It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' Magic wore a white tuxedo while Cookie looked stunning in her off-shoulder lace gown with puffed sleeves. Cookie recounted her exact emotions when Magic told her in a 2016 interview with Good Morning America. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He's very intelligent, and his mindset is like his dad's. Cause he never said anything to me the entire night, she explained. 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. She grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Detroit, Michigan at six years old. This time, however, L.A. was defeated by Philadelphia, losing four consecutive games to the 76ers and winning none during the series. "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. Magic and Cookie married in LA in September 1991. 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. We cant be cheering for Boston, those white guys, he recalls them saying. "In those days, you had to wait almost 10 days to get your results back, so that was agonizing. Leaving college after two years, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. "It was, 'You're possibly going to die.' Johnson said she agonized while she waited for her test results for herself and her unborn child. The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with HIV. Heres what you need to know about Cookie: #OnThisDay in 1991 NBA star Magic Johnson marries Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. Regardless of his marital status, we are rooting for his. Wake up to the day's most important news. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he made for an impressive point guard. While theyve now been married for 30 years, Cookie has built an entire career on her own as well. She has two siblings - an older sister Pat and a younger brother Harold Earl. and Elisa. How long have Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson been Married. He said to me: Earvin, youve got to remember youre in the south and thats how theyre used to talking to Blacks. It was a real eye-opener.. You know sometimes when you meet people and you have to make conversation until you really get to know them? It was one of the hardest days of his life; he later disclosed he contracted HIV from unprotected sex. "Everything is great," he said. Its really sad. Cookie was also pregnant at the time, which certainly scared her. she said. Johnson continued to play in college for Michigan State University. Earlitha Cookie Kelly and Earvin Magic Johnson (Getty). 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. Everything has gone right. went public with his sexual orientation in 2013 and owned his public debut as the news was picked up by entertainment sites. I mean, I fell to my knees," she told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts. 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. Johnson, who was vaccinated in public in April to help combat hesitancy over the jab, feels history repeating itself with a sense of personal sadness. 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. Initially opposed to the idea, Johnson reflects on it now as one of the most important experiences of his life. 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. 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.. 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. And while his HIV is still undetectable, he must take his medication everyday. When did Magic Johnson and Cookie Kelly get married? We had a wonderful conversation. In. Venice is absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed touring the city by water taxi! In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "It scared me to death. 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. ", We know that religion says no and I did have a big problem with that and I prayed about it a lot, Cookie said. Instead, they went to a steak house. 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. Thats the country. ", "My doctor had told me that, but it's different hearing it from somebody who's actually going through it," Magic added. Just as Black Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV and Aids, so has Covid-19 killed at a racially disproportionate rate. On 7 November 1991, a press conference in Inglewood, California, brought America to a standstill. "Yeah, I got cut. You know, why is he in there so long?' he told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. Both of them were set to go home for Christmas break the next day. That hurt me." Cookie Johnsons Profession and Charitable Interests. With the first pick in the 1979 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Magic, bringing him to Los Angeles. You couldn't hug people. Its certainly not the America that Magic Johnson came to embody during his heyday with the LA Lakers throughout the 80s. 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. 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. Because of that, she took action and created her own brand. 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. I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. The lights came up and I happen to be walking by where he was sitting and I said it was nice to meet you. We always went to the movies once a week, she said. Now 29, hes gone on to work in fashion, and starred on the E! He did well in his first season (1979-80) with the team, averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. Magic continued to go all out, dedicating three posts to her with a gallery of images of them from over the years. 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. Magic Johnson remains relatively discreet when it comes to his love life. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for nearly 0 years and thanks to advances in medical science the disease is now more manageable than it was when he first revealed his diagnosis. That would have been just devastating to me.". ", "I was just devastated because I thought I had did everything right," Johnson says. In November 1991, Johnson retired from the Lakers after revealing that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. And that trumped everything.". EJ has become quite popular himself over the years and has appeared on several TV shows including his reality show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills. As a boy, he practised basketball relentlessly, encouraged by his father, who worked grinding shifts at a local General Motors plant. 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. Johnson at an international symposium on HIV and Aids in Tokyo in 1993. Trump asks for mistrial in E. 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Zooey Zephyr disciplined by GOP-controlled state House, GOP lawmakers seek "disciplinary consequences" for Montana transgender lawmaker. "I didn't know," Johnson says. [My mind] went to 'He is possibly going to die,'" Johnson told Roberts. I've been in nine [NBA] Finals, so I know pressure. Please logout and login again. 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. He was called back home from a pre-season game in Utah, so that Lakers team physician Dr. Michael . Cookie Johnson is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and clothing designer. 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. By far, marrying you was one of the best decisions Ive ever made.. This is just the start though. On October 24, 1991, he got a call from the Lakers physician asking him to come home right away. I felt bad for him. They met at a party in their freshman year at Michigan State in 1977. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. Cookie was instrumental in creating a program called BREATHE, which works to prevent asthma in young children. "Yes, because I was scared to death," he said. In her interview with Mocha Man Style, Cookie revealed how they maintain their spark. Ever since the day I laid eyes on you in 1978 I knew you were the one for me. 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. Cookie, our 30 year marriage has been the best time of my life, he wrote on Instagram. I've been in championships. In the year 1991. At the time, Magic was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the doctor didn't want to talk about it over the phone. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? Johnson and his wife, Cookie, also have a daughter named Elisa, whom they adopted in 1995. 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. He also became part-owner of the minor league Dayton Dragons and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. The following year, he played an important role in taking the Spartans all the way to the NCAA Finals. Im not a go-back person. Johnson attended New York University, studying hospitality with a focus on event planning and design. He is bashful, however, when I ask about this and says only: Im happy Ive got a great life and that my kids are going to be fine.. Magic has had his wife Cookie along for the ride. Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19 Johnson. Magic Johnson got married on September 14, 1991, to Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly. Had he grappled with his own mortality? The wedding ceremony was two months before Magic announced to the world that he was infected with. In the above clip from "Oprah's Next Chapter," Johnson remembers that fateful day. 2 Magic Johnson and wife, Cookie, have been married since 1991 Who is Magic Johnson's wife Cookie? Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. The trick shots, the no-look passing, the celebrity fans and the Playboy bunnies. uring his 1991 press conference Johnson also made clear that his aspirations in business meant he simply had to go on living. Then I said, 'Are you kidding me? Basketball legend Magic Johnson joins Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager ahead of the NBA All-Star game on Sunday. This was the Showtime era when the Lakers reignited the NBA with a brand of fast-paced, flamboyant ball play that won them five championships. "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. The couple has been married for 25 years and have three children together. Jun 10, 2014, 02:02 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. He ended up retiring again before returning to the sport he loved one more time in 1996. Johnson said it was a huge relief when his wife's and baby's test results came back negative. The two were married in 1991 and have been together ever since. The diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. Over his long career, Johnson scored 17,707 points and recorded 10,141 assists, 6,559 rebounds and 1,724 steals. "And that just broke her heart. 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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS. When Did Magic Johnson Get Married. Am I gonna die?'" I thought he was going to take me to Arbys, she said. Public perception about the disease at the time was widely regarded with ignorance. 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 both fell on our knees, and we started crying," she tells Robin Roberts. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie Johnson's estimated worth is about $50 million. Johnson explored other options after leaving basketball. It was everything rolled into one. High times as guard for Michigan State, Johnson cuts down the net after winning a championship game in Salt Lake City in 1979. I dont know where they livemaybe under a rock. Cameras flashed and reporters clamoured to ask questions, but Johnson, National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar and one of the worlds most revered athletes, appeared unfazed as he announced his immediate retirement. Magic said he had a change of heart after a tough conversation with his son. ", Cookie eventually went to the news conference wearing a white suit that she said symbolized "brightness" and "a future.". A lot of people are afraid to hug and kiss those with HIV or AIDS because theyre afraid theyre going to get it. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. But there was no greater pressure than driving home to tell her." Cookie Johnson, Magics Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. And that trumped everything," she told CBS News. I'm only as good as Cookie.. That real talk proved effective. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. Her brand is sold in over 500 specialty stores in the United States. Powered by. Magic Johnson's wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly, is a businesswoman and philanthropist. / CBS News. Magic and Cookie Johnson may have one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. I love you.