On Dec. 1, Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined Oprah Winfrey for a special World AIDS Day segment of “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” Throughout the special, Magic reflected on his personal journey with HIV, but he paused for a moment to discuss a woman whom he says he owes “everything” – Elizabeth Glaser.
“Elizabeth Glaser, I had to meet somebody who had HIV. I -- I needed to know what I was gonna go through. And she was able to tell me,” Magic told Oprah. “You know what she told me? ‘You're gonna live for a long time because all the new drugs are coming down the pipeline. And you're gonna benefit from that.’ And, boy, was she right. I couldn't -- you know, and so she settled me down.
“I owe her everything. Because also she helped my mindset and my attitude.”
Elizabeth Glaser’s candor and spirit continues to inspire us at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. We continue to honor her memory through the work we do each day. To learn more about the EGPAF’s work, click here.
You can watch clips from Magic Johnson’s interview on Oprah's Next Chapter here.