After a photo of actor Geoffrey Owens working at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey went viral, Hip Hop artists and celebrities alike have rallied around the former Cosby Star star.
Owens was photographed working as a cashier at a New Jersey location and several news outlets picked up the story in what seemed like an attempt to shame him.
But, the stunt backfired and Owens has received seemingly endless support. During an interview with Good Morning America, Owens opened up about the experience and said it initially left him “devastated” and humiliated. However, the positive feedback he received quickly snapped him out of it.
“The period of devastation was so short because so shortly after that the responses — my wife and I started to read these responses literally from all over the world — of support. So, fortunately the shame part didn’t last very long. It hurt but it’s amazing.
“I’ve been teaching, acting, directing for 30 plus years but got to a point where it just didn’t add up enough. You gotta do what you gotta do. I wanted a job where I could have some flexibility and try to stay in the business.”
As the outpouring of support continued, director Tyler Perry tweeted that he’d love to give Owens an acting job and applauded his hustle.
“I’m about to start shootings OWN’s number one drama next week!” Perry wrote. “Come join us!!! I have so much respect for people who hustle between gigs. The measure of a true artist.”
Chuck D, Speech, Questlove and Owens’ fellow actors defended him on social media.
Check out their reactions below. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
Boycott trader Joe’s
For what? Giving a man a job?
Is there any more doubt that Fox News is evil? Whether you’re a Black man Trying to earn an honest and decent living, This First Black president, or a criminal that’s black, those devils at Fox look at you the same way………… like you ain’t shit!!!!!!!!!
You know, I think that post was really awful. But I wouldn’t say Fox News on the whole is evil for it or anything else. I used to think that when they supported GW Bush and his wars. But these days I live off of Hannity, Ingraham, Pirro and Carlson. They are the only ones telling it like it is anymore. CNN, NBC, MSNBC, ABC, they are all deep state propaganda machines, 247 trying to destroy Trump in every way possible. They have dropped all pretention of objectivity. Almost everything they say is a lie, and if you want to get into the evil shit they’ve done, well, I don’t have a month to spare!
People are shaming him why? At least dude isn’t out here doing fuck shit like tax fraud or other shit we have known celebrities to do when they fall off.