Magic Johnson Documentary Relives ‘The Announcement’

This past Sunday, ESPN aired the Magic Johnson documentary ‘The Announcement‘, which relived the moment from November 1991 when the legendary basketball player announced he was HIV positive.

In the Johnson-narrated documentary, filmmaker Nelson George walks us through how Johnson first learned that he was HIV positive, the anxiety he had when faced with telling his friends, family and teammates, and the impact that the announcement made on Johnson’s life.

“I wasn’t scared to announce it; I wasn’t scared of the media,” Johnson said in the film. “What I was scared of is… would I see [friends and teammates] again?”

The documentary, which aired a little over 20 years after the announcement shook the world, also highlights the impact Johnson had on HIV awareness with the announcement, and how he would ultimately go on to be one of the disease’s biggest voices.

“I was a guy that could shoulder HIV and AIDS,” Johnson said. “A lot of guys couldn’t have gone public, and then get involved in the HIV and AIDS fight the way that I have.”

If you didn’t the chance to check out the Magic Johnson documentary ‘The Announcement’ on its original air date, ESPN plans to re-air it throughout the month of March up until April 14. You can head over to this link for the full schedule.

You can also find a trailer for ‘The Announcement’ below.