Magic Johnson, a revered figure in Lakers history who lives with HIV, refuted claims of a fabricated story suggesting he had given blood to COVID-19 patients recently.
“I’m aware of the false story circulating on the internet, and I want to make it clear that I have never donated blood,” Johnson clarified in a tweet on Tuesday.
The basketball legend addressed this issue following a viral Twitter image, which has since been removed, claiming that the 63-year-old had “given some of his blood to the Red Cross to support underprivileged communities in the fight against COVID-19.”
The photograph displayed Johnson with his right arm extended, appearing to have a medical needle in it. The Twitter account’s bio declared: “spreading narratives with misinformation (satire).”
The picture of Johnson is authentic and dates back to 2012 when it was taken for a PBS Frontline documentary titled “Endgame: AIDS in Black America.” It captured a moment during which Johnson had blood drawn during a medical check-up conducted by his long-time physician, Dr. David Ho.
Over the years, the NBA icon has emerged as a strong advocate for increasing awareness about HIV, as well as promoting treatment and preventive measures through his Magic Johnson Foundation.
