MAGIC JOHNSON JUST BLASTED HIS SON… EJ is out here saying he’s “better than women” and only dates “straight men.” | HO’

The internet is dragging him—and now Magic finally stepped in.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson has reportedly had enough—and sources say the NBA legend finally blew up at his son EJ over comments that have sparked outrage across social media, with critics accusing the 35-year-old of everything from internalized homophobia to outright disrespect toward women.

The drama began when EJ Johnson sat down for an interview with Carlos King and made a series of statements that left listeners stunned. In the conversation, EJ—who has long been open about his sexuality and feminine presentation—claimed that he attracts only straight men and has no interest in dating within the gay community.

“I don’t attract gay men, and I’m not attracted to gay men,” EJ said. “It’s like that’s why I don’t really go to gay clubs. I don’t go to gay things. The men that I attract are not there. These are not the men that are interested in me. I do that when I go to the straight room.”

He went further, suggesting that he outperforms biological women in their own arena. “Especially if I look cuter than any girl does. Like, what’s the problem? What’s the issue?” he said. “I’m out all the time, and the girls in the room are not doing it. They don’t look cute. They’re not dressed to the nines.”

The comments ignited a firestorm. Critics accused EJ of borrowing his entire aesthetic from women while simultaneously degrading them. “This 900-foot-tall man even dared to say he is cuter than the average woman,” one commentator said. “Not EJ trying to compete with the same women that inspire everything he does.”

Social media piled on. “You could never ever compete with the blueprint of what you are trying to become,” one user wrote. Another added, “EJ Johnson in his size 30 kitten heels talking about how he’s better than women. Mama, you are with DL men who don’t want to be seen with you. Why would women be competing with you for DL men?”

The backlash grew so intense that it eventually pulled in his father, Magic Johnson—a man who has stood publicly as EJ’s number one supporter since he came out as gay at 13. But according to insiders, even Magic has reached his limit. While he has always backed his son, he reportedly had to step in and address the situation directly, going off on EJ over the disrespectful comments.

But EJ’s critics are not letting Magic off the hook entirely. Some have questioned why the elder Johnson didn’t do more to guide his son before he went public with such controversial views. “Magic had a lot of time to educate him on these things before EJ went public with it,” one observer noted. Others, however, defended the former Lakers star, pointing out that EJ is 35 years old and responsible for his own words. “Magic was just trying to be there for him,” one source said. “At the end of the day, EJ has had plenty of time to unlearn his internalized homophobia, and he still chose not to.”

The controversy has also reopened old wounds about Magic Johnson’s own past. In 1991, the basketball legend shocked the world when he announced he had tested positive for HIV—just six weeks after marrying his wife, Cookie, who was then pregnant with their son EJ.

“The dazzling career of one of the world’s best known athletes is over,” news anchors reported at the time. Magic clarified that he did not have full-blown AIDS but had contracted the HIV virus. Rumors immediately swirled about how he had contracted it, with many speculating he had been living a double life. Magic insisted he had contracted the virus through heterosexual encounters, but the whispers never fully subsided.

Cookie, who was pregnant with EJ at the time of the diagnosis, rushed to be tested. Fortunately, both she and their unborn son came back negative. Her decision to stand by Magic helped rehabilitate his public image, though the questions about how he contracted the virus lingered for decades.

Now, amid the uproar over EJ’s comments, new speculation has emerged—this time about EJ himself. Unverified rumors circulating on social media suggest that EJ may be dealing with a medical condition of his own, with some commenters claiming it may be “worse than Magic’s STD infection.” The speculation appears to stem from the timeline of Magic’s diagnosis: since Cookie was pregnant with EJ when Magic announced he had HIV, some have theorized—without evidence—that EJ may have been affected. Others have suggested that any secrecy around such a condition would explain what they perceive as erratic behavior.

“There’s absolutely no proof of this whatsoever,” one commentator acknowledged, “but that’s what people seem to believe, and they are not letting up.”

For his part, EJ has not addressed the rumors about his health. What he has addressed—his belief that he outshines women and only attracts straight men—has done little to quiet his critics. Many in the LGBTQ community have accused him of internalized homophobia, pointing out that the men he claims are “straight” are, by definition, not straight if they are involved with him.

“The issue I have with what EJ Johnson said was, why was he shading women?” one social media user wrote. “If you want to sleep with DL men, do so. Why you think you’re better than women, coming off nasty like that? I just don’t understand.”

Magic Johnson has not publicly commented on the recent rumors regarding his son’s health, nor has he detailed the nature of his reported blow-up with EJ. But one thing is clear: the Johnson family drama is far from over, and with EJ’s comments continuing to circulate and speculation mounting, the spotlight on one of basketball’s most famous families is only getting hotter.