Lakers Legend Magic Johnson Admits He Wanted To Beat Howard Stern For AIDS And Racial Jokes On National Television Show

Magic Johnson (Instagram @magicjohnson)

JAKARTA - Lakers legend Earvin Magic Johnson recalls many anecdotes about his career, and explores the most upsetting moments of his life. One of them, which he experienced with host Howard Stern.

In his Apple TV+ documentary, They Call Me Magic, which premiered on April 22, Johnson recalled his stint as host of the less successful 1998 talk show The Magic Hour.

At the time, Stern was a harsh critic of Johnson's show, which resulted in the radio host being a guest on the legend's show. At that time, Stern made a series of jokes about race and AIDS that irritated the man who had been living with HIV since 1991.

"The thing you need to do, in my estimation, is you have to stop trying to talk like a white person, that's the truth," Stern told Johnson at the time.

"I said, leave it as it is," said Stern. "Earvin, what you need to do, brother, is to really accept it. Everyone's trying to get you to talk like a white person. I think this show should loosen up and you should talk ebonic all you want. You know what I'm saying?" the radio host added.

It didn't stop there, Stern then joked with the former Lakers player about AIDS.

"You have the life I want. You put on a neat image, but I read about this booty party. Before AIDS, before all that sort of thing, you had a life, right? You're married but you have to screw up... At least you have fun to have AIDS. I know guys, they do blood transfusions, it really hurts," Stern said.

At that point, Johnson explained to Stern that he had HIV, not AIDS. But now, Johnson has revealed that he wanted to punch Stern when he listened to him crack all the jokes, but had to restrain himself while he was on national television.

"I wanted to say something and hit him at the same time - I was angry but there's nothing you can do about it. When people are looking for ratings, this is what happens," said Magic.

"I've never put myself - or HIV and AIDS, or my race - in that position again, never again," added the NBA legend.