Messages Pour In After Magic Johnson Shares Personal News on Monday

Fans were quick to show their support for Johnson and his wife.

"Happy Anniversary to the both of you ❤️," said one user.

"34 years of marriage and still running a full championship roster—legendary on and off the court," another fan commented.

"Much love ... happy 34 magic and cookie .
Beautiful love story," one other user replied.

"We were so HONORED to celebrate the love between you two ," another commenter remarked.

"Happy Anniversary M&M Johnson. Goals! ❤️❤️❤️❤️," said one other fan.

""Here's to wishing @majicjohnsonand his BETTER half @thecookiej a blessed, joyous, magical, loving, and spectacular Happy Anniversary. And, God's face continue to shine upon you both and bless you to lovingly share many more."❤️❤️❤️" another user commented.

Johnson and Cookie first met as freshmen at Michigan State University, where Johnson was already turning heads on the court and Cookie pursued a degree in textile and clothing design.

In May, Cookie recalled to Parade that they crossed paths at an on-campus nightclub in 1978. "The lights came up, I happened to be walking by, and he said, ‘Give me your number,’" she said, leading up to their first date at a steakhouse before eventually falling in love.

They wed on Sept. 14, 1991, in a private ceremony in Lansing, Michigan (Magic’s hometown), surrounded by immediate family and close friends. Within months, however, their lives took an unexpected turn: three days after the wedding, Magic publicly announced his HIV diagnosis.

Now, more than three decades later, the Johnsons have navigated public scrutiny, health scares and the challenges of raising a family in the spotlight; Magic and Cookie have two children in Earl "EJ" Johnson Jr., born May 20, 1992 and Andre Johnson, born May 14, 1996.

In interviews, Magic has credited Cookie’s unwavering support with saving his life. "If Cookie had left, I’d probably be dead now—no question about it," he told People magazine in 2016, reflecting on her choice to stay after his diagnosis.