The 1980s decade had one NBA superstar dominate the spotlight, Magic Johnson. The five-time champion was in Hollywood, the center of attention. Moreover, he was the attractive passer that gave life to the ‘Showtime Lakers’. However, in 1991, he and his wife would receive arguably the scariest news of their life. While gearing up to watch her husband play, he surprisingly walked into their Beverley Hills. That would be the moment he told her about contracting the H.I.V virus.
Magic and Cookie had known each other for decades. They met in college attending Michigan together. The three-time league MVP knew from the moment he met her that she was the one for him. Likewise, Cookie Johnson fell in love with Johnson’s radiating personality too. The couple tied the knot in 1991 after going through their ups and down. Notably, roaming in LA and Dr. Jerry Buss, Johnson led a rather thrilling life.
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That would soon catch up to him in 1991. Only a month after getting married, the couple found out Magic Johnson had contracted the HIV Virus. In an interview with The New York Times in 1996, the CJ designer gave details about the time her husband told her the devastating news.
The day Magic Johnson told Cookie the truth
On a Los Angeles Lakers game night, Cookie and one of her girlfriends were waiting for Magic to step on the floor. Surprisingly, right before the game began, he walked through their home doors. In her interview with New York Times, the 64-year-old said she knew right away something was wrong.
Speaking about the moment, she told New York Times, “He came walking in the door and I thought he was going to be on TV. I knew something was wrong, really wrong. And when my girlfriend left he sat down and said, ‘I’ve got something to tell you.'”
This was when Johnson told her about the HIV virus. Likewise, the fright set right in. However, after worrying about both, she remembered news that would sink her heart. Notably, only two days before, the couple found out they were having a baby. Likewise, Cookie Johnson was hysteric thinking about the health of their unborn child.
Thankfully, both of them ended up being safe. On November 7, 1991, Magic Johnson told the world about the disease and announced his immediate retirement. Back then, the disease was considered to be a death sentence. However, fighting through, the five-time champion emerged as an advocate for the disease. Spreading knowledge, he led by example and showed the world that a way back is possible.
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That year, the Lakers legend returned for the All-Star game. The emotional night saw him win the game’s MVP honors. In addition, he would soon return to the NBA and play until 1995. Johnson credits his wife for being the sole reason he was able to tackle the dark times. Despite the gut-wrenching news, the couple stayed strong and overcame everything.
