EJ came into this world next June, to help you moms and dads grappling that have a health drama, a marriage drama and you can a publicity crisis. However, he had been unaware of his father’s health issue up until primary school, as he is actually tasked a text statement and discovered a book in the their dad on the collection.
“The college called my personal mommy and you can was such as for example, ‘We don’t determine if you prefer your to complete the ebook declaration, because it discusses brand new H.I.V.,’” the guy told you. “I believe it was when this occurs which they told me that he is unwell and you may they are a lot better.”
EJ had been discovering his style to own higher manner. “I recall becoming, including, cuatro and you may 5 and you can playing during my mom’s drawer,” he told you. “But also asking concerns such as for example ‘Who may have it?’ and you may ‘What is one?,’ and my mommy trying to explain to myself, ‘This might be a beneficial Chanel referring to a great Versace.’”
Elisa Johnson, their 22-year-dated brother, said, “This new earlier he had, the greater their character got.” (Mr. Johnson also offers a mature half-brother, Andre Johnson.) “We used to have these types of attracting sessions, and you may EJ’s stick numbers usually got, such, an excellent Louis Vuitton wallet.”
Their family members and those that discover him perform usually like your, but there is people that don’t know your and can even perhaps not accept
As a result of their dad’s H.I.V. advocacy, he had a young screen towards the gay people. The guy remembered attending Supports financing-raisers during the E Taylor’s home, in which his mother explained that Ms.
When he try 15, their mommy trapped your watching males into the a vacation in Their state and you will initiated a discussion, but Mr. It wasn’t up until 36 months after, when he involved to go away for new York College or university, that he made an appearance decisively so you can both parents.
His dad, possibly apprehensive about brand new stigma faced from the gay boys due to his H.We.V. position, responded by alerting exactly how hard existence is.
Johnson was still learning their sex
“Due to the fact a parent, I needed EJ to understand that we adored your and you will manage usually love your,” Mr. Johnson said in a contact. “My personal job because a dad will be to protect him. Some people may not be sweet, nonetheless it was not on the your. I needed to arrange your and you may acknowledge which i perform constantly service him.”
Cookie, an effective churchgoing Religious, was conflicted, later advising Oprah Winfrey, “I’d in order to hope about it.” Immediately, both dad and mom is in public places supporting, however, EJ features averted planning to south west Angeles Church away from Goodness in Christ, where his parents try star congregants, saying, “I recall sitting there for the sermons and you can reading certain less than reliable reasons for homosexuals.”
The challenge try push with the unlock inside 2013, when EJ are making a club towards Sundown Remove holding hands having a masculine friend. A TMZ journalist ambushed your having a digital camera, if in case he had been aside along with his sweetheart application meet me outside. Mr. Johnson, who had been 20, shrugged everything out-of, till the tabloid entitled his father getting opinion.
Back during the Letter.Y.You., Mr. Johnson attempted to overlook the on the internet disturbance. “Everyone was messaging me personally,” he told you. “And you can I am same as, ‘Yo, just what?’” Nonetheless, the guy invited the opportunity to enter the spotlight, advising Howard Bragman, a publicity veteran who may have good YouTube show on gay issues: “I am reveling inside, and you will I am making it strive to my personal virtue.”
In this days, he previously an employer and you will is looking a real possibility let you know so you can MTV and you may Bravo. “I would personally view new Kardashians and you may imagine, I could accomplish that,” he said. Next his friend Dorothy Wang (child of your billionaire Roger Wang) allowed your in order to a share group getting filmed on her own fact tell you.
