Apparently Magic Johnson was devastated when he walked in on EJ playing with dolls as a child but he later felt he wasn’t being supportive and changed his stance.
The New York Daily News writes:
In Cookie Johnson’s book, “Believing in Magic,” the basketball superstar’s wife recalls how she and her husband struggled with their son EJ’s sexuality. Cookie says teachers at EJ’s preschool noted that he gravitated to wearing Disney princess costumes from the dressup box. Cookie attempted to have EJ play sports — but while other boys were yelling, “Hit the ball to me!” EJ would be in the outfield picking flowers. Eventually, Cookie (inset) began surreptitiously purchasing Barbie dolls for EJ and found he was drawn to the villains like Cruella DeVil — “They had capes, dramatic makeup, and attitude. Swagger.”
Cookie only allowed her boy to play with them in his room, unbeknownst to her Laker husband. However one day Magic came upon his son playing dolls and snatched them away, decreeing, “I don’t want EJ playing with these dolls anymore. Boys don’t do that.” On a family vacation to Hawaii when EJ was 13, Cookie overheard her son and a pal catcalling boys in bathing suits and realized her son was gay. When EJ insisted on telling his father, Magic told him that although he still loved him, he was “very disappointed” and didn’t approve. However the next day Magic apologized and told EJ that he was in fact very proud of him and “you have my full support, no matter what.”
They are great parents.
I may have to buy this book. Cookie is spilling the tea.
Right!
Good sh-t.
I love me some EJ. I’m glad his parents gave him the freedom to be himself. So many young people in the same shoes don’t have that kind of support and it can lead to a very rough life. So kudos to them.
I love this.