The internet and social media have been extremely helpful in bringing the world together. Globalization has truly gone to another level, and even the world of sports has been impacted, bringing fans closer to the star players they idolize. That open dialogue is wonderful in a lot of ways, but like with everything, there is a dark side to it.
Players now deal with hateful messages regularly, getting trolled and ridiculed, with some even getting death threats. Some of them talk back, like Kevin Durant, for example, but the torrent of misinformation and other issues is hard to tackle for any individual. Magic Johnson, who is arguably one of the most likable NBA icons, recently had to deal with something like that as well.
Johnson has lived a lot of his life with HIV, which he was diagnosed with in 1991. The situation had become a huge public controversy at a time when HIV and AIDS were widely misunderstood and demonized. And recently, pictures of Magic supposedly donating blood went viral on social media, garnering many reactions. The man himself has addressed the situation now, tweeting and debunking the narrative.
I’m aware of the false story circling the internet, and to be clear, I have never donated blood.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 23, 2022
“I’m aware of the false story circling the internet, and to be clear, I have never donated blood.”
Making jokes of this nature is decidedly cruel, but the internet isn’t a place where reasoned discussion is highly valued. Johnson obviously cannot donate blood, as most people would be aware, so the fact that he had to issue this clarification is also concerning in the grand scheme of things.
Ultimately, Magic Johnson has been an icon and an inspiration to the many people in this world who suffer from HIV. His work in the community has been stellar, and he remains a positive influence on everyone he interacts with. Jokes like these are unlikely to stop entirely, but there is no reason to give them too much attention either.
