Magic Johnson Shares Rare Family Photo That Includes Son, EJ

Magic Johnson marked a milestone weekend with a family snapshot that included his son, EJ Johnson.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star shared images earlier this week from Lansing, Michigan, where his family gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of his mother, Christine Johnson, and to attend the Earvin Johnson Sr. Car Show in their hometown.

After the daytime festivities, everyone changed for an evening party and a full family reunion with relatives.

“To top it all off, we had an unbelievable family reunion this weekend! Thank you to all my family from across the country for coming to the family reunion and to celebrate my mother,” Magic Johnson wrote on Instagram.

One image that stood out shows Magic Johnson posing with EJ at his left. The media personality and former Rich Kids of Beverly Hills star paired a white blouse, white tie, and beaded necklace with an oversized gray suit. The post is one of the few recent public family photos that feature EJ.

EJ Johnson publicly came out as gay in 2013. But as Variety reported, it was a process for Magic Johnson to accept.

“When you grow up in team sports, you’re thinking, ‘Is he gonna play sports?’” the NBA legend said. “And then when I saw that he liked dolls and to play dress-up … ‘What are you doing?’”

“I was out to all my friends,” said EJ, who is now 29. “[My parents] were the last people that I really had to talk to about it. It wasn’t new for me, but they had to really take that in and digest it. Especially my dad, because he was really the last person to talk to. I think it was just a lot for him to swallow in that conversation. A lot of just going back and forth. And he just was rattling off about things that weren’t particularly nice. But he’s not somebody who works great being cornered or surprised.”

Eventually, the pair repaired their relationship in New York.

“I had only been gone for two months,” EJ says. “He picked me up at my dorm and I was like, ‘Oh, whatever, hey.’ And he hugged me so hard — he was, like, squeezing all the air out of me. That’s when I knew, there’s nothing but love here.”