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"All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them," says Magic Johnson, father of Earvin Johnson III, who's more commonly known as EJ Johnson. No one knows about the importance of acceptance more than Magic Johnson, who publicly came out about his HIV diagnosis when there was still a great deal of stigma around the disease. His bravery in talking about it, facing his challenges, and being his own person was one of the reasons that his son felt he was also able to live an authentic life that worked for him and gave him the ability to be himself no matter what issues he was facing.

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EJ Johnson is a big personality, and he's interested in living life to the fullest. As a socialite and television personality, EJ focuses on making others feel good about themselves and helping them express themselves to him and to the camera. He's also a fashion commentator, and very interested in the fashion world and the ability to help people look and feel their best. But having a famous father and being part of the LGBTQ+ community has not always been easy for him. So how did EJ get his start, and what's next on his exciting agenda? Read on to find out what he plans to do next and where his career is taking him.

A Famous Father Meant Being in the Spotlight

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EJ was born in Beverly Hills, and he has a younger sister and an older brother. He was raised Pentecostal Christian, and attended New York University. While there he studied design and event planning, with a larger focus on the hospitality industry where he wanted to work. When he was 17 he came out to his family as homosexual. He was forced to go public with that information in 2013, after TMZ released pictures showing EJ holding hands with another man. "I'm gonna love my son until the end," said Magic Johnson, clearly showing that EJ is an important part of his life and that being homosexual does not affect his love.

His entire family supported the decision EJ made to become public about his homosexuality, instead of trying to hide it, deny the rumors, or come up with another explanation for the pictures that TMZ released. EJ had grown up attending a local Christian church in Los Angeles, but after he came out he decided to leave that church. Their views on homosexuality didn't allow him to feel comfortable there any longer, but he was determined to follow his heart and the life that he was meant to live. Having the support of his family helped him get through a difficult time.

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Coming Into His Own Was Very Important

In 2014, EJ joined the cast of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills in a recurring role during the first season. He would remain on the show for another three seasons after that, and then the show was cancelled. A spinoff featuring him, entitled EJNYC, premiered in 2016. It was among the first ever reality series to follow a young person of color who was also a part of the LGBTQ+ community. EJ also joined E! News in 2014 as a commentator, and covered New York Fashion Week. He was a guest on Fashion Police, and Hello Ross (2014).

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During the fourth season of Real Husbands of Hollywood he was a guest star, and in 2016 he was featured in one of the It Got Better documentaries that often follow people who are outside of the mainstream or who may have struggles because of their lifestyle. He was a guest host on The Real in 2017, and has also taken on a number of other hosting and guest hosting jobs throughout his career. He's becoming more in-demand, as his fashion sense and quick wit are starting to develop a wider appeal with a larger audience in the fashion and television industries.

In 2015, EJ decided to undergo the gastric sleeve procedure. He has also considered transitioning to female, and thought about it seriously after Caitlyn Jenner's transition, but ultimately decided that it wasn't right for him. He's pursuing a career in fashion along with his television personality work, and will ultimately make a name for himself that goes far beyond his famous father. But it's quite likely that his father is very proud of everything his son is doing, and that EJ will have the support he needs from his family and fans to build a life and a career that gives him plenty of joy and success.