MAGIC JOHNSON OUTRAGED AFTER ACCUSATIONS THAT MAGIC "FAKED HIV/AIDS" RADIO STATION REGRETS COMMENTS

Magic Johnson is outraged that radio hosts accused him of faking HIV/AIDS. Johnson said that he condemned the comments and called them "stupid" but he did not want the conservative hosts to lose their jobs.

Magic Johnson criticized a pair of talk show hosts Friday 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 on Wednesday. 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. source

Read some of the transcript and listen to the radio hosts audio.

Former National Basketball Association star Magic Johnson was outraged Friday after two Minnesota radio talk show hosts accused him of faking that he had contracted HIV, which can lead to AIDS.

Chris Baker and Langdon Perry of station KTLK questioned whether or not Hall of Fame hero Johnson, who led the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" dynasty of the 1980s, was being truthful when he disclosed in 1991 that he had contracted HIV.

"Magic faked AIDS," Perry said.

"You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?" Baker replied.

"I'm convinced that Magic faked AIDS," Perry said.

"Yeah, me too," Baker said.

"I'm not sure why," Perry added. "But I'm pretty sure he faked AIDS. Because he's the only cured AIDS guy ever."

That exchange Wednesday prompted a response statement from Johnson, 49, on Friday that was reported by the Los Angeles Times.

"I am extremely disappointed in KTLK in Minneapolis," Johnson said. "I am outraged that Chris Baker and Langdon Perry would minimize such a serious and deadly issue.

"Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable.

"Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies." source