Magic Johnson rips KTLK over “faked AIDS” comment
Posted on October 9th, 2008 – 6:10 PMBy Michael Rand
We don’t usually post this late — the evening is reserved for revelry and snacks — but we thought we should pass along a press release we just received from PR folks about comments made yesterday on KTLK, a local radio station, about retired NBA great Magic Johnson. Here is the full release:
Today, in response to an item from Media Matters for America documenting KTLK radio hosts Chris Baker and Langdon Perry agreeing that “Magic faked AIDS,” former basketball star and philanthropist Earvin “Magic” Johnson denounced the comments as callous and insensitive to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
“I am extremely disappointed in KTLK in Minneapolis. I am outraged that Chris Baker and Langdon Perry would minimize such a serious and deadly issue. Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable,” Johnson said. “Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies.”
During the October 8 broadcast of KTLK’s The Chris Baker Show, Perry asked: “What about diseases that are eminently treatable and you can live with for a long, long time quite healthily if you just get some basic drugs?” Baker interjected, “like Magic Johnson,” to which Perry replied, “Like Magic with his faked AIDS.” After Baker asked, “You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?” Perry stated, “I’m convinced that Magic faked AIDS.” Baker replied, “Yeah, me too.” Perry added: “It falls apart when you get into motivation. I’m not sure why, but I’m pretty sure he faked AIDS. … Cause he’s the only cured AIDS guy ever.”
The transcript and audio are at the above link. Insensitive, unfunny and worthy of ripping. No more needs to be said by us. Perhaps you have some thoughts, though.
134 Responses to "Magic Johnson rips KTLK over “faked AIDS” comment"
I think someone should punch these two morons in the face. Then tell them it was all fake.
These guys a despicable…Take these insensitive, dimwitted, moronic guys off the air. They don’t deserve the opportunity to speak on the radio. They contribute nothing to this world…
What an embarrassment for our community.
Never heard of these guys and hope I never do again.
Do they still have jobs? I put them in the Don Imus catergory.
If KTLK had any cajones, they’d suspend these two morons for some time. It ranks right up there in blatant insensitivity (not to mention slander) with Don Imus’s comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. It’s one thing to be opinionated; it’s another to be accuse someone of something by blatant disregard of the facts.
This really isn’t different at all from the South Park episode in which Magic “discovered” the cure for AIDS (lotsa money). Or their more recent one for that matter celebrating the time coming when you could officially joke about the disease. Let it go. It’s poor form, but it wasn’t done to belittle everyone suffering. It was in the context of Magic - and his unique situation in which he tripled his weight since being diagnosed.
South Park uses satire to make points. This is fundamentally different.
Sorry. Didn’t know you were the humor police. Withdrawn.
Gotta agree with Big Jimmy South Park & these 2 jackasses are completely different
I’m sure that Rand’s former colleague Mr Barreiro is proud to be associated with these two pieces of [redacted].
For those of you as disappointed by these [redacted]’s choice of words, let Chris Baker and Langdon Perry know:
Morons.
in the song “roses” kanye west sings that magic johnson got the cure for aids.
These comments are beyond ignorant. “The only cured AIDS guy ever…” as a follow up line to “those diseases that are eminently treatable”. If these two morons aren’t spending the next 3 months at the HIV clinic or spending time with children born with HIV to get a little perspective on life (and how lucky they are), they should be ashamed of themselves. These are hateful comments that bring no good to the world, and are about as far from providing a humorous distraction from everyday life as possible. I assume they will be providing these “highlights” to their respective mothers, to show them how proud they should be. What’s the saying… “Better to let everyone believe you’re an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt?”
I agree these comments are insensitive to people who are suffering with AIDS. A couple of years after Magic announced he was HIV positive, I wondered if there possibly could be some kind of conspiracy. Other than that Magic amazingly looks better than ever, I don’t really have anything to back up this theory, but, perhaps, the government or some other group paid Magic big bucks to publically “champion” the AIDS virus and even go so far as to admit he was diagnosed with the disease. Because, at the time, AIDS, and the effort to cure the disease, needed some “high profile” to get the funding started, etc.
I know, just a crazy thought, but plausible, yes?
This was clearly satire. Right along the lines of 9-11 was an inside job, the moon walk was faked, etc. It points out absurdity by being absurd. There was no malice involved here, they were just doing what shock jocks do — trying to get a reaction.
But for KTLK it is going to work out very conviently. They have just acquired the Laura Ingraham show which normally runs from 8-11am, but they are now running her in the dead of the night. So bye bye Chris and Langdon, hello Laura.
Lets all be hurt by what they said…How many sensitive people are online this late at night? Baker and Langdon do a great show and are being funny…this country is becoming pathetic with its sensitivity police. I bet all these comments are from stupid libs that dont want us to use obama’s middle name because that is racist.
Who gives the crap about Magic, didn’t know he was still around. Typical American thing to do, lets get made over some words. Go cry somewhere else.
First of all, if you read Johnson’s response, he never once says he has the HIV virus. He doesn’t deny in any way that he faked it! Read his response and try to find where he says this isn’t true! With that said, who cares! Nobody really cares what 2 guys on the radio say, and nobody cares what Magic Johnson has to say!
Who Cares. I’ve lost 30% of my 401K. Magic has millions, so the economy probably doewn’t concern him much. Why should he care what a couple of radio dolts in MN say.
Andy, I’m far from oversensitive, and I’m about as anti-PC as they come. But Baker and Langdon are classless when they talk about something like this. It’s one thing to poke fun at something, it’s another to flat-out make up complete lies and present them as quasi-factual. Listen to the whole clip - it’s fascinating to see how stupid some people can be when the mike is on.
Write to the station. Demand that these two morons be suspended at the very least.
One more comment. What did Magic do to deserve this criticism? I didn’t realize he had enemies.
You people need to recognize that this story is lacking many things, the least of which is context. 1) It is a story concerning a rival news outlet who takes shots at this paper 2) only one side is reported here 3) the use of facetious comments like these (I heard them) are in the context of a humorous dialogue where they were CLEARLY poking fun at this, 4) people need to let it roll off. For goodness sake, Howard Stern is more insensitive than these guys on a daily basis to a magnitude of 10 yet few decry his antics. Those who would criticize this exchange would do well to listen to it before reacting. podcasts available at ktlkfm.com
How does what two blow hards from KTLK say even matter to those who actually HAVE AIDS? I think they hit close to home on Johnson. It was a blow to him, not to AIDS sufferers. Wake up people and quit looking to be offended. The true tragedy of AIDS is in the innocent people who are affected by it. It is a horrible, horrible disease and shouldn’t be laughed at, it should be feared. AND SO THEREFORE, look at Magic Johnson, why isn’t he used as the “model patient?” The point of the two guys from KTLK is that he never had it. He has NO symptoms, what drugs does HE get? Get some thicker skin and quit giving press time to the two guys from KTLK. What they say just doesn’t matter. They are often guilty of just inventing their own “facts.” Who should care?
I heard the comments on Looney For Sport late night program. I would say too much is made of it. It was obviously said in jest and they discredited themselves in saying, “It falls apart when it comes to motivation”.
Actually, Langdon and Chris are probably right - he probably is faking it. But then again, WHO cares? The P.C. police must be having a slow night if this is all it took to you up in arms… If you wanna complain, look east to Washington. There are 700,000,000,000 reasons to complain there!
Big Jimmy: I agree with your comment about how some people become lying jerks with microphone on. You must be talkin’ about Obama…
Laughing: Uh, no.
Came acros’magics this comment section. Wow, you all need to get a life. Who really cares what “magic” says and who cares even less what peons say. Not me. Good bye losers.
Ervin “Magic” Johnson is a real person with real feelings and yes he has battled a real disease in HIV for many years. I find it dispicable for these two men to use him as fonder for laughs, ratings, conspiracy theories, lies or whatever. We met in college and he still remains my friend. Those of us who share that love and close frienship with him know the person he is and how he cares about people, especially young people. He would never sacrifice his family, career and his love of basketball for money and fame. He already had that. He doesn’t have to justify or prove anything to anybody. The fact is he has HIV not AIDS and many people, not just him have survived, THANK GOD. I will pray the station does the right thing in this case. At the very least a written apology to Ervin himself should be forthcoming ASAP. However, if they are doing it just to save their collective insensitive butts, then don’t bother.
Regardless of if it was in good humor or bad humor, the bottom line is freedom of speech. This basic freedom was not given to the American people to protect accepted speech, it was to protect from unpopular speech such as this one. Anyone calling for these guys to be fired because of what they say might want to move to China.. perhaps they’d like it better there. As for a radio station - there are two knobs on the radio. One of them changed the channel, the other one shuts it off. Get a life, people.
what, there are stupid jerks on talk radio (and ignorant hicks who love them)? i am shocked, shocked i tell you.
If you don’t like it, don’t listen! Get over it!!
We don’t know about Magic Johnson, remember he still played basketball when he so called contracted the disease. There maybe questions about this by others that wonder why he would still play. He never did change in his appearance in comparison to others who suffered this deadly disease.
It was satire.
Cause theres no such thing as a conspiracy? I knew Magic didn’t have aids two weeks after he announced it.
People who deny every conspiracy theory are out of touch with reality.
They’re right in the respect that only Magic seems to be “cured.” If indeed he had AIDS, he’d be dead by now.
“Insensitive?” Can anyone buck up and be a man for once?
Goodness!
Let me get this straight, the people who are complaining here are the same ones that give a pass to Al ‘why pay taxed’ Franken ‘jokes’ about
rape, incest, beastality?
I’m drowinging in the hypocrasy (okay who knows if I spelled that right).
It wasn’t a slam on those suffering from Aids or HIV as it was a testament to how well Magic appears to be doing.
btw
The Chris Baker show rocks!!!
It’s interesting that someone of Magic’s stature would care to weigh in on this?
Why is he so defensive? Aren’t public figures used to being talked about? Don’t they just ignore this stuff?
Or was a nerve hit?
Interesting…..
Oh….. interesting story, I almost didn’t notice because I’m busy counting up the controversial left wing lunatics associated with Barack Obama
let’s see where was I?
William Ayers
Bernadine Dorn
Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Fr. Flaggarty
Frank Marshall Davis
Acorn
oh this could take awhile
Who actually listens to their shows?
Boo-hoo… Media Matters, that’s the joke and punchline right there… What haven’t they taken out of context???
M Johnson likely got AIDS by being a male slut (as he bragged about). Just desserts for someone who was and is a role model for immorality.
Who cares if anyone rips on someone like that?
Free speech, remember? You liberal thought cops assail Bush for “trampling” the constitution, but then assail these guys for their comments. Liberal stupidity never ceases to amaze me.
Media Matters combs the radio and TV airwaves daily for snafu’s like this. The story comments on how many people this hurts who are living with AIDS. Well, I’m sorry, but Media Matters’ involvement here has spread this to many more people than it originally affected. It was a stupid, irresponsible comment, but that’s what talk radio is built on. You try talking non-stop for 3 hours a day without saying something that you regret. The comments were rooted in sarcasm. Let it go people, there are much bigger things to worry about these days!
I think he was a turd for sleeping around on me. Maybe he got STD, he sure ain’t got no AIDS. Either way, he got what he deserved.
Psst Chris: You’re on the air for 2 hours!
To Mrs Magic: Yo! Wazzzupppppppp!
I think the real story here is that someone listened to KTLK.
To: Just the facts Jack
Actually Chris is on for 4 yes that is four, fabulous hours!
I know it seems like two, because time does go by super fast when you are having a good time.
Four hours of AIDS jokes? That’s just great.
For all those using “freedom of speech” as a defense. “Freedom of speech” is freedom from the government suppressing speech. “Freedom of speech” does not mean that you can say anything you want without any consequences, or that other people can’t criticize you for your speech. It continues to amaze me how many folks will trot out this canard every time someone gets criticized (more speech) for saying something stupid.
Hey Stu:
Talk radio is infotainment
and the ‘joke’ although perhaps in poor taste was about Magic not about the disease.
something actually worth getting upset about vis-a-vis Aids would be the big WHO HIV blunder
check it out:
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/hiv/dn4442-who-accused-of-huge-hiv-blunder.html
Ditto Stu - KTLK is doing so poor in ratings and in the ability to be of any value (ad revenues continue to plummet) that they resort to this sort of nonsense. The news truly is that the station may actually have listeners besides those poor customers who happen to be having to wait in a auto service center while they get their tires changed by the red necks inside.
This was a wrong thing to say! We need to understand who we hurt when we say such things. Mr. Johnson is a person too! He can be hurt like all of us. By the way I know of many persons cured of hiv aids by prayer in the name of JESUS! Mr. Johnson is a CHRISTAIN and had his pastor pray for him. To all who have any problems, “there is nothing too hard for God”! You can get what you need too.
Actually, if you listened to the show, the actual audio, you’d realize that these comments were made in a satirical fashion. But no, just because Media Matters said something people take it as gospel.
KTLK should have these morons head. This is just a display of how narrow minded, ignorant, and evil these 2 are. God forbid that either of them or someone from their family is diagonosed with something this dreadful. Don’t forget, what comes around surely goes around. Trust me it will!!
Checatzo is right. I’ve never heard of or listened to these guys and I could tell it was satire. Don Imus pulled a similar stunt, people didn’t find it funny, and had to apologize. Did it ruin his career? Not hardly. More people know the Don Imus name now, don’t know what he got famous for, but they remember his name! There is no such thing as bad publicity. No sense giving these guys free publicity and Majic shouldn’t have dignified their comments.
Actually some people can still have the virus,and live perfect lives just EAT THE RIGHT DIET and have some little other things done.Get out of the big cities,temperance,pure air,pure water,forgive and forget,HELP OTHERS and TRUST THE LORD.
Would someone help me, praying to jesus as a cure for HIV? When will the ‘mericans wake up….SANTA CLAUS is the only man in the sky….except for the reindeer, Mrs. Claus, and the helpers
Who are all these people? Did I enter Bizarro Randball?
Both should be fired!
jama: it was front-paged all night last night, so there’s your answer.
If you take the time to look it is all over the net. It happens in churches all over the world. But it requires faith! Faith in the power and the love of God. Read Mark 16:15-20 and you will see what i am talking about. Maybe you should try believing in Jesus and you will experience something that will make you say I KNOW IT IS HARD TO BELEIVE BUT JESUS IS REAL! To get somthing new you must try something new!
I think these two guys are just idiots, that’s it, just two idiots attempt at getting a laugh of other expense. We’ve all seen this before. But, b love, what are you talking about???
James look at what I said earlier.
I actually HEARD the comments on the radio and they were said tongue in cheek. While I thought it was in bad taste, I realized neither of them were serious about it. But, for those of you expressing outrage, I get it, what YOU find funny is acceptable satire protected by the first amendment and what you don’t is unacceptable and needs to be silenced.
james this is for you
This was a wrong thing to say! We need to understand who we hurt when we say such things. Mr. Johnson is a person too! He can be hurt like all of us. By the way I know of many persons cured of hiv aids by prayer in the name of JESUS! Mr. Johnson is a CHRISTAIN and had his pastor pray for him. To all who have any problems, “there is nothing too hard for God”! You can get what you need too.
big jimmy go stuff your self
The first sign of AIDS is a severe pounding in the ass.
Good luck, Magic, and thanks for spreading your disease all across the country as you screwed everything you could.
I know I feel sorry for him.
WOW! The ignorance of Americans never ceases to amaze me! AS someone who has had 2 relatives die of AIDS through BLOOD TRANSFUISONS not sex, it is a slap in the face that these two idiots and the morons defending them have learned so little about such a dangerous disease. Yes Magic is healthy looking, you are ENCOURAGED to gain weight when you have HIV/AIDS as you are able to fight off infection better. Yes he is still alive, a person can live with HIV for many, many years as HIV and AIDS are very different, the live span once AIDS takes hold is normally less than 3 years. Yes there have been advances in medications since my relatives died which has made the average life expectancy in those that can afford them much higher.
Grow up you morons!
Oh and as mentioned before Free Speech is against censorship from the powers that be not society in general, society is responible for setting examples acceptable behaviour amongst it’s memebers!
And God cannot cure HIV/AIDS, neither can Jesus, the Pope, Buddah, Allah, Jehovah, Santa Clause any ficticious character from book you can think of really!
Like the 1st poster said, someone needs to punch these 2 morons in the face and then tell them it was fake. What did Magic have to gain by “faking” AIDS? He already had it all.
jeffrerr says:
October 10th, 2008 at 8:43 am
WOW! The ignorance of Americans never ceases to amaze me! AS someone who has had 2 relatives die of AIDS through BLOOD TRANSFUISONS not sex,
Hey dumbass, Magic didn’t contract HIV/AIDS from anything but unprotected sex. Don’t turn this into a liberal rant. You sound like a pussy.
OFF-TOPIC:
While all y’all were trying to determine the humor value of AIDS jokes (final answer: like dead baby jokes, they are awesome until you get out of junior high; if you still like them after that, you’re a douchebag), Chinese Democracy has a release date! Feel your serpentine!
/OFF-TOPIC
not a suprise coming from a crappy radio station, if your looking for a good point of view with out the ignorance I highly reccomend am1500. its people like 100.3 that give conservative minded people a bad name.
GL for life. boo all others.
and south park had a much better take on magic johnsons aids, we all know the real cure for aids. cold hard cash.
Screw you Bob! Learn to read, I said MY RELATIVES got it through blood transfusion not Magic, it was 1984 when bloods weren’t tested for HIV/AIDS yet! Probably about about the same year a red neck hick brother and sister mated then 9 months later Bob comes out!
And I’d rather sound like a pussy then an uneducated douchebag like you! MORON!
I have said this for years. My friends thought I was crazy at first but when they listened to my theory they started agreeing. The govt needed to raise AIDS awareness in the early 90’s. Who better than a guy who was at the end of his career to use as a spokesman? Magic still got paid and that is that. The govt also understands that people forget things and won’t make a deal about this in 10 years. They were right. His wife and kids are still healthy. Interesting isn’t it?
[sigh] Well, it was a real nice secret organization we had once.
Freedom of Speech? Thanks to our goverment I am teaching my grandchildren the Pledge of Legience To The Flag, which was taken out of our schools.
Some people put other people down to make themselves look better because they themselves have low self esteem.
These two jokers hiding behind a mic probably probably have not been taught anything about aids or any other devestating disease that is lurking out there. they won’t truly understand it until they or someone close to them get it.
Maybe God or anyone from a (ficticious) book cannot cure aids but are you certain of that? how do you know? Been there done that?
I think Magic handled himself in a proper way. God Bless Him for he has worked hard and has the money to but the medications he needs.
The pharmacutical companies are letting the rest of our infected people struggle with their diseases because they make it impossible for people to buy them.
These 2 guys are just MORONS in the morning….who are they anyway? clowns?
Well God healed me when I had bleeding ulcers and the doctor wanted to operate and cut them out. They checked after prayer and they were gone! My daugter was healed of a blockage in her intestines at nine months old again they x-rayed her before prayer and it was gone after. I know of a lady that had aids in the final stages and was given weeks to live and had prayer and was completely healed. The list goes on and on. I know it takes believing! Mr. Jonhson is a believer in Jesus and did all he could do through meds, eating right ex… and let God do the rest. I will be praying for you jeffrerr. It can’t hurt! only help. If any of you need prayer email me your prayer request pray4me2blove@aol.com
jeffrerr says:
October 10th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Screw you Bob! Learn to read, I said MY RELATIVES got it through blood transfusion not Magic, it was 1984 when bloods weren’t tested for HIV/AIDS yet! Probably about about the same year a red neck hick brother and sister mated then 9 months later Bob comes out!
And I’d rather sound like a pussy then an uneducated douchebag like you!
That was my point, you idiot. Your relatives can’t be compared to a dumbass who chose that lifestyle.
You still sound like a pussy though.
Although i feel the radio hosts meant no harm, they have a responsibilty to report fact not opinion. They teach you that in Mass Communication 101. Maybe the radio station should invest in sending you guys to school so you can get the basics. Before it ends up with a major law suit on its hands.
So, being front paged = descent into YouTube comment territory.
@s2rweeze- It’s even worse. People to clueless to know about YouTube still know what the Star Tribune is and can figure out how to comment. Best to just keep on moving…
Trixy-
They weren’t purporting to be providing fact, anyone who listens to Air America or KTLK or The Patriot knows that they are listening to an opinion show. Only at the news breaks is fact reported.
What is really sad is that almost 40% of the people in the StarTribune poll find the theory at least possible. What a bunch of dopes!
Hey Gobush - Magic’s very succinct response calls these idiots out for “making up such ridiculous lies.” How is that not a denial? It was looking certain you were an idiot by the name you chose, but your comment solidified it.
They could’ve worded it better, but yeah, deffinately a controversial issue. I know they say if you have AIDS and u catch it right away, they can put it to sleep and theres a possibility you can live very long. But it’s still sceptical. The guy never looked sick, always healthy as a horse. Money cures everything.
If magic’s wife doesn’t have the disease was Magic a horn dog out there just sleeping with anyone. Also Obama Bin Laden and the democratic party should be stopped at all cost. It is because of Mr Clinton not taking care of Bin Laden when he new exactly where he was located and did nothing about i9s why 9/11 happened and we are in this war. Idiot Clinton and the democratic party’s incompetance caused this war that the republican party have to clean up.
Damn, The man was an athlete. Healthy in his prime. Of course he never looked sick. He probably takes his meds and eats right. For all of you that may go out tonight in a crowded club or bar, take a second and look around at all the “healthy looking” beautiful people and ask yourself, “How many of these people are HIV positive? How many don’t know they are HIV positive? How many will contract the diease by the end of the night?”
EVERYONE SHUT UP AND PAY ATTENTION
This will really blow your mind: Have you heard the term “greater good” Magic’s aid announcement helped bring attention of our youths to this deadly epidemic and quite possibly helped save millions of lives accross the globe. This is quite possibly the most selfless sacrifice anyone has made in our generation. Say a secret government agency is really concerned about the Aid epidemic and wanted to do something dramatic to catch the youth’s attention. They would probably look for a Sports star and someone who really cares about making a difference. Who would have been larger than magic at the time and who in sports history has the heart to make such a sacrific. Are you still following me? Let’s say hypotheically that this government agency approaches magic with the ideas of helping save millions of lives accross the globe by announcing he had AIDs. (not saying it happened). Can you think of anything thing else that has brought as much awareness to the AID issue than that announcment (not saying it happened). This was perhaps the greatest, most sefless sacrifice anyone would have made in our times (am not saying it happened). The real dis-service to humanity is the radio-host jokes who let the lid off this in such a dispicable way. The human brain is the biggest muscle we have yet the one we exercise the least. Someone may just have given his life to save others !!! EVERYONE SHUT UP AND PAY ATTENTION
KTLK should fire both of these no-talent arse-clowns. I was a regular and loyal listener of KTLK for years. No longer. Combined, these idiots are on from 5 am to 11 am. They’ve made it very easy to switch the dial and support the advertisers on other stations.
Nobody ever heard where did he catch the HIV. They should sit him down on national television and in front of this nation ask Magic point blank where did you catch the virus. After this they should sit down Bill Clinton and ask him why he did nothing with Bin Laden when they had him.
I was diagnosed with AIDS 10 years ago. I had been HIV+ for less than a year. The AIDS diagnoses comes when your CD4/CD8 (T-cells) falls below 100 (400 back then). I went on the triple cocktail of medications that fight the virus and keep it under control and my T-cell count increased and the virus level went down. In just under 2 years I was no longer in the category of AIDS, but I still have HIV and my immune system will never be “back to normal”. I weighed 130 lbs when I was diagnosed but I weigh 165 now. I still get sick much easier than none HIV infected people and I still have to take these medications every 1 hours, every day of every year to control the virus, but I, like Magic, am not cured. If the virus doesn’t mutate becoming making the medications no longer affective and finish killing us, then the medications will eventually destroy our liver, causing liver failure and death. We are living on borrowed time, but for now, we are healthier than when we were diagnosed with AIDS and we are still living with HIV. There’s no conspiracy and, as yet, no cure.
that was 12 hours, not 1 hours
Take a syringe of Johnsons blood and offer to inject them with it for an offer of $100,000. I bet they would not even dare say yes. Any bets?
Well said PosInBama… 
If these guys would really read up on HIV/AIDS they would know that if you take your medicine like you are suppose to, see your doctor when you need to, and eat right the HIV/AIDS can not be detected in some people.
To teedee: just because you become undectable does not mean you are cured. And about MJ stand up (like stand up to Cancer campaign) and help the others with Hiv life and hope free of Hiv and Aids! He is helping noone but himself I agree Go Magic!
It’s too bad Magic’s response take the opportunity to do some education: the difference between HIV and AIDS, his own status (which could help with understanding that difference), current treatments, correction of “only cured guy ever” and maybe a comment about how not to get infected. I think all of these tend to reduce the times people make stupid, insensitive remarks. I think it works a lot better than simply denouncing people for being stupid and insensitive.
i agree, maybe he is faking it. in any case magic is a cocky racist. he thinks hes above everyone. this might actually be a reality check for him. the guy rips off companies.promises to make appearance for a certain time and money yet he only shows up when he wants to and for as long as he feels like it,but gladly takes the whole money. hes a joke and most likely a liar.
Sorry, meant “it’s too bad Magic’s response didn’t take the opportunity …”
What is inappropriate in this whole story is Magic using AIDS as a diagnosis for whatever reason. Its clear he’s not had any ill effects…and it’s a joke amongst a lot of people on the street. So these DJ’s just said what everyone thinks!! It’s not different than all the Hollywood liberals and their bizarre outragious comments and accusations. I don’t see anyone up and arms about them. When they do it it’s called “freedom of speech” or expression. And “they just say what everyone thinks…but doesn’t have the nerve to say”. Get over it everyone! The media and liberals are so hypocritical. By the way…I’m commited to neither conservative or liberal. I’m commited to what’s positive and productive. And this is neither!
So it’s ok for SNL to insinuate that Sarah Palin’s husband banged one of his kids but this isn’t ok? Of course it is because the Strib is so far left that they only call out the conservatives! I love Chris Baker’s show but I don’t know why they bother putting Langdon there. He’s so far left he could be on MPR!
First of all, nobody ever said Magic had AIDS. He did not and does not have AIDS. He was diagnosed as HIV positive, which is not AIDS.
Oh, and Gobush is a moron.
I don’t understand the people who would think that Magic would fake having HIV. Everyon is talking about money he could have been paid. Forget money. What an insult it would be to the people who have that dreadful disease. My relative died of it. I believe that Magic would not put himself under the humiliation and embarassment across the world to make a point. He is famous enough without having to get the message to others by a lie. I also think that people should research the disease and then you wouldn’t say what you are saying. By the way. How many of you know about Magic’s life.You only see him in public. Find out what he does about research before you say anything. Knowledge puts you in the catagory of knowing what you are talking about.People talk about freedom of speech. But does that mean that you have to use it to degrade people. How would you feel if someone said something that hurt or demeaned you? I’m sure you wouldn’t like it. Think about yourself when you decide to belittle someone else.
Does anyone know how Magic got HIV. Was it from adultery, a bad blood transfusion or did he slam drugs into a vein. I am not sure how and I don’t know of anyone that truly know’s how he got the HIV
I LOST MY NIECE TO THIS ILLNESS IT WAS NOT PRETTY SHE WENT THROUGH ALOT OF SUFFERING IF YOU DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS DISEASE KEEP YOUR BAD COMMENTS ABOUT AIDS TO YOURSELF AIDS IS VERY REAL IT’S HERE TO STAY UNTIL OUR GOVERMENT GIVE’S US THE CURE THEY DO HAVE MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD MIGHT LIVE A LITTLE LONGER.START LEARNING MORE ABOUT AIDS OR LET KILL ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONE’S AND THEN TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL.
To Whom It May Concern,
I want to ask a question.
Is that true rumor that Magic Johnson has “cured” his HIV? If yes, Whom did he got his cured come from? His Dr? or by whom? How much did he expenses to cured him?
Thank you for your time,
Colleen Simsa
I think that he told how he got it. Pay attention. People. HIV is the virus. AIDS is the sickness. The two are different. Magic has HIV. AIDS is the one that causes the person to die. HIV is like carrying around the TB virus. You don’t get sick, but you have it. It is in your body. Please make sure you know the difference before you say the wrong thing. So many people say the wrong thing when they don’t think before they speak. Remember, once out of the mouth, you can’t take it back. It can hurt and cause someone harm. You should know the power that words can have. Please, be careful not to use them unmorally.
nosuchthing How did Magic get HIV??? I never heard an explanation
to blah, unprotected SEX
nosuchthing so did he have adultery
Even if he does have it, which I’m sure he does. Millions of people have it and are now managing the disease. It’s treatable with modern medicine, and only getting furtherly advanced in its treatment. Thats why he has no signs, and I’m sure he has the top notch health care, some poor people are unable to attain, which are the majority of those affected, unfortunately.
A cure for HIV has proven difficult but will be achieved someday. A cure for what Baker and Perry have is downright impossible. Stupidity cannot be cured.
I don’t understand how people with no knowledge or compassion can have a job in the public sector where their opinons are valued. I have a nephew, by marriage, who contracted AIDS, not HIV, in 1984 and lived with the disease until 2002. With appropriate treatment and change in live style you can live a productive life. But,above all else, GOD has the last word, not some ill informed radio jock. And I use the term loosely.
I like “Magic”. He left a great career. Why? Because he was told what could have been a fake. That is that he had HIV. The medical men whom he put his trust in. Perhaps that was the beginning of the “fakery”. Johnson, whom most will agree, has championed himself as a sincere peoples person. He decided to go public with the diagnosis given him. I’m quite a bit leary of that diagnosis not his going public with having the disease. Therefore, the statement made only solitifies the stupidity of someone talking over a mike whether the moron knows that it’s on or dosn’t know that it’s on.
One post (by Jim) brings up “freedom of speech”, and he suggests to change the station if one does not like what they hear. But that is the freedom to change the sation, not freedom of speech. We have freedom of speech. Those two guys can go and say this anywhere, but not on the air. That is a bit different they do have standards.
What galls me more than KTLKs idiocy is that 38% of those who took the strib poll believe that Magic faked HIV or that it is possible that he did. I want to know who these morons are and where they live so that I can avoid them.
typical empty conservative hatemongers, i wonder if they would agree to back that up getting a bit or Magic’s blood on an open cut to show the courage of their convictions.
to Blah:
Magic had many many females he hooked up with, he says it in his book, he got it from one of these encounters. Regarding Clinton he tried to get Osama and it was an obsession with his staff. When they tried to inform the incoming Bush administration about the threat they were brushed off. The attacks happened under Bush, and the failure to get him the past 7 years is on him as well.
Former counter terrorism expert Richard Clark and others paint a picture of Bush administration being deaf to warnings Clark added: “I blame the entire Bush leadership for continuing to work on Cold War issues when they (came) back in power in 2001. It was as though they were preserved in amber from when they left office eight years earlier. They came back. They wanted to work on the same issues right away: Iraq, Star Wars. Not new issues, the new threats that had developed over the preceding eight years.” Keep believing the right and Reganomics didn’t cause the 10 trillion debt, that 9/11 wasn’t Bush dropping the ball, and that your mythical skygod is the correct belief system….
or get an education and pick up a book
What’s there to gain for him to fake of having AIDS ? These idiots should be FIRED and send to Siberia.
FOR THE IGNORANT…. you do not automatically get AIDS… AIDS is when your immune system is totally shut down and you are suseptable to illness. Most are HIV positive and can live many years without drugs or any intervention by a doctor. You can also have AIDS and return to an HIV positive status with drug treatment. So get your facts straight before you try to pretend you know the real deal on HIV and AIDS. IDIOTS!!!!
Stigma, discrimination and disinformation are some of the biggest challenges faced by people living with HIV/AIDS - as well as to the efforts made to stop the transmission of the disease.
When media practitioners, who’s opinions are amplified, reinforce negative stereotypes and spread ignorant comments, even as a joke, they do a huge disservice in the fight against the disease.
Magic Johnson made us all realize that anyone and everyone is at risk. He is an easy target for attacks because he had the courage to stand up and fight publically.
It doesn’t matter how someone contracts the virus, what matters is the health and wellbeing of the person affected and that the disease isn’t spread any farther. Moralizing only creates more fear and ignorance and makes the lives of people who are already suffering more difficult.
There are approximately 1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS - these people are living longer, healthier lives because of the research that has led to a greater understanding of the disease and improvements in prescription medication. Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS is no longer an automatic death sentence, but it does mean that life will never be the same again.
All of us have to fight against the ignorance of comments like those made by Baker and Perry, especially when made in the media, because we are all at risk.
Ignorance, fear and descrimination are the enemy, not someone who contracts a disease and then stands up to publically fight against it.
The only radio stations with worse ratings are Air America’s, so I assume very few people ever heard about this. But KTLK just got all you moronic “Thought Police” to discuss this, now I am curious as to what else goes on at KTLK, so I think I’ll give it a listen.
I guess I would like to jump on the comment bandwagon on this one… I very rarely blog, but I couldn’t let this one go. I work with people with HIV everyday.
Right now our country is in big trouble, true the economy is a mess, people are losing their shirts in the market, jobs are being lost, there are hiring freezes. AIDS is not on the forefront of most people’s minds these days. Although it was an insensitive comment, I am glad that it was brought up because it gets people talking about the disease that many (unless it affects them) have forgotten or choose not to think about. I have met “Cookie” Johnson, Magic’s wife. I can tell you that whether or not Magic “faked” AIDS both he and his wife do amazing work for people livng with the HIV virus and should be commended for it. Why in God’s name would anyone want to “fake” it. And by the way, Magic does not have “AIDS” he is “HIV” positive and taking anti-retroviral therapy called “kaletra” HIV is the virus that causes AIDS and AIDS is defined by a CD4 count lower than 200, and according to what I have learned, this has never been the case with Magic. So this must be why de didn’t confirm or deny because he doesn’t have AIDS he has HIV. Maybe the morning crew should do some research before the spew out comments about something they know nothing about.
I urge all who read this to GET TESTED! There are millions of people infected that don’t know. We will never stop the spread of this disease if people don’t know that they have it!
Freedom speech is such an ugly thing. Lets “punch” and “fire” them for exercising their freedom to speak their mind no matter how much we disagree or find it offensive.
Sorry guys, but members of my family have already questioned why Magic looks so entirely healthy for someone with the AIDS virsus. Perhaps money can do it … keep one safe, but I agree with all of those who said “read Magic’s response”. He does not confirm or deny anything. But, who cares - listen to KQRS Morning Show for really good idiot stuff. 401K plans are being hit across the nation and I’ve got other things to worry about!
And Langdon Perry is supposed to be a credible journalist? I’ve heard him blither on KFAN without looking up even the morning newspaper of the day, giving his personal opinion. He’s full of b.s.
With someone of Magic’s wealth, he has the means to have the best anti-viral drug regimen possible. There are many people with an HIV positive test who are alive many years later.
IDIOTS portraying themselves as journalists (who should be on KQRS).
I still remember the day Magic announced he had HIV. I was only 13 and I remember being in disbelief that this could be happening to him. I remember the news conference that was held and Magic and his wife crying. He looked very gaunt and it was very obvious that he was very, very sick. A lot has changed in the last 17 years. Research has made way for promising new drug therapies to combat the virus. Medical care is also more accessible for those that might otherwise not be able to afford it. This means that those that are living with the disease are healthier and living longer. Some doctors are now treating HIV as more of a “chronic” health condition than a death sentence. Alternative therapies (meditation, acupuncture, etc…..) have also helped those with the disease become not just physically healthy, but, mentally “healthy” as well. Magic put a “face” to AIDS. I am so happy to see that he is doing well. I think it is so apprehensible that people can make comments that he’s “faking” this horrible disease. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. KTLK needs to do what’s right….ethically, morally, and socially. These two should have at the very least been suspended. Not only do they owe Magic an apology, they owe those that suffer or are watching loved ones suffer from this horrible disease. As a Minnesotan, I am embarrassed that these two can make these terrible comments and their “employer” just sits back and does nothing. They are a disgrace to the entire Twin Cities broadcasting community.
What was said requires no talent. God forbid that anyone with talent should be on Twin Cities radio.
Jimmy C: You read Magic’s comment:
Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies.
I’d say “ridiculous lies” is a pretty good indication that he’s denying it.
