EJ was created another June, to help you parents grappling that have a health crisis, a married relationship crisis and a publicity drama. But he had been unaware of their dad’s ailment up to elementary college or university, as he try tasked a text statement and found a text regarding their father in the library.

“The school named my mom and you may are such, ‘We do not determine if you would like him to do the book statement, whilst talks about the latest H.We.V.,’” he said. “In my opinion it was when this occurs that they said he is sick and you may he is a lot better.”

EJ has already been discovering their style getting highest trend. “From the are, including, 4 and you will 5 and you may to experience during my mother’s cabinet,” he told you. “Also asking concerns for example ‘Who’s got it?’ and you can ‘What’s you to definitely?,’ and my personal mommy trying to explain to myself, ‘This can be a good Chanel and this refers to a good Versace.’”

Elisa Johnson, their 22-year-dated aunt, said, “This new elderly he got, the larger their identification had.” (Mr. Johnson comes with an older half-brother, Andre Johnson.) “I once had this type of drawing training, and you will EJ’s adhere figures always got, eg, good Louis Vuitton wallet.”

Their family members and people who learn him create usually like him, however, there is individuals who have no idea your and may even perhaps not accept

Through his father’s H.I.V. advocacy, he previously an early on window to your homosexual culture. The guy appreciated planning Aids funds-raisers on E Taylor’s domestic, where their mommy informed me you to definitely Ms.

As he are 15, his mother caught him watching males to your a vacation in The state and started a conversation, but Mr. It wasn’t up until 3 years afterwards, when he was about to exit for new York School, which he came out decisively so you can both dad and mom.

Their father, perhaps apprehensive about the stigma encountered by homosexual guys because of their H.We.V. standing, answered by the caution just how tough lives would-be.

Johnson had been finding out their sex

“Since the a father, I needed EJ to know that we liked your and would constantly like your,” Mr. Johnson told you for the a message. “My siti per adulti incontri over 50 jobs since a father is always to protect your. Some individuals is almost certainly not nice, it wasn’t about your. I wanted to prepare your and you will tell him that i carry out usually assistance your.”

Cookie, a beneficial churchgoing Christian, was conflicted, afterwards advising Oprah Winfrey, “I had to help you hope about it.” Right now, both dad and mom is actually publicly supportive, however, EJ has prevented planning to south-west Angeles Chapel out of Goodness in Christ, where their mothers was star congregants, saying, “I remember sitting truth be told there in the sermons and reading certain less than reputable reasons for having homosexuals.”

The problem is push to the discover from inside the 2013, whenever EJ try making a bar to your Sunset Strip holding give with a masculine buddy. An effective TMZ reporter ambushed your which have a camera, of course, if he had been aside with his boyfriend. Mr. Johnson, who had been 20, shrugged all of it out-of, before the tabloid titled their father to own comment.

Right back within N.Y.You., Mr. Johnson attempted to ignore the online disturbance. “Everyone was texting me,” he told you. “And you will I am identical to, ‘Yo, exactly what?’” Nevertheless, he welcomed the opportunity to enter the limelight, advising Howard Bragman, an advertising experienced who may have a great YouTube show to the gay issues: “I’m reveling inside, and you may I am it is therefore strive to my personal virtue.”

Contained in this weeks, he had a manager and is looking a real possibility show to help you MTV and you may Bravo. “I’d watch the fresh new Kardashians and thought, I’m able to accomplish that,” the guy told you. Upcoming his pal Dorothy Wang (child of your billionaire Roger Wang) anticipate your in order to a swimming pool class being recorded on her very own reality reveal.