Magic Johnson could either be upset or laugh it off as nothing. Famed comedian Marlon Wayans seemingly crossed the line while joking about the 5x NBA champ a few weeks ago. As the joke gained traction among fans for both good and bad reasons, Wayans believes it’s best to avoid the NBA legend altogether. He didn’t want to repeat the joke during an interview with Shaq. However, he isn’t apologetic or ashamed of making a joke many might find offensive.

Wayans had joked about Johnson’s AIDS diagnosis, calling it a “good” one as it referenced the NBA legend’s memorable rise to becoming a billionaire. During his latest interview on The Breakfast Club, the 53-year-old comedian revealed the real reason behind the offensive joke. He believes his role and intention are noble, which is to make people laugh. Wayans even mentioned that he has made jokes about his parents, who have passed away.

“Here’s the thing. Either you going to get mad about a joke or you ain’t. And if you get mad, you can f*****g leave. I’m not going to retract statements. I’m not going to retract jokes. They are jokes. If I didn’t go in these dark caves to find this little light and this little elixir called the laugh, then what the f**k am I doing this for? I’m not going to make everybody laugh at one time. I hope to tell the right joke. That’s why you go on tour, that’s why you work it out, that’s why you throw different things out there,” he said on the podcast.

He further compared himself to a scientist, saying they try things out and they can either succeed or fail. “You watch people walk out, but just because they walk out don’t mean it’s going to be a bad joke. I’ve seen people walk out on that joke and then that became my biggest joke. They was like, ‘Ohh, you can’t say that.’ Oh? I offended you? That means you’re listening, so let me dig a little deeper coz I know there’s oil here. And when I did, that gave me an applause break. That’s how much people laughed about that.”

The host then asked him if Magic ever reached out to him. Wayans had another joke up his sleeve, saying, “I hope not but I think when he see me, he’s gonna kiss me in the mouth.” The whole panel was left speechless, silently laughing at the comedian’s latest joke.

Avoiding Johnson seems to be his current plan, but the awkwardness was evident during his appearance on The Big Podcast with Shaq. When Shaquille O’Neal asked him to repeat the joke, Wayans hesitated but said it anyway, expressing hope that he would never run into Magic Johnson.

Marlon Wayans isn’t scared of a risky joke

“I just said he had the good AIDS,” Wayans had joked. “What AIDS you get where you live 50 years? I want those AIDS. He’s become a billionaire with AIDS. Give me those AIDS. What kind of AIDS is this, financial AIDS,” Wayans said on the Big podcast.

Nowadays, most comedians prefer to maintain boundaries to avoid getting canceled. Cancel culture has become increasingly prominent, with fans often cutting off celebrities over controversial comments. However, Wayans isn’t afraid of any of that.

He has frequently stirred up chaos on social media with his remarks, more often than you might think, yet he seems unconcerned. He also made a joke about Jason Aldean’s song, “Try That In a Small Town,” which sparked a reaction. Some people defended Wayans, while others criticized him.

Later, the comedian addressed the situation on social media, urging people to be less sensitive, as his goal is simply to make people laugh. “I think social media messed up socializing and we’ve got to get back to laughing and finding reasons to laugh and stop being so damn sensitive,” Wayans said on the Renaissance Man podcast.

But do you think he crossed the line with Magic Johnson? The Lakers legend was diagnosed with AIDS in 1991, which led to significant, challenging changes. However, it also opened up a new perspective for Johnson and the world. We doubt that Wayans would be interested in cracking another joke on the Los Angeles Lakers legend in the future.