Geoffrey Owens, the former The Cosby Show star who was shamed in the media and online for the supposed indignity of working at a supermarket, has spoken out about “the honour of the working person” in a new interview – while wearing his employee nametag.
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Speaking to Good Morning America days after photos of him behind the counter of a New Jersey Trader Joe’s circulated online, Owens thanked “the Hollywood community and the general public for the incredible support, the amazing support and positivity that they’ve shown for me.”
Owens explained that work in the notoriously rough entertainment industry wasn’t enough to sustain him financially, so he took the supermarket gig about 15 months ago to fill the gaps while still seeking acting and teaching roles.
According to him, customers frequently recognise him – after all, he played a prominent role in one of the most successful sitcoms of all time – and the recent circulation of the photos and their publication in certain tabloids is the first time people have been weird about it.
“There is no job that’s better than another job,” Owens said.
“It might pay better, it might have better benefits, it might look better on a resumé and on paper, but actually, it’s not better.
“Every job is worthwhile, and valuable, and if we kind of have a rethinking about that because of what’s happened to me, that would be great.”
FULL INTERVIEW: @GMA EXCLUSIVE — “There’s no job better than another…every job is worthwhile…” Actor Geoffrey Owens speaks out, responding to job shaming and backlash after a photo of him working at a grocery store was posted online: https://t.co/0wZJnpowI9 pic.twitter.com/aNiG5fV2yf
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 4, 2018
His interview comes after stars like Terry Crews spoke out about the un-glitzy roles they took between high profile gigs.
Despite saying he’d feel “uncomfortable” being offered roles because of his latest media exposure, Owens has also been offered a gig on Tyler Perry‘s new drama.
#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
Respect.
