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EJ Johnson and mother Cookie discuss his coming out to father Magic Johnson on Red Table Talk

Published: 21:11 EDT, 18 June 2018 | Updated: 02:32 EDT, 19 June 2018

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EJ Johnson and his mother Cookie discussed Magic Johnson's reaction when his son came out to him on Monday's episode of Red Table Talk.

The 26-year-old socialite and his 59-year-old mother spoke about gender fluidity and coming out with hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith and mother Adrienne Banfield Norris.

Cookie said that she knew EJ was different at age three when he 'started wanting to put on the princess costumes at school'.

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Coming out: EJ Johnson during an appearance on Red Table Talk on Monday discussed coming out to his father Magic Johnson

She added that EJ used to put on her shoes, kept tabs on his grandmother's clothes and picked flowers in the outfield when playing baseball as a boy.

EJ said he and a friend came out to each other at age 15 and it was a 'big deal'.

'We went to Hawaii once and I'm sitting behind him and his friend,' Cookie said.

'The girls go by in their bathing suits and the guys go by and when the guys go by, they were like, ''Whoa! Hey!'' and then girls go by and nothing. So I was like, okay, we need to have a talk,' Cookie said during the round-table discussion.

Family affair: Cookie Johnson joined her son on the show and talked about the moment he came out to her as a teenager

The host: Jada Pinkett Smith hosted the show with her daughter Willow Smith and mother Adrienne Banfield Norris

Red table: The group discussed gender fluidity around a red table at Jada's house

Cookie said she assured him during their talk that she would love and support him 'no matter what' as he revealed that he was gay.

'But at that time, you can be happy in your room, but don't let dad see you. So it was all of that,' she added.

Cookie said it 'was a little tough' when EJ came out to Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic, 58.

Father and son: Magic and EJ are shown in 2001 at a philanthropic event in Los Angeles

Little tough: Cookie said the coming out conversation between EJ and Magic was a 'little tough'

'My husband is the type of person, he reacts quickly, so everything that came to the top of his head, he just let it out,' Cookie said.

'And I was like, it hurt my feelings and I know it probably hurt his feelings when he'd go, ''It's not what I wanted for my son and do you realize what you're saying because the world is not going to like that and do you want to live this life?'',' she said.

Cookie told her husband that he was too harsh on EJ and they had a conversation the next day.

Tender moment: Magic was shown in a throwback photo cradling EJ as a boy

Reacts quickly: Willow reacted when Cookie said that her husband 'reacts quickly'

Basketball legend: Magic is shown in 1980 playing for the Los Angeles Lakers

'He just was like, we're gonna get through this, I just need time and we both just started crying a little bit,' EJ revealed.

'But then, I moved to New York to go to college and when he came back to visit, he picked me up for dinner and was like ... he hugged me so hard, he almost broke my back and then at that point I was like, we're gonna be okay. I could really feel the love. We're gonna be fine,' he added.

Magic took to social media on Sunday and shared a Father's Day photo of himself with his three children.

Big hug: EJ said his father later gave him a big hug and he knew they were going to be fine

Family portrait: Cookie, Magic and EJ are shown in April 2017 in Los Angeles

'Ending Father's day on top! In my trophy room with Elisa, EJ and Andre. Love my kids!,' he wrote in the caption.

Magic and Cookie have been married since 1991 and adopted Elisa in 1995.

Andre, who born in 1981, is Magic's son from a previous relationship.

Magic was the point guard for the Lakers during the team's Showtime era in the 1980s and won five NBA championships.

Five rings: Magic, shown in the 1988 NBA Finals posting up Dennis Rodman of the Detroit Pistons, won five NBA championships with the Lakers during the Showtime era