Who are Magic Johnson’s 3 children? The billionaire NBA legend called EJ an LGBT icon, worked with Andre, and invested in the fashion brand of Elisa – who didn’t want to be just another nepo baby
- The businessman and former basketball star shares 3 kids with his wife Earlitha ‘Cookie’ Johnson and ex-girlfriend Melissa Mitchell, and spoke on The Ellen Show about his relationship with them
- EJ starred on Rich Kids of Beverly Hills with Elisa, had his own reality show EJNYC, and once told Jada Pinkett Smith on Red Table Talk that men dated him for a chance to meet his famous dad
Billionaire, businessman and renowned basketball star ... Magic Johnson is more than that, though. His courage in 1991 when he publicly confirmed he was HIV positive smashed stereotypes about the deadly virus.
But what was it like to grow up in the shadow of such an icon? While Johnson didn’t hand his three kids free passes, he accepts them for who they are and fiercely defends their choices.
Here’s how Magic and his wife Earlitha “Cookie” Johnson raised their family – and what they’re up to now.
1. EJ, 31
On June 4, 1992, Magic and Cookie, both now 64, welcomed Earvin “EJ” Johnson III into the world. In 2013, he publicly came out as gay, saying at the time that he didn’t expect the public declaration would receive so much media attention, as his family and close friends had already known for about five years, reports People magazine. After his announcement, he starred in Rich Kids of Beverly Hills and had his own reality show, EJNYC.
Despite his family knowing about his sexuality, EJ said they were worried about his decision to go public about it. He told People magazine that his mother didn’t want him to be “scrutinised”.
Speaking about his relationship with his father, EJ said Magic saw him “grow into myself”. As for the basketball icon, Magic said in an interview on The Ellen Show that he focused on not deciding what “your children should be or what you want them to become”, but “loving them no matter who they are”.
In 2016, on an episode of his reality show EJNYC, EJ said that when he saw Caitlyn Jenner coming out as trans, he ended up questioning his own gender identity. Per CBS, he said he realised he does not feel “incomplete” and does not need to transition.