LOS ANGELES — Former NBA star Magic Johnson said Thursday that he’s known “for a long, long time” that his 20-year-old son E.J. is gay, and said he and his wife Cookie made it clear long ago that E.J.’s entire family loved and supported him.
Earlier this week, after a TMZ video showed the Los Angeles Dodgers’ co-owner and NBA Hall of Famer’s middle child stepping out with his boyfriend, E.J’s sexual orientation became public knowledge as well.
In an interview with TMZ, Magic talks about “the talk” with E.J. eight years ago.
“It’s interesting when you’re his parents. We finally had to sit down and talk about it,” Johnson told TMZ of the long-ago decision to have “the talk” with E.J.
“I told him, ‘Look, I’m going to love you regardless. Just let me know: Are you or aren’t you?’ Finally, he said, ‘Yes, I am.’”
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Johnson said that he knows that his son will face difficulties, but said, “I love E.J. so much. That’s my main man. Nothing has changed.”
“Cookie and I love E.J. and support him in every way,” he added, in a written statement to TMZ. “We’re very proud of him.”
