Magic Johnson Says Dr. Fauci Helped Him After HIV Diagnosis
Dr. Anthony Fauci is now a household name thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but Magic Johnson reveals that the world-famous immunologist played a huge role in his life decades ago.
Many may know Fauci for being director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President during the COVID-19 pandemic, but during the 1980s and ‘90s he was an expert in sexually transmitted diseases during a time not much was known about them. It was around that time that Fauci helped the Los Angeles Lakers legend cope with his 1991 HIV diagnosis and the unfortunate stigma about it that followed.
Speaking with The View on Wednesday (April 27), Johnson revealed that Fauci was instrumental in teaching him how to maintain a healthy lifestyle following his diagnosis.
“First of all, let me thank Dr. Fauci, Dr. Ho, they both really helped me to be here," he said. "They helped me understand that I had to take my meds, I had to be comfortable with my new status, make sure I kept a positive attitude, and keep working out, and so I’ve been doing that. Here I am 30 years later."
Johnson also spoke about providing his diagnosis news to the masses in order to help others, while praising his wife, Cookie Johnson, for not leaving him at the time.
“That was everything, for me to heal, also for me to help people, especially in the Black and brown community, because it was running rapidly through our community at that time. We brought the numbers down,” Johnson said. “I became the face, and I am happy about that.”
Watch the full interview segment below.
