So we had a lot of conversations and a lot of long walks.". How Magic Johnson Told His Wifeand Ex-LoversHe Had HIV. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. During an appearance on CBS Mornings, Magic. Plus other revelations from Cookie Johnson's new memoir, Believing in Magic. I mean, it was very early on.. 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. While promoting her memoir Believing In Magic in 2017, Cookie spoke to Mocha Man Style about the first time she met Magic. 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. She educated parents and caregivers on the importance of immunizing children in urban areas against various viruses. "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. I told you and my parents after three months of dating that you were going to be the one I was going to marry, Magic recalled in a 2019 Instagram post. We go to the movies. It was tough, because Cookie was afraid of what might happen, the backlash if we went public. Even after he joined the NBA, Johnson remembers entering a Mississippi diner on a family trip and being approached by a white server. He wore a white tux and she a white gown and large tiara. In 1996, staging a brief comeback, Johnson returned for a few months to the Lakers as a player. Cookie wrote in her 2016 memoir, Believing in Magic about the night he revealed to her that he had been diagnosed with HIV. Like Magic, Cookie attended and graduated from Michigan State University. We met in college as freshmen [at Michigan State]. He was raised by his mom and would visit his. 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. Together, Magic and Cookie have been blessed with two children Earvin III (also known as EJ) who was born on June 4, 1992, and Elisa who was born on December 21, 1995. I want to dance with these people over here, she said. On November 7, 1991, basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson stuns the world by announcing his sudden retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers, after testing positive for HIV, the virus that . I went to a club. But I also knew that Earvin didn't understand. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. And Im this guy who is completely the opposite. Magic Johnson Marks 30 Years of Living with HIV: 'I Thank the Lord for Keeping Me', Magic Johnson Shuts Down 'False Story' He Donated Blood at the Red Cross, Magic Johnson Explains How He and Wife Cookie Met At a College Party: 'Caught a Brother's Eye', Magic Johnson Shares His Wellness Routine: 'I Wake Up at 4 O'Clock Every Morning', LeBron James' 'Lonely' Early Years in Ohio Detailed in New Biography as His Biopic Sets Release Date, Neil Diamond Says He Has Finally Accepted His Parkinson's Diagnosis: 'A Calm Has Moved In', Gayle King Insisted She Was Not Leaving CBS in Recent Interview Before Reported Deal with CNN, Magic Johnson's 3 Kids: Everything to Know, Magic Johnson Says He's 'So Proud' of Son EJ: 'He's Saving a Lot of People's Lives', Magic Johnson Says 'It Hurts Fans and Parents' When NBA Superstars Sit Out Games, Gayle King and Drew Barrymore Encourage Women to Seek Support During Menopause: 'Don't Be a Hero! He also appeared on television as a sports commentator. No. Magic Johnson relationship list. "We both fell on our knees, and we started crying," she tells Robin Roberts. We see each other at events. Johnson and his wife, Cookie, also have a daughter named Elisa, whom they adopted in 1995. Ever since the day I laid eyes on you in 1978 I knew you were the one for me. Cookie was instrumental in creating a program called BREATHE, which works to prevent asthma in young children. As for children, Cookie and Magic have two named EJ Johnson and Elisa Johnson. 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. So they thought you couldn't touch people, you couldn't hug people," she said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. Like her brother EJ, Elisa is interested in fashion, and launched her own sunglass line in 2021. 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. The trick shots, the no-look passing, the celebrity fans and the Playboy bunnies. Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991. We always went to the movies once a week, she said. But sport also became a vessel to bring students together. 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. EJ is openly gay and Elisa was adopted in 1995. Celebrity traction Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor at a 20 Years of Aids, 20 Years of Hope event in Santa Monica in 2001. His wife has also recently learned she was. Cookie Johnsons Profession and Charitable Interests. You couldn't hug people. ", First published on November 4, 2021 / 8:47 AM. A post shared by Cookie Johnson (@thecookiej) on Feb 19, 2017 at 5:38pm PST. / CBS News. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. 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. 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. She has always been a woman of charitable interests. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. Todd Williamson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, receiving the diagnosis that he was HIV positive. She also successfully launched CJ by Cookie Johnson denim line catered towards women who desire fashionable clothing options available beyond size zero standards often seen within mainstream brands; empowering these same demographics financially through employment opportunities via production facilities located domestically provides economic growth potentiality serving could-be overlooked audiences. In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple said that they are still madly in love with each other and are soul mates. 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. In her interview with Mocha Man Style, Cookie revealed how they maintain their spark. Everything Ive done in my lifetime after that involved whites. He wanted to own his own NBA franchise and had harboured a desire to make and create wealth from a young age. Cookie Johnson is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and clothing designer. Johnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. "We both fell on our knees and we started crying.". In this post, were taking a look at Magic Johnsons wife, Cookie Johnson. Ebony magazine has tapped Magic & Cookie Johnson for the cover of their July issue, and the couple gave an exclusive interview covering an array of topics ranging from the recent drama surrounding Donald Sterling, to wealth building. I guess now I get to enjoy some of the other sides of living.. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie has a net worth of $50 million. Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed to the world in 1991 that he was HIV positive and retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers. And that's what I'm doing., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. It frustrated me to try on every pair in the store and leave with nothing.. ET on OWN. And they didn't have to worry about trying to test the baby because, really, I mean, he hadn't really formed yet, actually. I know when I come here [home], I'm not Magic. Advertisement Lakers champion Magic Johnson found a brilliant woman, Cookie, to call his own in 1991. You know, he was changing the world. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. He would sit on the couch and watch the Lakers play, thinking, "I should be there," he recalls. Aged 15, and with his talent being noticed locally, Johnson faced one of the first big crossroads in his life. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. 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. E.J. 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. ohnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. And what I would find out later is that is the way America is. Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson have been married for 31 years since 14th Sep 1991. view relationship. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. I just knew that this is what made him happy. . Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. Were finally starting to understand that. And she was dying at that time. It was right in front of our faces, you couldnt miss it, Johnson says, laughing. Magic Johnsons wife Cookie is a very accomplished woman who has stood by his side for many, many years. "At that time, people weren't educated, so they thought you couldn't touch people. Cookie is the first spokeswoman for the I Stand With Magic campaign with Magic Johnson where they continue to fight against HIV/AIDS. I went to Bible study, talked to a Bible study teacher about it a lot. Magic has had his wife Cookie along for the ride. "He said, 'If you want to leave, you know, I don't blame you. The couple have two children together, Earvin Johnson III(EJ) and Elisa Johnson. When Magic informed Cookie that he had likely contracted the disease via sexual contact, she was more concerned about his well-being. 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. Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of the world's best basketball players for more than a decade. As you can see, Cookie Johnson has done a lot of good in her life. 2 Magic Johnson and wife, Cookie, have been married since 1991 Who is Magic Johnson's wife Cookie? When Magic Johnson revealed his HIV diagnosis to his new wife, Cookie Johnson, in 1991, she didn't turn and run away. He was put in a bad situation.. So he never makes a quick decision. Andre is known for staying out of the public eye. I was about to say something back, and my father grabbed me. He had all these ideas. He spent 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring due to contracting HIV in 1991. 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 and Cookie have one son, . According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie Johnson's estimated worth is about $50 million. How long have Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson been Married. But Cookie came home one day and said something that "changed my life," Johnson said. In the year 1991. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with HIV. "It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," he said. [Cookie and I] had a difficult conversation. 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. Even today, as were talking about it right now, I still cant believe all the events that happened within a year. Cookie Johnson, Magics Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. A lot of people are afraid to hug and kiss those with HIV or AIDS because theyre afraid theyre going to get it. He created Magic Johnson Enterprises, which has a variety of holdings. Steps Out in Public With New Boyfriend, Earlitha Kelly (Magic Johnson'un ei) Doum Y.: Doum T.: Ei: Magic Johnson (e. 1991)https://t.co/Or205EQKf5 pic.twitter.com/gz5H4jKPJ2, XKimdir (@xkimdircom) February 19, 2017, Cookie has become involved in various ventures in her life, one of which is a clothing line called CJ by Cookie Johnson., Cookies products largely include jeans because, as she wrote in her About Me on 6pm.com, she despaired over hte lakc of premium denim for women with a figure like hers. Magic wore a white tuxedo while Cookie looked stunning in her off-shoulder lace gown with puffed sleeves. The Celtics beat the Lakers in a tight competitionfour games to threefor the 1984 championship. 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. Since retiring from basketball, Johnson has become an investment tycoon operating Magic. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. ", "And that's why I came back," he said. 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. If you have new or updated information on Magic Johnson dating status, please send us a tip. He knows how he wants it done. reality series Rich Kids of Beverly Hills as well as his own spinoff EJNYC in the 2010s. "I wasn't sick." And he was like, "Love your child." The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. Let's get on our knees and pray.' But there was no greater pressure than driving home to tell her.". Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. It was so funny because every girl on campus wanted to meet him, Cookie recalls of their first encounter. "And she smacked me upside my head and said, 'We're going to beat this together. Thats what made Showtime.. Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. And a few months later, he would play on the U.S. Olympic "Dream Team. I've been in championships. 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 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. In November 1991, Johnson retired from the Lakers after revealing that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Powered by. Cookie had been pregnant when Magic broke the news to her, but both have since been given the all clear on a potential diagnoses. Rumours swirl that Johnsons wealth now exceeds $1bn. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. ", "It proved to be the right decision," he said. He ended up retiring again before returning to the sport he loved one more time in 1996. 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. Magic has another son from another woman, 35-year old Andre. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. It was partly realising the publics general ignorance about the virus that spurred him into a career of advocacy work. There was a lot of breaking up and getting back together, a lot of ups and downs. She wrote her booka few years back, which discusses her choice to stay by her husbands side during his HIV diagnosis instead of leaving. That would have been just devastating to me.". 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. That real talk proved effective. 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. In 1992, the Johnsons welcomed their first child, E.J. In. "And they say, 'Hey, we ran the tests a couple of times, and yes, you do have HIV.' But there was no greater pressure than driving home to tell her." Johnson was born Earvin Johnson Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. Cookie Johnson shares the story from her perspective in her new memoir, "Believing in Magic." Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball's best players for 13 years. Am I gonna die?'" I always live now and in the future. It taught me how to work alongside somebody who doesnt look like me, he says. "I told Cookie, I said, 'You know what? We have a long way to go. She had a degree in retailing of clothing and textiles. The couple celebrated 25 years of marriage in Italy in September 2016 with a big party and trip to Europe. 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. 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. During the 1993-1994 basketball season, Johnson tried his hand at coaching with the Lakers. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "I ended it the way I wanted it to end.". And as time went on, it never changed.. "And I didn't want people to treat us like we were lepers. He currently has a voice role on The Proud Family reboot Louder And Prouder. After years of unsuccessful dieting, EJ Johnson underwent gastric sleeve surgery when he was 22 years old. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Yeah, I got cut. 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. It was sobering, says Johnson, to see Dr Fauci out front and centre again, during the Covid-19 pandemic. "I had to really learn a lot about the disease, HIV as well as AIDS. 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. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Cookie and I are in Venice, Italy celebrating our 25th Anniversary! He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. And I didn't want people to treat us like we were lepers," she told King. Johnson excelled during his freshman year, helping his team clinch the Big Ten Conference title. The diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. The Magic Johnson Foundation was formed in 1991 to address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. Denim was always a huge passion of hers growing up so this is truly a dream come true. 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. I'm only as good as Cookie.. She stands at 5 foot 6 inches. When did Magic Johnson and Cookie Kelly get married?