Magic Johnson wanted to hit Howard Stern after radio host in 1998 said, 'at least you had fun getting AIDS'

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Magic Johnson says he wanted to hit Howard Stern after the popular radio host made comments about his HIV diagnosis during an appearance on Johnson's short-lived late-night talk show in 1998.

After Johnson retired from the NBA for the second time in 1996, he decided to host, "The Magic Hour," which was canceled after three months due to low ratings and bad reviews from critics, including Stern. 

But in an effort to increase ratings for the show prior to its cancellation, the producers made the decision to invite Stern on as a guest, which didn't go well. 

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Former NBA basketball player Earvin Magic Johnson poses at the premiere of the movie "The Legend of Tarzan" in Hollywood, California, June 27, 2016. (Reuters/Danny Moloshok)

"So many times, I wanted to say something and hit him at the same time – on air," Johnson told Variety in a story published Tuesday. "I was mad when they booked him. … But there’s nothing you can do. When people look for ratings, this is what happens."

The appearance immediately went south from the start. 

"Let's get right to it," Johnson started the interview. "Why have you been talking about me so much, man?"

Stern replied that Johnson needed to "stop talking like the White man."

"Listen, you’re a Black man. I grew up in a Black neighborhood," Stern said. "I’m Blacker than you are, trust me. I’m the Blackest Black man you’ll ever meet. And I’m telling you right now, when I lived in Roosevelt, Long Island, which is a Black ghetto, everybody talked like this."

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The conversation then centered around