Cosby Show actor who was forced to work at Trader Joe’s says he’s still struggling to make ends meet
A beloved “Cosby Show” actor started working at Trader Joe’s and the financial struggles he continues to experience.
Geoffrey Owens, 63, widely recognized for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the iconic TV series, made headlines in 2018 when a photo of him bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s went viral.
While some on social media mocked him for taking a “regular” job, an outpouring of support quickly offset the negativity.
‘Initially there were some negative things about the job shaming. A ‘where is he now’ kind of thing,’ he told the Atlanta’s V-103 radio station.
‘But very soon afterwards there was all this support and encouragement from all over the world.’
Owens revealed that he had to leave Trader Joe’s after the news broke.
“It wasn’t like I stopped knowing that I was going to make a lot of money soon or anything,” he explained.
“I just felt like I couldn’t handle these kinds of controls and attacks on my privacy.”
Beloved ‘Cosby Show’ actor Geoffrey Owens opened up about the backlash he faced after working at Trader Joe’s and the financial struggles he continues to experience
In a recent interview, Owens revealed that he quit Trader Joe’s before the news broke
He spoke highly of the supermarket chain and revealed that he had even requested extra hours in the store.
Owens emphasized that despite his successful acting career, he still faces financial problems, a fact that surprised many.
“Even today, right now, I’m still struggling to make a living,” he said.
‘I struggle every day to make ends meet.
“And people can’t ignore that because they see me in movies.”
Owens explained that his Cosby Show residuals were not substantial, and that the show’s removal from syndication had a significant impact on his income.
He said the remains “were never particularly great for me, I was here and there.” I’ve done maybe 20 percent of the shows.”
The viral attention in 2018 led to a flurry of acting opportunities for Owens.
Owens explained that his “Cosby Show” residuals were not substantial, and that the show’s removal from syndication had a significant impact on his income.
Tyler Perry cast him in The Haves and the Have Nots, and he landed roles in Power, Power Book II: Ghost, NCIS: New Orleans, Billions, and All Rise.
He currently appears in Damon Wayans’ sitcom Poppa’s House and recently starred in the family film Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza.
Reflecting on his time at Trader Joe’s, Owens told People in 2018 that the experience came out of necessity after The Cosby Show reruns were canceled.
He said: ‘That was one of the elements that led to me getting to the point where I said to myself, ‘I have to do something’ and I thought, ‘What can I do?’ and the answer ultimately came from Trader Joe, which is actually a wonderful situation for me in many ways.”