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NEWS > SPORTS > MAGIC JOHNSON OUTRAGED OVER FAKE AIDS
MAGIC JOHNSON OUTRAGED OVER FAKE AIDS
October 11 2008
Minneapolis, MN –Magic Johnson has lashed out at comments from two radio commentators in which they said they believed that the former NBA star did not actually have AIDs or HIV. The comments were made by Chris Baker and Langdon Perry on Baker’s show.
Perry -"Like Magic with his faked AIDS. Magic faked AIDS."
Baker - "You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?"
Perry - "I'm convinced that Magic faked AIDS."
Baker - "Me too."
Johnson retired from the NBA in 1991 after being diagnosed with HIV.
"We can't have people out here making false statements and putting out bad information, because this battle is too big when it comes to HIV and AIDS," Johnson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I poured my life into it and a lot of other people have poured their life into it, into getting out the right information so people can protect themselves and know what HIV and AIDS is all about."
KTLK, the station that aired the broadcast, issued a statement. "We regret that some offhand remarks by commentators on KTLK did not reflect that (‘great work done by Johnson’), " the statement said.”To better inform our listeners and employees, KTLK will be airing HIV/AIDS awareness public service announcements, and will be reaching out to Mr. Johnson to get his thoughts on education efforts."
The station did not mention if any disciplinary action would be taken against the two hosts or what form any action might take.
“Magic Johnson has done remarkably well, especially since he contracted so early in the public life of the disease,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “HIV drugs are very formidable and for those that can afford them should be able to provide patients with a full life. Of course someone like Magic Johnson has had access to the best medical care money can buy, which is likely why he has been able to stay so healthy. The majority of HIV sufferers around the world are dead within a couple of years. That’s probably the root of that conversation, the fact that he has been able to stay so healthy. The real reason for that is because he’s rich, not because he’s a liar.”
In the United States and other western countries HIV is now considered more of a chronic illness rather than a terminal infection, due largely to the availability of more and more sophisticated drugs. In third world nations, in particular nations in Africa, access to virus fighting drug cocktails is limited because of the exorbitant costs involved.
“Johnson may very well be a liar but there’s no evidence to suggest he’s lying about this particular issue,” continued Phelps. “If you were to criticize him for wasting his celebrity and wealth with lousy talk shows and barely doing anything foundations rather than making a concerted effort to help real people in need, then you might have a discussion. I don’t think he’s lying about having the disease, just lying about caring about other people who have it.”
Alexi Orton, Sports Correspondent
NEWS > SPORTS > MAGIC JOHNSON OUTRAGED OVER FAKE AIDS
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