Magic Johnson’s 20-year old son EJ was thrust into the national spotlight recently when a TMZ reporter decided to ask him a few questions about his father’s famous sports connections. From there the story exploded from all angles including, Magic’s unwavering support of his son and the potential for a player from one of the three major leagues (NFL, NBA & MLB) coming out of the closet.
EJ gave an interview to the Youtube talk show “Gwissues,” where he discussed if he felt violated by the incident with TMZ and revealed his own future plans for the spotlight. Check out a few highlights from the interview and watch the full piece below.
On being in the spotlight:
“I always wanted to come into the spotlight,” he said. “I always had dreams and plans of doing my own thing and creating my own image, so it came a little sooner than I thought it would but this is still something I knew I would be going through and would have to experience.”
EJ first came out to his family when he was about 13 or 14 years old. He discusses the importance of having that loving support of his family and the experience of coming out to his parents:
“I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do,” E.J. Johnson said. “My parents have always been super supportive. My sister and I have always been really close and she’s been really supportive as with my brother. When it was time to come out, I was, obviously, scared as most people are. After I got all the love and support from my family then I knew I could go out and conquer the world, I guess.”
Johnson said he first came out to his mother, who approached him when he was 13 or 14.
“I told her how I was feeling and she obviously told me that she had known and always would love me anyway. The same thing happened with my dad like a year or so later,” he said. “Everyone has to get used to it. No parent is prepared 100 percent and fully for something like that. We all had to work and move forward.”
EJ wants to be a voice for those who feel they don’t have one. He said that he wouldn’t mind being the face for gay teens.
“the voice for young gay people who need someone to be on TV or wherever else to talk to them and talk about all kinds of issues that all of us face and not just homosexual issues but all kinds of issues.”
“I definitely want to set a really good example,”
EJ says his future plans include something involving fashion and the media. He’d love to have his own talk show at one point too.
