NBA legend Magic Johnson dropped by The View on Wednesday to promote his new docuseries, They Call Me Magic. He spoke to the ladies of the daytime talk show about his career, marriage and HIV diagnosis.
Johnson allowed the documentary to take a look into his life in hopes of inspiring others with his challenges and triumphs.
In 1991, he held a press conference to announce his retirement from basketball due to his HIV diagnosis.
When asked how he processed that moment in his life and remained hopeful, he gave credit to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to the president.
“First of all, let me thank Dr. Fauci, Dr. Ho, they both really helped me to be here. 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,” the basketball legend said.
He continued, praising his wife, Cookie Johnson, for not leaving him and acknowledged the support of his family and the Los Angeles Lakers.
He explained that he came to the forefront to educate the public and to help build clinics to increase the accessibility of resources and medication for those who couldn’t afford them.
“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.”
During the conversation, co-host Joy Behar asked him what made him decide to do the docuseries.
“Michael Jordan did Last Dance, and I was in his incredible doc series, and just the last episode, my phone started ringing a lot: ‘It’s your turn now. When are you going to do yours?'” the former Lakers point guard said. “[I] partnered with Apple TV plus, and here I am doing the doc.”
Johnson said he was pleased to have his family and parents involved in the project. Celebrity guests, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Snoop Dogg and Samuel L. Jackson, are also featured in the docuseries.