Magic Johnson is one of the best basketball players of all time. He’s an NBA Hall of Famer, played on the Dream Team in 1992, and has hours upon hours of highlight reel footage. Along with his basketball feats, he’s well-known for coming out as HIV-positive in 1991.
While people know all about Magic, they may not know much about his son, EJ. While people call him EJ, his real name is Earvin Johnson III, named after his father. He is the only biological child of Magic and his wife Cookie. They also have an adopted daughter.
EJ publicly came out as gay in 2013 after TMZ posted a picture of EJ holding hands with his friend Alessandro Monetti. The tabloid revealed that the two were actually more than friends — they were a couple. In speaking on the YouTube show “Gwissues,” EJ said that while coming out “came a little sooner than I thought it would, [it is] still something I knew I would be going through and would have to experience.”
Magic immediately provided public support for his son. The scrutiny he faced when coming out as HIV positive gave him a unique perspective on what his son was going through. While Magic is straight, in the early ’90s HIV was largely seen as a disease solely affecting the gay community. Magic’s announcement completely changed the public perception of HIV. This experience prepared him for the scrutiny his son would receive, and Magic wanted to be there for his child.
EJ has said that his family has provided him with unconditional love and support as he came out to the world. His family has always been supportive, so he wasn’t surprised when they had his back after he publicly came out of the closet.
His family continued offering their support when EJ announced he was considering transitioning into a woman. He had always considered himself fashion-forward and
Big changes are nothing new for EJ, who lost almost 200 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass in 2015. He went from weighing 360 pounds down to 180 pounds, resulting in a complete lifestyle change. Losing this weight caused him to completely change his mindset about healthy eating and healthy living. He is now dedicated to staying fit.
Despite being a positive role model, many on social media has criticized EJ for his frank discussion about his gender. He takes the criticism in stride, telling “Gwissues,” “It’s almost like they’re attacking me for being me and so to
In spite of these challenges, EJ remains a positive, well-adjusted 24-year-old. He recently graduated from NYU with a degree in “event management and design with an interest in fashion, journalism, and media.”
He has appeared on the television show “The Rich Kids of Beverly Hills,” giving his some experience on camera.
