred, Johnson played in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Wake up to the day's most important news. 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 taught me how to work alongside somebody who doesnt look like me, he says. There was also a lot of fear and confusion regarding how the disease could be transmitted. Mellman told him he had a chance to live for a long time with all the new drugs that were being developed, Johnson said. Cookie Johnson, Magics Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. He and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson have been married since 1991. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. The latter was adopted in 1995. He would sit on the couch and watch the Lakers play, thinking, "I should be there," he recalls. Article Title: Magic Johnson Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/magic-johnson, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 19, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. 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. Ultimately you want your child to be happy, she said. He had married his long-time girlfriend Cookie in September of that year and they were expecting a baby. Johnson was born Earvin Johnson Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. "And [Glaser] said, 'One thing I want you to do and that's be the face of it.' Magic Johnson's wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, is a businesswoman and philanthropist. 10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Magic Johnson, Birth Year: 1959, Birth date: August 14, 1959, Birth State: Michigan, Birth City: Lansing, Birth Country: United States. 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. He had all these ideas. From winning five NBA titles to making 12 All-Star teams, his career was nothing short of amazing. "I wanted to make sure that she was going to be okay, the baby was going to be okay, and then I can move forward with making sure I was going to be okay," the former Lakers president said. And it just wasn't his thing. Theres no way hes going to pick me over all these other women.. And that's what I love about him. Johnson's son Earvin III was born in 1992. Thats who I am.. ET on OWN. It also dives deeper into their lives after Magic was hit with the devastating news. Celebrity traction Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor at a 20 Years of Aids, 20 Years of Hope event in Santa Monica in 2001. I'm only as good as Cookie.. Let's get on our knees and pray.' A lot of people are afraid to hug and kiss those with HIV or AIDS because theyre afraid theyre going to get it. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. Cookie Johnson shares the story from her perspective in her new memoir, "Believing in Magic." "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," Magic, 62, told King, 66. A. Earleatha Johnson was born on January 20th, 1959. I was about to say something back, and my father grabbed me. And so I just lost it right there, you know?". He lights up describing the buzz of it. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. "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.". Much of his efforts have focused on developing urban areas, bringing Starbucks coffee franchises and movie theaters into underserved communities. Everything has gone right. 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. And she was dying at that time. Johnson explored other options after leaving basketball. And so everything is great. He made a splash in July 2018 by signing megastar free agent LeBron James, but abruptly resigned his post at the end of the 2018-2019 NBA season. Were finally starting to understand that. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. Initially, Cookie admittedly was not in favor of Magic holding the press conference announcing his HIV diagnosis due to the stigma surrounding the disease. She has since become known for her philanthropic work within various organizations. He also became part-owner of the minor league Dayton Dragons and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. Magic Johnson Wife . She said in the book that going through it was like being in her own personal hell filled with silence and darkness, numbness., She wrote that after telling his wife, he locked himself in a room and called the long list of women with whom hed been intimate. Cookie added in the memoir about the night and experience after, In just one moment our world, this perfect union wed fought so hard and so long to have was obliterated.. I told him Im not giving you my number because youre not even going to remember me in a month. Kelly had virtually remained quiet on the issue for 16 years, but in an interview on NBCs Today Show, the couple spoke out against the fatal disease. 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. "I was a broke college student, and so she had to use her book money so that we could order a pizza and . There were mixed reviews about his comeback, with several players uncomfortable with the idea of playing alongside an HIV-positive athlete. [Cookie and I] had a difficult conversation. NBC April 15, 2022 at 12:04 AM Magic Johnson is glad he and wife Cookie got married when they did! Racial dynamics also played a part in the way some viewed their opposition (Bird is white). The team also included such strong players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon. He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. He spent 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring due to contracting HIV in 1991. And the white suit, to me, symbolized brightness, like a future basically [and] positivity.". Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. However, she advanced her career and has become a force to reckon with. The Johnsons adopted their daughter, Elisa, when she was three days old. NBA legend Earvin Magic Johnson was named the Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, the organization said in an announcement February 21. November 4, 2021 / 8:47 AM When EJ was on the show, Magic told TMZ that he was very happy for his son to be featured. 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. Before taking on a more prominent role with her husband, Cookie also served as spokeswoman for the National Medical Association Immunization Public Service Announcement. It was like we were old friends, she continued. In November 1991, Johnson retired from the Lakers after revealing that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Were very simple. Johnson opens up about his 30-year marriage to wife Cookie, saying the couple has come a long way. So, are they still in touch? He also made headlines when he came out publicly as gay back in April of 2013 during his sophomore year at New York University. Larry is a quiet guy and wants a quiet life. She educated parents and caregivers on the importance of immunizing children in urban areas against various viruses. Johnson says he was sitting in a hotel in Utah, getting ready for an exhibition game when he got the call. 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. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. No. We sit down and this guy says: Boy, what you want? he recalls. 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. She even released a book called Believing in Magic which highlighted the journeys theyve gone through together and how she dealt with the sad news. Their legacy will undoubtedly live on for generations to come as they serve as role models for anyone looking to make positive changes in the world today. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," he said. Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. Its certainly not the America that Magic Johnson came to embody during his heyday with the LA Lakers throughout the 80s. I don't know who this is. A guy like myself swears by him, he says. In 1991, Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly in a small wedding in Lansing which included guests Thomas, Aguirre, and Herb Williams. You know, why is he in there so long?' "We both fell on our knees, and we started crying," she tells Robin Roberts. ", We know that religion says no and I did have a big problem with that and I prayed about it a lot, Cookie said. But Cookie came home one day and said something that "changed my life," Johnson said. 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. The couple has three children together: Andre, EJ, and Elisa. Johnson recalls asking his doctor. Public perception about the disease at the time was widely regarded with ignorance. confirmed that the reality star had gone under the knife in August 2014 after hinting. "Yes, because I was scared to death," he said. Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been married for 31 years since 14th Sep 1991. view relationship. He wanted to own his own NBA franchise and had harboured a desire to make and create wealth from a young age. And I didn't want people to treat us like we were lepers," she told King. Magic Johnson Parents. It's OK. 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. Cookie Johnsons Profession and Charitable Interests. "Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. Magic Johnson's parents, Earl and Christine Johnson, were both African American. "I wasn't sick." ", Cookie eventually went to the news conference wearing a white suit that she said symbolized "brightness" and "a future.". And I was still trying to figure it out. It was nothing but a strong sense of trust and commitment that kept them from calling it quits on their relationship. The trick shots, the no-look passing, the celebrity fans and the Playboy bunnies. 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. I guess now I get to enjoy some of the other sides of living.. Johnson, who remains HIV-undetectable to this day, opened up about living with the virus and his career in an exclusive interview for "CBS Mornings" nearly 30 years after he publicly announced his HIV diagnosis. His oldest son Andre is also an entrepreneur who worked first for his fathers Magic Johnson Enterprises and then later became the Vice President of Business Development at Mythical Games. There was, of course, his wife, Cookie - the love of his life, whom he had met at college and had recently married. Cookie details this story and others in her memoir, Believing in Magic. There was one drug then, now we have 30-something drugs, he says. Fortunately, both his wife and their son, Earvin III, tested negative for HIV. They have inspired many people through their philanthropy works and entrepreneurship ventures that continue to thrive long after they left the NBA world. "And then the worst thing was Cookie was pregnant with E.J. So they thought you couldn't touch people, you couldn't hug people," she said. When Did Magic Johnson Get Married. I've been in nine [NBA] Finals, so I know pressure. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. We do simple things. What would he do next? Magics departure from the NBA remains one of the most shocking moments in sports history. She is doing so many different things within the HIV/AIDS world to make sure others arent faced with the same thing eventually because it is truly an awful virus. Magic was one of the most prominent basketball players in NBA history. E.J. Since retiring from basketball, Johnson has become an investment tycoon operating Magic. .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. Part of HuffPost News. The couple have worked together to promote awareness of the disease, they told Haute Living. ", "It proved to be the right decision," he said. I dont live in the past, he says. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. And as time went on, it never changed.. All rights reserved. He and Cookie have been together throughout this time, and neither she nor their son, Earvin Johnson III, have HIV. 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 probably wouldnt be here. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. "And that just broke her heart. Bird was one of the first NBA players Johnson called to inform him of his HIV diagnosis. And that's what we did.". Powered by. No. He had always expected to go to his local high school on the citys west side with its renowned basketball team. Cause he never said anything to me the entire night, she explained. Magic Johnsons wife Cookie is a very accomplished woman who has stood by his side for many, many years. I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. As you can see, Cookie Johnson has done a lot of good in her life. You need to get up and figure that out.'". Cookie and Magic Johnson on His HIV Diagnosis, Their Son Being Gay, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The NBA star credits his wife for her unconditional support. Johnson was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. 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. The couple live in Beverly Hills with their family. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Yeah, I got cut. Without those two, he says. They started seeing each other January 1, 1991. Astrological Sign: Leo. I know when I come here [home], I'm not Magic. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with HIV. "God blessed us when the test results came back on her and the baby that she didn't have HIV and the baby didn't either," Johnson says. "'You know, the man I married was a hard worker. 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. Johnson joined president George W Bushs national Aids commission and then publicly quit after eight months, lambasting the presidents inaction. He did well in his first season (1979-80) with the team, averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. You couldn't hug people. In the years following Magics diagnosis, he and Cookie have remained active in combating HIV and AIDS. Professional rivalry and racial dynamics Larry Bird of Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson during the 1984 NBA Finals at the Forum in Los Angeles. The wedding was a long time in the making. 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. Johnson's decision to go public with his medical condition helped raise awareness about the disease. Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been a much-lauded couple for many years, and their story is worth being inspired by. He was called back home from a pre-season game in Utah, so that Lakers team physician Dr. Michael Mellman could deliver the news in person. The couple opened up about the impact the diagnosis had on their relationship in an interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King that aired Thursday. He established the Magic Johnson Foundation to support HIV/AIDS research efforts and awareness programs that same year. The newlyweds had also just found out she was pregnant with their first child, E.J., now 24. (modern). When Johnson first heard the news, he was "devastated," he said. Like a date, date. The Spartans proved victorious, and the Johnson-Bird rivalry would follow the players to their days with the NBA. Johnson said it was a huge relief when his wife's and baby's test results came back negative. This is just the start though. All About Susan Benedetto, Serena Williams Shares Her Reaction to Will Smith's Oscars Slap: 'We're All Imperfect', Gayle King Goes from Getting a Colonoscopy to Watching Drake at the Apollo Theater, LeBron James Becomes Second NBA Player in History to Score 38,000 Points as He Closes in on All-Time Record. We're still those kids from Michigan. ", "I didn't have time to get mad about whatever happened, you know, or start asking questions. 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. The couple has been together on and off for over four decades. The two separated, but reunited two weeks later and have since devoted themselves to working on their marriage. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with. The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team. Johnson also shared her heartache as she waited behind closed doors as her husband made phone calls to the various women he had slept with. I just knew that this is what made him happy. "The worst thing about it is I knew I was going to hurt her," he says. "We both fell on our knees and we started crying.". Johnson excelled during his freshman year, helping his team clinch the Big Ten Conference title. In her interview with Mocha Man Style, Cookie revealed how they maintain their spark. Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. "At that time, people weren't educated, so they thought you couldn't touch people. Two decades later, Magic and Cookie are still married. I understand.' 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. 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. ", "Yeah, you're just in disbelief and in shock," Johnson says. 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. reality series Rich Kids of Beverly Hills as well as his own spinoff EJNYC in the 2010s. There was a lot of breaking up and getting back together, a lot of ups and downs. When had he found out? 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. "There wasn't a lot of knowledge back in 1991.". And it has interesting parallels for today, when the world continues to battle another public health crisis. During an appearance on CBS Mornings, Magic. But, as he remembers the period shortly after the diagnosis, he thinks of those he relied on. He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 after revealing that he had tested positive for. His father would send his children in groups of three to use the bathroom at truck stops to watch each others backs. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive. 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. The couple have two children together, Earvin Johnson III(EJ) and Elisa Johnson. 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. She had a degree in retailing of clothing and textiles.

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