Former NBA star 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.” 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. KTLK's statement said it recognized the seriousness of AIDS and the “great work” Johnson has done to call attention to the disease.
