Pau Gasol’s Wife Demands Recognition for Magic Johnson’s Wife After Presidential Honor

Earvin Magic Johnson and his wife completed thirty-three years of being together. “Proverbs 31:10 tells us a good wife is the most precious treasure a man could have, and I have the greatest!” he  had written celebrating Cookie. They have been together from the lowest of lows when Magic had to retire and fight back against HIV to embrace the best of moments in honors and family. Philanthropic endeavors? They have worked them together too. So as the Lakers icon received an ultimate honor today, Cat Gasol believes it would have only been a complete picture with both of them there.

Earlier today, the 5x Champion became the recipient of the esteemed Presidential Medal of Freedom award. When he shared the news on his social media about receiving the highest civilian awards in the United States, Pau Gasol’s wife wanted to highlight the role of Cookie Johnson. Cat Gasol commented, “Woohoo! Cookie deserves half of this award too! ❤️ @thecookiej.” Johnson would have agreed too.

Even before Cat Gasol commented, the 65-year-old thanked his close ones for the award.

“This award is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who has helped me become the person and businessman I am today—my parents Earvin Sr. and Christine, wife Cookie, my kids Andre, EJ and Elisa; my brothers and sisters, friends, mentors, and colleagues. It also belongs to everyone who has dedicated themselves to the causes of freedom, justice, and equality,” he wrote in an Instagram  post.

Cookie has been actively involved in the Magic Johnson Foundation that aims to improve lives of the underserved community. She has served as a board member there and continues to use her platform for the LGBTQIA+ community. Her extensive involvement, however, has been in raising awareness about HIV. The 65-year-old was the first spokeswoman for the ‘I Stand with Magic’ campaign and is the chairman of Prototypes, a program that provides education and care for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

For their combined efforts, they have previously been awarded Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Lifetime Achievement Award. No wonder Cat Gasol demanded some recognition for Cookie. More rightly so, given the lifeline she has been for Magic Johnson.

As an author, Cookie has shared the story of her husband’s HIV diagnosis from her perspective in her 2016 best-selling memoir. In Believing in Magic, she detailed how she supported Magic after his diagnosis and shared how his health battle shaped their marriage. The 65-year-old also helped her husband realize one grave mistake with their children.

Magic Johnson needed Cookie’s help

During his HIV diagnosis, two months after his marriage, the Lakers legend gave an option to his wife to walk away from their relationship. The Michigan State alum spoke to People in 2016 and described opening up to his wife about the diagnosis as the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. However, she remained by his side, with Magic crediting her loyalty for saving his life.

“I think that if Cookie had left, I’d probably be dead now — no question about it.” Apart from working on their own relationship, Magic Johnson also needed her support when he got to know about their son’s decision. As per the 2018 episode of Red Table Talk, the wife of the Lakers legend explained the first reaction wasn’t positive when EJ came out of the closet. In fact, Cookie Johnson stated that her husband first said “hurtful” words.

But after speaking with his wife, Magic Johnson understood his response “wasn’t right.” Later, he would state to his son, “We’re going to get through this, and I just need time.” Which ended with both of them in tears. It has been behind-the-scenes work from Cookie Johnson, family or more.