Magic Johnson, the basketball legend, has plenty of stories about famous friends. But one visit to Michael Jackson’s house caught him so off guard that he couldn’t keep quiet.
Magic and Michael knew each other well. In fact, when Michael made his “Remember the Time” video, Magic was one of the stars in it, alongside Eddie Murphy and Iman. The video was directed by John Singleton, and it premiered on Feb. 2, 1992. If you only know Magic from the basketball court, it’s fun to spot him in the video alongside Michael.
Magic Johnson appears in Michael’s “Remember the Time” video
Now for the story Magic told on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
It happened during a meeting at Michael’s house. Magic went in with one idea about Michael firmly in his head. He’d heard that the King of Pop ate only healthy food.
Then Magic saw what Michael actually had.
It was a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Magic couldn’t believe it. “I start screaming, ‘Michael you eat Kentucky Fried Chicken?!'” he told Jennifer Hudson.
But he didn’t stay shocked for long. Magic knew exactly what to do. “Man, I said, ‘Hold up, I got to come down there and share that bucket with you.'”
And that’s just what he did.
“I went down there, we sat on the floor and tore that chicken up,” Magic said.
So there they were, a basketball legend and the biggest pop star on earth, sitting on the floor with a bucket of fried chicken between them.
This is a story Magic enjoys telling. Sports Illustrated picked it up, and so did the food site Tasting Table, which also says Michael’s kids reportedly ate KFC with him.
Magic is a great storyteller, and his stories about Michael are best heard from him. In this clip from the show, he talks about Michael, including the time he accidentally hung up on him.
Magic tells Jennifer Hudson about his friendship with Michael
Michael could have hidden the bucket or played it off. Instead, he let Magic come sit down and share it with him.
And Magic didn’t treat Michael like a superstar in that moment. He treated him like a buddy who’d been caught with the good stuff and was going to have to share.
Magic has told other stories about how the two of them first got to know each other, and some of them are just as funny. In this interview, he explains how Michael’s prank calls turned into a lifelong friendship.
Magic on how Michael’s calls turned into a lifelong friendship
Fans have always loved the little details of Michael’s everyday life, the moments when he wasn’t on stage and wasn’t trying to be anyone but himself. This is one of the best.
The next time you pick up a bucket of chicken, you might think of the King of Pop and a basketball star sitting on the floor together, eating it straight out of the bucket.