False Story Circling the Internet of Magic Johnson Donating Blood

The internet can be a tricky place to navigate.

An image from a 2012 documentary showing NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson getting his blood routinely drawn at a doctor’s appointment has been miscaptioned and circulated online. Johnson announced at a news conference in 1991 that he had tested positive for HIV and retired in 1996. The Red Cross does not accept blood donations from people who have ever had a positive HIV test and it screens all blood donations.

“Red Cross standards for blood donation prohibit people who have ever received a positive HIV test, or those who may be at risk for becoming infected with HIV, from giving blood. All donations are also tested for the virus and antibodies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the U.S. blood supply is thoroughly tested’ and that ‘blood collection procedures are highly regulated and safe.’” — The AP

The actual image of a doctor taking blood from Johnson’s arm is from the 2012 PBS Frontline documentary ‘Endgame: AIDS in Black America.’ Johnson first learned of his HIV diagnosis after a routine physical ahead of the 1991-92 NBA season. He announced the development during a November 7, 1991, news conference.”

Magic responded to the viral story making the rounds, debunking it:

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

Here’s a pic of the photo in question:

pic.twitter.com/cOKIBEDjJU

— MattMets (@mets_matt) August 23, 2022

Johnson, who remains HIV-undetectable to this day, opened up about living with the virus last year.

“I had to really learn a lot about the disease, HIV as well as AIDS. I had to make sure that I was open-minded enough to ask a lot of questions, go get a lot of information from different people,” he said via CBS News.

And while his HIV is still undetectable, he must take his medication everyday.

“A cocktail, once a day,” he said. “It went from three times a day, now just once. And so everything is great.”

Crazy to think that Magic Johnson has to be the one to debunk a story like this, but better that he sets the record straight, than continue to let this rumor circulate.

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