Lifestyle brand DuJour Media’s Jason Binn and Earvin “Magic” Johnson came to celebrate best-selling author of “Aiming High,” Darren Prince at the Pomona NYC last Thursday.
Also in attendance were Dr. Drew and Charles Oakley. Guests enjoyed cocktails by Ciroc and hor d’oeurves by Pomona NYC. Prince’s best-selling memoir, Aiming High, tells the story of his secret opioid addiction and his sobriety and recovery.
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 15: Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Darren Prince attend the celebration of best-selling author of “Aiming High” Darren Prince with DuJour Media’s Jason Binn and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson on November 15, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for DuJour Media)
In a toast, Magic Johnson said:
I’m really here to support Darren, not only have we been business partners but we’ve been friends for over twenty years. He’s been one of my agents and has been really understanding how to protect my brand, grow my brand while making me money, while he was making money himself. I think the key is sometimes you can do all those things, but what I’m really proud is the fact that he wrote this book and he’s made it where people who have an addiction can bounce back and come back and he’s trying to help others solve their own addictions. I know that I have my own issues, a long time ago and here I am still here, 27 years later. He’s trying to accomplish the same thing. I told him it would be a tough situation if he didn’t write this book because he’s got to help other people. When you read it, here’s a young man at 18, he became a businessman and instant millionaire and the things he was able to accomplish in his life is so amazing. And so you can have your highs and lows- the thing about it is, that every time that something tough happens in your life, you’re ready to bounce back. I just want to say I’m proud of him. Again Darren, this is outstanding, you’ve touched the world and helped the world and that’s what it’s all about. I think that giving back is going to be a part of your legacy. Continue to bless others and be about others and then your blessing come true yourself.
We also spoke with Darren at the event:
The Knockturnal: You talk about your spiritual journey. What moment brought you to there?
Darren Prince: I was so sick in tired of being sick and tired. I had no idea how I was functioning. I was on antidepressants, anxiety medication, mood stabilizers, Naloxone, which is an opioid blocker and Ambien at night and drinking a couple nights a week to a point where I couldn’t feel anymore. I just fell to my knees. I couldn’t deal with life. I didn’t want to live- I didn’t know how to die and God came into my life. I was begging, shaking and crying and I told him I need you more than ever and that’s when the miracle happened. I stood up and flushed the rest of my opioids and I jumped right into a 12 step fellowship and my life changed forever.
The Knockturnal: Was your past lifestyle part of the industry?
Darren Prince: It is but it’s also the fact that I was a broken person growing up, I was always labeled special ed, slower learner and I think even with all the external success, I never cleared it out. So even though I had all the monetary and notoriety deep down I was a broken person. I was very insecure and eventually, it catches up on you which is why I like speaking to high school kids now. I tell them that when they feel those feelings speak up now, don’t do what I did and taking a drink or a pill is going to make those feelings go away, it’s a band-aid and will bite you in the ass later if you’re lucky enough to live that long.
