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Loading ...Radio jocks claim Magic Johnson faking AIDS
10.13.2008 12:41pm EDT
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) Magic Johnson has criticized a pair of talk show hosts for accusing him of faking AIDS but said he didn’t want them to be fired.
Chris Baker and Langdon Perry of KTLK in Minneapolis made the remarks during Baker’s conservative radio show last week. After Johnson condemned the statements, the station said it regretted “some offhand remarks” by the pair.“We can’t have people out here making false statements and putting out bad information, because this battle is too big when it comes to HIV and AIDS,” Johnson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
“I poured my life into it and a lot of other people have poured their life into it, into getting out the right information so people can protect themselves and know what HIV and AIDS is all about.”
Johnson called the remarks “so stupid,” and said he hadn’t heard from the station. He also wants the hosts to keep their jobs.
“I would rather they educate their audience,” he said.
According to a partial transcript and audio clip posted on a media watchdog site, mediamatters.org, the remarks came after a caller asserted that health care isn’t a basic right. Perry responded by asking about treatable diseases that a person can live with for a long time “if you just get some basic drugs.”
Baker responded, “Like Magic Johnson?”
Perry replied, “Like Magic with his faked AIDS. Magic faked AIDS.”
Baker said, “You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?”
Perry replied, “I’m convinced that Magic faked AIDS.”
“Me too,” Baker said.
Johnson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and then retired from the NBA at 32.
KTLK’s statement said it recognized the seriousness of AIDS and the “great work” Johnson has done to call attention to the disease.
“We regret that some offhand remarks by commentators on KTLK did not reflect that,” the statement said. “To better inform our listeners and employees, KTLK will be airing HIV/AIDS awareness public service announcements, and will be reaching out to Mr. Johnson to get his thoughts on education efforts.”
Program director Steve Versnick said the station wouldn’t comment beyond the statement.
Johnson, 49, said his health is “wonderful.” He also noted that he has HIV, not AIDS.
“You have incredible drugs now,” he said. “I’m working out every day.”
Can anyone tell me why this is on 365 gay? Magic Johnson is not gay. AIDS/HIV is not gay.
Thanks for pigeon holing us? And showing that whoever has AIDS/HIV, us gays should care. Please.
Next.
Amen Morgan – and it goes double for KTLK. I live near Minneapolis and, as something of a radio geek, frequent a couple of Twin Cities broadcast message boards; there’s a significant contingent of people there who have been calling it “Nazi Talk 100.3″ since the day of the format’s inception.
I don’t care to listen to talk raoio. Every time I happened upon such a station when changing my car radio channels, I hear these whiny, urgent-sounding coffee and cigarette-dammaged voices emanating from my radio going and on about some nonsense. Yakking back and forth in some weird-sounding “oh please, please save us from the liberals” style of dialogue….. kind of like Rush Limbaugh’s on and on babbling oral dysentery packed full of truths and half-truths “liberally” peppered with lies, stereotypes and pro Bush proganda.
Wby should I ruin my short time on earth
with that ugly radio garbage? I can tune out these strident voices out in an instant by changing the channel and finding some classical or light rock music and some occasional ethnic or country music.
You are correct Ruby, one can be infected wth HIV but not have an AIDS diagnosis. An AIDS diagnosis requires a person have a T-cell count lower than 200 or an opportunistic infection, an addition to being HIV positive.
To me however, from the quotes provided, the radio jocks we not trying to make that distinction. Rather they were trying to malign Magic’s wonderful reputation. And that is reprehensible.
Before reacting to my statements, read carefully…and correct me if I am wrong.
My understanding is you can have the virus (HIV) but not AIDS.
It was stupid for them to accuse Johnson of faking something; that he is not.
But they are right about him not having aids….
Does that make sense?
Why would Someone want to fake H.I.V that is dumb of those Radio Jockey’s to even think that
Here we are with another ‘offhand’ remark being so offensive that one has to wonder how these yahoos are ever allowed on the air in the first place. That’s low even for the neo-cons.