Magic Johnson, the NBA icon, has a surprising tale to tell about his encounters with the King of Pop. Believe it or not, Magic hung up on Michael Jackson not once but twice before sharing a KFC bucket with the legendary singer. This unexpected twist in their friendship adds a humorous touch to their unique bond.
Magic Johnson shared a hilarious anecdote about hanging up on Michael Jackson not once, but twice. The NBA icon revealed that he mistakenly disconnected calls from the King of Pop due to thinking it was a prank. Imagine missing out on chats with the legendary singer!
The first time Magic hung up, he thought it was his friend Jackie pulling a fast one. The second time around, when Michael called back, Magic almost missed out again because he believed it was another prank call. It’s not every day you get two chances to chat with the iconic musician.
Eventually, after realizing who was calling him, Johnson got to have an unforgettable experience with Jackson. They even bonded over something as simple as sharing a KFC bucket meal — now that’s what we call finger-lickin’ good friendship! It just goes to show that even larger-than-life celebrities enjoy casual moments like enjoying fried chicken together.
In hindsight, those accidental hang-ups turned into amusing stories for both Magic Johnson and Michael Jackson. Their unique bond showcases that even superstars can have fun and down-to-earth interactions outside of their glamorous worlds.
Jackson intended to get Johnson to make an appearance in the video for his 1992 single, “Remember The Time” but the NBA legend nearly missed the glorious opportunity to work with MJ.
“Magic I want to talk to you,” Johnson recollected hearing over the phone, during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Thinking it was a prank call, the Los Angeles Lakers icon hung up.
“The phone rang two minutes later, ‘Magic this is Michael Jackson,” he explained.
“I said, ‘This is not Michael Jackson,’ so I hung the phone up again.
“So I knew Jackie Jackson very well, his brother. So his brother called and said, ‘Magic, that was really Michael calling you.’
“‘No, no! Please, I’ll call him back! I am so sorry, I thought somebody was playing a joke on me right.'”
After apologizing to Jackson “For an hour,” Johnson remembered him explaining that he wanted “‘To do one with the two MJs, one with you and one with Michael Jordan. Can you come to my house tonight?’
‘Can I come to your house? What time do you want me there?'”
Having made his way to Jackson’s home, and eager to impress his “Hero,” Johnson “Ordered some grilled chicken and vegetables, cause I’m thinking he eating healthy, so I’m eating healthy too.”
The two sat then sat down at either end of a long dinner table, with Johnson brought his nutritious meal first.
Then to his surprise, once the cloche was removed, he saw that Jackson had ordered “A bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
“I start screaming. ‘Michael, you eat Kentucky Fried Chicken!’
“I said, ‘Hold up, I gotta come down there and share that bucket with you!’
“I went down there, we sat on the floor, and tore that chicken up!”
The single wound up going platinum three times in the U.S.
And not only did it clearly leave its mark on Jackson’s fans, but also Johnson.
“I have never seen a guy that can dance like this young man, for hours, and sing and perform like he could perform,” Johnson said.
“I’ve been on three tours with them, there’s nobody that’s ever been on this earth that could do what Michael Jackson could do.”
Johnson described Jackson as “Such a person of perfection, everything had to be right.”
From hanging up on each other to sharing a KFC bucket, their bond transcended fame and fortune. They showed us that even the biggest stars can have hilarious mishaps and heartwarming moments.
