when did magic johnson get married

He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. Thats what made Showtime.. The couple has been together on and off for over four decades. ", When Johnson walked through the front door, he says Cookie knew something was wrong. Johnson says he was sitting in a hotel in Utah, getting ready for an exhibition game when he got the call. It was like we were old friends, she continued. Everything has gone right. Magic Johnson's diagnosis in 1991 only inspired him to achieve greater heights professionally. It also dives deeper into their lives after Magic was hit with the devastating news. "I was scared to death about the baby. (modern). "I didn't know," Johnson says. 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. His wife has also recently learned she was pregnant. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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 diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. As we talk today, right now, Im thinking, Wow its been 30 years and Im still here, healthy. He had married his long-time girlfriend Cookie in September of that year and they were expecting a baby. Magic Johnson is one of the most iconic athletes and NBA players in basketball history. The following season (1982-1983) saw the third Finals match-up between the Lakers and the 76ers in four years. He also appeared on television as a sports commentator. I have pictures of all the Little League stuff I put him in and the baseball teams and the football teams. Mellman told him he had a chance to live for a long time with all the new drugs that were being developed, Johnson said. How long has Magic Johnson been married? In the years following Magics diagnosis, he and Cookie have remained active in combating HIV and AIDS. Cookie and Magic got married in September 1991, with a small wedding in Lansing, Michigan. went public with his sexual orientation in 2013 and owned his public debut as the news was picked up by entertainment sites. Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991. Cookie Johnson and Magic Johnson got married in 1991 in Lansing, Michigan, just 45 days before Magic was diagnosed with HIV. The 63-year-old American basketball player is married to Cookie Johnson. "And that just broke her heart. Everything Ive done in my lifetime after that involved whites. Later, the couple also adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995, bringing Magic Johnson's kids total to two. On September 14, 2021, Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary. he told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. And a few months later, he would play on the U.S. Olympic "Dream Team. The following year, he played an important role in taking the Spartans all the way to the NCAA Finals. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? [Cookie and I] had a difficult conversation. I dont live in the past, he says. ohnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. He also made headlines when he came out publicly as gay back in April of 2013 during his sophomore year at New York University. Before taking on a more prominent role with her husband, Cookie also served as spokeswoman for the National Medical Association Immunization Public Service Announcement. 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. He also has a son, Andre Johnson, from a previous relationship. He and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson have been married since 1991. That hurt me." Without those two, he says. He had all these ideas. I had to come to realize that this is who he is, and he's going to be happy. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cookie Johnson's estimated worth is about $50 million. "And they say, 'Hey, we ran the tests a couple of times, and yes, you do have HIV.' ", In a 2021 interview with Gayle King on CBS, he explained how his decision and diagnosis weighed on his relationship with Cookie. There they faced off against the Indiana State Sycamores. In the clip below, Cookie opens up about how Magic broke off their wedding twice before they wed in 1991, saying, "I was close to a nervous breakdown, I felt.". "And then the worst thing was Cookie was pregnant with E.J. But she was able to meet with both of us and really help us, you know, really calm us down. Magic and Cookie had been married just over a month when Los Angeles Lakers team doctor Micahel Mellman delivered the devastating news in 1991. 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. 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.. uring his 1991 press conference Johnson also made clear that his aspirations in business meant he simply had to go on living. But sport also became a vessel to bring students together. For Johnson, seeing Fauci speak about a new epidemic while reflecting on the HIV crisis of the 1980s has been sobering the racial disparities in American healthcare are stark. Please enter valid email address to continue. So, are they still in touch? Magic Johnson is rumoured to have hooked up with Kathleen Sullivan . 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. Wake up to the day's most important news. He was put in a bad situation.. Johnson grew up in the midwestern city of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. You couldn't hug people. "We both fell on our knees, and we started crying," she tells Robin Roberts. 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. "And [Glaser] said, 'One thing I want you to do and that's be the face of it.' "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? You know, he was changing the world. At the time of his diagnosis, Johnson thought the virus was a death sentence. 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. Tensions were also felt on the basketball court: Johnson recalls, in his 1992 autobiography, My Life, that some of his white teammates were initially reluctant to even pass him the ball. In 1991, 32-year-old Magic Johnson was at the top of his game, about to start his 13th season in the NBA. "'I'm looking at you like this sitting on this couch. A. Earleatha Johnson was born on January 20th, 1959. February 18, 2022, 10:40 AM. Magic and Cookie married in LA in September 1991. As you can see, Cookie Johnson has done a lot of good in her life. The Day Magic Johnson Found Out He Was HIV-Positive. Showtime Johnson on court for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics at The Forum, LA, in 1988. 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. On September 14, 1991, Magic Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. Astrological Sign: Leo. Johnson excelled during his freshman year, helping his team clinch the Big Ten Conference title. 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. While their early days werent the easiest, the couple has stuck it out together and continues to be advocates against HIV/AIDS. High times as guard for Michigan State, Johnson cuts down the net after winning a championship game in Salt Lake City in 1979. 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 understand.' She grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Detroit, Michigan at six years old. Now 29, hes gone on to work in fashion, and starred on the E! 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. I went to Bible study, talked to a Bible study teacher about it a lot. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. ", "Yeah, you're just in disbelief and in shock," Johnson says. 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. All Rights Reserved. Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed to the world in 1991 that he was HIV positive and retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. We go to the movies. We, as Black people, had never really understood generational wealth and passing that wealth on, he says. "Because she had waited for me, been patient with me, supported me -- and now I'm about to break her heart. When Magic retired from the NBA, he became a spokesperson for HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2008, he shared his secrets for success with the book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business. Advertisement Lakers champion Magic Johnson found a brilliant woman, Cookie, to call his own in 1991. . she said. The couple got married in September 1991, in a small private wedding in Lansing, Michigan. While promoting her memoir Believing In Magic in 2017, Cookie spoke to Mocha Man Style about the first time she met Magic. Johnson continued to play in college for Michigan State University. 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. NBA legend Earvin Magic Johnson was named the Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, the organization said in an announcement February 21. "I ended it the way I wanted it to end.". He has a combination of both of us, Magic said. That real talk proved effective. From a large family, Johnson grew up with nine brothers and sisters. 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. He had married his long-time girlfriend Cookie in September of that year and they were expecting a baby. "Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. 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. He stunned basketball fans and transformed HIV awareness by announcing his diagnosis in 1991. Magic Johnson Wife . I always live now and in the future. She wrote her booka few years back, which discusses her choice to stay by her husbands side during his HIV diagnosis instead of leaving. He was called back home from a pre-season game in Utah, so that Lakers team physician Dr. Michael . On October 24, 1991, he got a call from the Lakers physician asking him to come home right away. He is also a published author. Magics departure from the NBA remains one of the most shocking moments in sports history. I went to a club. Back at home, the news tested the strength of their marriage. After college, she worked as a fashion buyer for several department stores before marrying Magic on September 14th, 1991. https://t.co/ZOn80OKybA pic.twitter.com/VvUpELS7h2, Sports Photos (@sportsphotos) September 14, 2016. Johnson first learned of his diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. Magic Johnson got married on September 14, 1991, to Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly. EJ is openly gay and Elisa was adopted in 1995. From selling jeans to giving numerous speeches to underprivileged people, Cookie Johnson is much more than just a terrific wife. Magic Johnson Parents. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. I thank God every day for you and for bringing you into my life! The late actor Elizabeth Glaser, who herself contracted HIV after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion, encouraged his public advocacy. 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. It taught me how to work alongside somebody who doesnt look like me, he says. I don't know who this is. In her interview with Mocha Man Style, Cookie revealed how they maintain their spark. "The doctor tells you and you just laid on the floor. "A cocktail, once a day," he said. And that hurt me. 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. 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. And so why am I judging him? Magic said. 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. However, she advanced her career and has become a force to reckon with. And he's gonna be just that. He wanted to own his own NBA franchise and had harboured a desire to make and create wealth from a young age. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. 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. 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. Magic wore a white tuxedo while Cookie looked stunning in her off-shoulder lace gown with puffed sleeves. 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.. In 1991, 32-year-old Magic Johnson was at the top of his game, about to start his 13th season in the NBA. 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. According to Cookie, that was the moment she fell in love with him. And so everything is great. On 7 November 1991, a press conference in Inglewood, California, brought America to a standstill. 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. 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. He dreamed of the NBA from a young age. It was partly realising the publics general ignorance about the virus that spurred him into a career of advocacy work. I love you. She wrote in her memoir that things came to a head at an industry party, when Magic wasnt interested in dancing with her. A post shared by Elisa J. Since retiring from basketball, Johnson has become an investment tycoon operating Magic. BASKETBALL legend, Magic Johnson has been married to his wife, Cookie, since 1991. 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. The couple have worked together to promote awareness of the disease, they told Haute Living. He had a passion for basketball and would start practicing as early as 7:30 a.m. At Everett High School, Johnson earned his famous nickname, "Magic," after a sportswriter witnessed him compile 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists in a single game. He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. I dont know where they livemaybe under a rock. And so I just lost it right there, you know?". Instead, they went to a steak house. We met in college as freshmen [at Michigan State]. Cookie recalled so many women being there wanting to meet Magic and was frankly surprised Magic picked her. His career in business did not begin in earnest until his second retirement in the mid-90s. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ultimately you want your child to be happy, she said. Magic Johnson's parents, Earl and Christine Johnson, were both African American. Basketball legend Magic Johnson joins Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager ahead of the NBA All-Star game on Sunday. Johnson recalls asking his doctor. At the time, Magic was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the doctor didn't want to talk about it over the phone. Weve lost too many lives that we shouldnt have lost with both Aids and Covid-19 Johnson. We sit down and this guy says: Boy, what you want? he recalls. 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. The two separated, but reunited two weeks later and have since devoted themselves to working on their marriage. The couple was overjoyed, but a call from the L.A. Laker's team doctor changed everything. Johnson opens up about his 30-year marriage to wife Cookie, saying the couple has come a long way. November 4, 2021 / 8:47 AM Denim was always a huge passion of hers growing up so this is truly a dream come true. "There wasn't a lot of knowledge back in 1991.". You need to get up and figure that out.'". Magic continued to go all out, dedicating three posts to her with a gallery of images of them from over the years. The team also included such strong players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon. I didn't want to wear anything dark or black because to me, it's what it symbolized. March 6, 2022 Todd Williamson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images Magic and Cookie Johnson may have one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Im his father, so I got to be the first one to say, It's OK and I love you. ", "My doctor had told me that, but it's different hearing it from somebody who's actually going through it," Magic added. The Spartans proved victorious, and the Johnson-Bird rivalry would follow the players to their days with the NBA. 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. 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. I probably wouldnt be here. The lights came up and I happen to be walking by where he was sitting and I said it was nice to meet you. Andre is known for staying out of the public eye. NBC April 15, 2022 at 12:04 AM Magic Johnson is glad he and wife Cookie got married when they did! 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. They have inspired many people through their philanthropy works and entrepreneurship ventures that continue to thrive long after they left the NBA world. When Johnson first heard the news, he was "devastated," he said. He was so full of life. It was sobering, says Johnson, to see Dr Fauci out front and centre again, during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was the first of several match-ups between the two teams. 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. 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. ", "I was just devastated because I thought I had did everything right," Johnson says. Are we where were supposed to be? 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.

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