Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson is praising his wife Cookie Johnson for supporting him after his HIV diagnosis. Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama commends them both for “changing the way the world saw the disease.”
In November 1991, Magic Johnson first revealed that he had been diagnosed with HIV. The news sent shockwaves around the globe, but standing right there by his side throughout all the headlines and fallout in the media, was his wife Cookie Johnson.
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32 years later, Johnson continues to credit his wife for being there for him and offering tons of support throughout the years. According to Johnson, he estimates that he receives somewhere between 300 and 500 requests every year from hundreds of organizations around the nation, asking to honor him or his family.
After declining nearly all of the requests this past year, Johnson has accepted one request, leading to him being honored by the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. On Thursday (September 21), Johnson was celebrated at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS, which took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel and was hosted by actor couple Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance.
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During the ceremony, the Johnsons were honored and presented with the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award. Days before the ceremony, however, Johnson reflected on his journey since being diagnosed with HIV.
Speaking on his wife Cookie Johnson supporting him after his HIV diagnosis, the NBA legend told Variety, “To have Cookie’s support, it made it easier for me to tell the world. I also had the support of Dr. Buss, the Lakers, and also the NBA. Knowing that Cookie and I had our strong relationship, and also our faith too. Because Cookie and I pray. Cookie’s a prayer warrior — and I think that helped us too. God really blessed me. The medicine and the support of my beautiful wife. But also those people in the league in terms of Dr. Buss, the Lakers. They supported me then and Commissioner David Stern supported me.”
Johnson also credited his “positive mindset and attitude” with him being able to beat the odds. He added, “I’ve had a positive mindset and attitude because the only thing in life I wanted really was to be with Cookie forever, and hopefully see that we would have some grandchildren.”
Meanwhile, days later at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS, as part of the tribute to the Johnsons, Vance read a letter from former President Barack Obama, who spoke on the impact that the couple has had on the public’s perception of HIV since Johnson’s diagnosis.
Barack Obama wrote, “They didn’t just help raise research dollars or educate the public. They moved us to think in an entirely new way about a condition affecting millions of people around the world — changing attitudes with the kind of grace and encouragement that only true leaders can display.”
The letter continued, “It was the same grace and courage Elizabeth Taylor displayed when she became the first globally recognized HIV and AIDS activist. Work that has been carried on in so many ways by the foundation that bears her name. Magic’s pragmatic, optimistic approach to his diagnosis ended up changing the way the world saw the disease.”
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While taking to the podium with a message of his own, Johnson again reflected on his journey and said, “When I think about my journey 32 years ago, when people say I wouldn’t be here, it’s companies like Gilead and others who provided [an opportunity]. At that time there was only one drug, but the blessing is, now there are over 40. We made some great strides. Now we can have dinners and talk openly about HIV and AIDS, where back then we couldn’t.”
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