A recent episode of the Club 520 podcast featuring Jeff Teague and co-host Bishop B. Henn, real name Brian Hennessy, has sparked major backlash online after a controversial and insensitive comment about NBA legend Magic Johnson. During the conversation, Henn said:
“He survived HIV and his son… What I’m saying is that everything Magic Johnson had to endure, with people just disrespecting him, his family, his wife, everything. Shoutout to Magic Johnson, bro. You one of the GOATs for sure.”
While the intention may have been to praise Magic Johnson’s resilience and legacy, many listeners were taken aback by the phrasing, particularly the line “He survived HIV and his son” which quickly went viral and was widely condemned as tone-deaf and disrespectful.
Magic Johnson, an icon of basketball and business, has indeed overcome tremendous challenges throughout his life. Diagnosed with HIV in 1991 at the height of his NBA career, Johnson shocked the sports world when he announced his immediate retirement.
At the time, there was widespread fear and misinformation about HIV and AIDS, and Magic’s public battle helped shift national conversations, reduce stigma, and push for more awareness and research. Through his foundation and activism, he became a pioneer in HIV advocacy and prevention, all while returning to the league briefly and later building a billion-dollar business empire.
However, the part of Henn’s quote that has raised the most eyebrows is the apparent reference to Magic’s openly gay son, EJ Johnson. While Henn never explicitly names EJ, the insinuation that Magic had to “survive” having a gay son has been widely interpreted as a homophobic slight.
Social media erupted with criticism, with users calling the comment ignorant, clownish, and disrespectful. Some fans defended Henn, claiming his words were poorly chosen but not malicious. Others weren’t as forgiving.
In the full clip, Teague nods during the comment but doesn’t elaborate, and neither host walks the statement back or clarifies it in the moment. The backlash has since prompted fans to call for an apology or response from the Club 520 team, although none had been issued publicly at the time of writing.
This is not the first time Club 520, a podcast known for its barbershop-style takes and viral NBA commentary, has found itself in hot water for controversial remarks. But this instance may have crossed a line for many, especially given how personal and sensitive the subject matter is.
Magic Johnson, to his credit, has not responded to the remarks and likely won’t. Throughout his career, he has handled criticism with grace and poise, from surviving the scrutiny of an HIV diagnosis in the early ’90s to supporting his son publicly and proudly. If anything, the real story here isn’t about what he had to survive; it’s about how he’s continued to thrive, inspire, and lead with dignity.
The outrage is a reminder: words matter. Especially when you’re speaking of legends.
