What Magic Johnson Did After Son EJ Came Out To Him
Published -
- June 21, 2018
- 2:23 pm
It looks like it took some time for Magic Johnson to fully accept his son’s sexuality.
Back in 2013, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills alum EJ Johnson came out at gay. Since then, Magic has publicly expressed his support for his son, and even shared some advice for parents of LGBTQ children during a 2017 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show…
Why did the Johnson family choose to share EJ’s coming out with the world, and what impact did it have?
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, with five NBA championships to his name. However, it is his response to his son EJ coming out as gay that has inspired people around the world.
In 2013, EJ, then 20 years old, revealed to his famous father that he was gay. Many people would be surprised or even upset by such news, but Magic Johnson’s response was one of unconditional love and support.
“I told him, ‘Hey, we are here to support you, man, love you, and just let us know. We are going to love you no matter who you are, what you do. We just want you to love yourself,’” Johnson said in an interview.
Rather than keeping this news private, the Johnson family decided to share it with the world. EJ, accompanied by his father, made his public debut on the red carpet of a major event in Los Angeles. EJ wore a bright red blazer, sparkly black shorts, and heels, with his famous father by his side.
This was a watershed moment for both EJ and his father. Magic Johnson was a superstar athlete in the 1980s, but his son’s coming out demonstrated that the family had become champions of a different kind: advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.
In the years since, Magic Johnson has continued to speak out on LGBTQ+ rights and issues. He has become an ally to the community, using his platform to raise awareness of the struggles that LGBTQ+ people face and advocating for solutions.
Underlying Magic Johnson’s reaction to EJ coming out is the message that love, acceptance, and support are more powerful than hate or discrimination. By responding with love, Johnson helped his son feel comfortable to embrace his true self and inspired countless others to do the same.
For Magic Johnson, the moment showed the importance of family, of community, and of standing up for what is right. Those values helped him become an NBA champion, and they continue to guide him as he works to create a better world for everyone.
