The former Los Angeles Lakers star takes to Twitter to shut down false social media claim that he donated his blood to the Red Cross despite being diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
- August 24, 2022
AceShowbiz - Magic Johnson is setting the record straight. The former Los Angeles Lakers star shut down false social media claim that he donated his blood to the Red Cross despite being diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
On Tuesday, August 23 Johnson made it clear that he never donated his blood. "I'm aware of the false story circling the internet, and to be clear, I have never donated blood," so he wrote on the blue bird app.
Johnson was reacting to a parody Twitter account which previously shared a picture of Johnson at a doctor's appointment in 2012 and having his blood drawn. While it's something that the NBA star has routinely done, the troll falsely claimed in the caption, "Earlier today, NBA legend Magic Johnson donated some of his blood to the Red Cross to help underprivileged communities help fight COVID-19."
Johnson's denial received mixed response from Internet users. Some fans mocked him with one tweeting, "They playing wit yo name Magic, we gon get through this. Just stay positive." Seemingly unaware of his HIV diagnosis, a user slammed Johnson as saying, "Damn Earvin, sad to hear you think blood donating is something beneath you or not important... not a message I'd like to see nor my kids!!!"
Some others came to the athlete's defense. "It's a shame that, even in 2022, magic johnson has to even put out a tweet like this. especially since he's been diagnosed with HIV (and remains undetectable) since 1991. people who are laughing at this, or making mockery of this, are a disgrace," one fan wrote.
"What a sad world this is when someone even had to post this! @MagicJohnson is as high class of a person as I've ever met who constantly cares for others! We need to be better folks!!" another fan said.
Johnson announced his retirement from basketball in 1991 after he tested positive for HIV. He then founded a foundation to help combat HIV. In a joint interview with his wife Cookie Johnson in 2021, Johnson explained the "pressure" he felt revealing his diagnosis to his wife.
"It was hard because I loved her so much and I hated to hurt her," he admitted to Gayle King. "I've played against some of the best basketball players in the world, right? I've been in championships. I've been in nine [NBA] Finals, so I know pressure. But there was no greater pressure than driving home to tell her."
