Geoffrey Owens Opens Up About Job-Shaming and Financial Hardships

A Year After the Backlash, Owens Speaks Out About His Experience

Actor Geoffrey Owens, 63, is speaking out about his experience with job-shaming and financial hardships. Owens is best known for playing Elvin Tibideaux on the groundbreaking television series “The Cosby Show” from 1985 to 1992.

A Photo That Changed Everything

Back in 2018, a photo of Owens bagging groceries at a Trader Joe’s store spread across the internet, leading to a wave of negative reactions from social media users. However, Owens also received a large number of supportive messages from fans.

“The Cosby Show” star Geoffrey Owens admits still having financial hardships after being job-shamed for working at a grocery store. (Photos: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images; Karma Lawrence/Facebook)

Owens Opens Up About His Experience

Owens recently stopped by the V-103 radio station in Atlanta, where he was asked about dealing with the negativity over him taking a “regular” job. Owens acknowledged that the initial reaction was mostly negative, but he also received a lot of support and encouragement from around the world.

“It was mostly good,” Owens said. “At first, there was some negative stuff about basically the job-shaming. A ‘where is he now’ kinda thing.”

The son of former New York congressman Major Owens continued, “But then, very soon after that, there was all this support and encouragement from all over the world.”

Owens revealed that he quit Trader Joe’s before the news hit, citing the intense scrutiny and attack on his privacy as the reason.

“It wasn’t like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything. I just felt like I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny and attack on my privacy,” he explained.

Owens’ Financial Hardships

Despite working in the entertainment industry since the 1980s, Owens emphasized that he still struggles to make a living. He stated, “Even today, right now, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living. I struggle every day to make my ends meet. And people can’t get their heads around that because they see me in movies.”

Residual Payments and Syndication Checks

When asked about receiving residual payments for his work on “The Cosby Show,” Owens replied, “Which were never particularly wonderful for me, I was here and there. I did maybe twenty percent of the shows.”

After the Trader Joe’s Story Blew Up

After the Trader Joe’s story blew up, Owens was able to secure more Hollywood gigs. He appeared in the 50 Cent-produced “Power” and “Power Book II: Ghost” dramas on Starz cable network, as well as landed roles on “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Billions,” and “All I Rise.”

Conclusion

Geoffrey Owens’ story serves as a reminder that even successful actors can face financial hardships and job-shaming. However, with determination and resilience, Owens has been able to secure more work and continue to make a living in the entertainment industry.

FAQs

Q: What did Geoffrey Owens do after the Trader Joe’s story blew up?
A: Owens was able to secure more Hollywood gigs, including roles on “Power” and “Power Book II: Ghost,” as well as “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Billions,” and “All I Rise.”

Q: Did Geoffrey Owens receive support from fans after the backlash?
A: Yes, Owens received a large number of supportive messages from fans, which helped counterbalance the negative reactions.

Q: Is “The Cosby Show” still available to watch?
A: Yes, reruns of “The Cosby Show” are still available on Philo and Amazon Prime Video.