There’s been a lot of trash talk happening lately about former Cosby Show actor Geoffrey Owens. Owens, 57, was recently spotted working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s, and the tweet quickly went viral with hundreds of outlets job-shaming the actor.
The Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens is spotted working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s in New Jersey https://t.co/cSMYf74DET
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 31, 2018
Plenty of stars were quick to jump to his defense among all of the hate on Twitter.
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
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
Soon after the tweet erupted, Owens made an appearance on Good Morning America to share his perspective on the situation. He explained that he wanted a job with flexibility in case auditions or other matters surfaced.
“I didn’t advertise it, not because I was ashamed of it, but because I didn’t want the acting community to think I wasn’t pursuing acting anymore,” he told co-host Robin Roberts.
Owens, recently featured in TV roles on Elementary, The Blacklist and Divorce, has been working shifts at the grocery store as a side hustle in between acting gigs. But now, the actor has had to quit his job at Trader Joe’s, saying that all of the attention made it impossible for him to continue working there.
But thanks to major support from a handful of powerful stars, Owens may have a shot at a new opportunity. Since his GMA appearance, Tyler Perry has offered him a job:
#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
Maybe Owens won’t have to brave a side hustle anymore after all.