Magic Johnson Recalls Disclosing HIV Diagnosis to His Wife: ‘It Was the Hardest Thing’

Magic Johnson is reflecting on one of the most defining and difficult moments of his life.

During an emotional appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the NBA legend recounted the day he told his wife, Cookie Johnson, that he had contracted HIV, calling it "the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life."

"Well, Jennifer, you think about, first of all, God blessed me to be here 34 years later," Magic began. "I remember, you thought you had made the right decisions, the right moves, and then this news comes."

Johnson said his first concern wasn't for himself but for his wife, who was pregnant with their son, EJ, at the time: "I wasn't worried about me as much; I was worried about Cookie. She was pregnant with our son EJ, and so how was it going to affect her?"

After running tests, Johnson said he was relieved to learn both Cookie and EJ were healthy. But the moment he had to tell his wife about his diagnosis remains etched in his memory.

"When I came home to tell Cookie the news, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, not to play against Michael [Jordan] or Larry [Bird], but to tell my wife I had HIV."

The Hall of Famer said he was unsure how Cookie would respond and that was the one thing that bothered him. However, Cookie reassured Magic they would figure out this ordeal together, which, in return, helped him believe he had a chance to "be here a long time." Magic went on to describe how Cookie's first response was rooted in faith.

"The first thing she said was, 'Let's drop down on our knees and start praying,'" he recalled. "And so God has really blessed both of us."

Since his 1991 announcement, Johnson has spent more than three decades using his platform to spread awareness and fight stigma around HIV and AIDS.