'Cosby Show' star's shocking new job gets viewers fired up
Former Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens recently made headlines — not because he’s in the cast of a blockbuster film but because his latest role is bagging groceries at a New Jersey Trader Joe’s. A customer snapped a shot of him in action at his register and sent it to the Daily Mail, and the photo quickly went viral. Fox News picked up the story and seemingly shamed the actor for his new gig, sparking a huge backlash from Yahoo commenters who leapt to his defense.
“Hard-working people deserve respect, period,” said one user. Another wrote, “Disrespecting a man for working hard? Speechless.” One even joked, “Better than a Kardashian.”
“WHY,” asked one commenter. “Why did Fox News sink this LOW? This man graduated from YALE and doesn’t think that bagging groceries in between teaching Shakespeare and acting is beneath him. This is a REAL man.”
The actor broke his silence on Good Morning America, proudly sporting his Trader Joe’s name tag. Speaking to Robin Roberts he said of the story, “No one has to feel sorry for me. … I’m doing fine.” He added that he was moved by the outpouring of support he received, saying: “I really want to thank everybody out there — family, friends, the Hollywood community, and the general public — for the amazing support and positivity that they’ve shown for me. It’s quite astounding. It’s very encouraging.”
Fellow actors have also spoken out, slamming those who sought to mock Owens’s job.
Comedian and star of Community Yvette Nicole Brown posted:
After doing #Girfriends & a few commercials, while doing #DrakeAndJosh & right before I did #Community, I worked as an office temp in various offices to pay my bills. And I will be right back there (or on fries at McDonald's) if acting work dries up. #TheresNoShameInHavingAJob
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 1, 2018
Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor and former NFL player Terry Crews noted:
I swept floors AFTER the @NFL. If need be, I’d do it again. Good honest work is nothing to be ashamed of. https://t.co/8mseCpaIqz
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) September 2, 2018
Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton chimed in:
Again, why is this news? When I worked on “Thirtysomething” I was also summarizing depositions to pay my rent. Why are you trying to humiliate this honorable, hardworking actor? Shame on you! #geoffreyowens – many great blessings are coming your way! https://t.co/8tgvW3iixr
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 2, 2018
Then megaproducer and actor Tyler Perry tweeted a job offer to Owens:
#GeoffreyOwens I’m about to start shootings OWN’s number one drama next week! Come join us!!! I have so much respect for people who hustle between gigs. The measure of a true artist.
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) September 4, 2018
After receiving the offer, Owens told Entertainment Tonight: “That was kind of cool. … We’ve never worked together before. So, that’s a very, very generous thing for him to say. And we’ll see what happens with that. But, that’s encouraging.”
As a result of the coverage, he also had to quit his job at Trader Joe’s, he said. “I felt like just for my personal sake, my dignity and my emotional well-being, I didn’t want to be in the store while I felt like people might be staking out the place as they did. … I felt like I needed to at least temporarily step out, and I think that was the wise thing to do, actually.”
What do you think about Owens taking up an everyday job?
Let us know in the comments below.
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