As most of us have heard by now, Geoffrey Owens, or as we old schoolers know him as- “Elvin” from “The Cosby Show”- was currently exposed as a cashier at Trader Joe’s. The photos of him working the register and bagging groceries on the job, went viral on social media last week. Initially reports *coughs Fox News* attempted to shame the brotha for working at the the grocery store chain, but we and many others gained a newfound respect for Geoffrey, for earning an honest living.
Now, he’s finally spoken publicly about the viral photos and his response will make you love the man even more.
(VIDEO) Geoffrey Owens Confesses How Grocery Store Photos Made Him Feel
In an interview with “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts, the ex “Cosby Show” star revealed his true reaction to the photos that he says were ‘devastating’…but there is a brighter side for him.
When asked if he felt that the initial reports by Fox News were trying to ‘job shame’ him for working at Trader Joe’s, Geoffrey confessed:
“I did [feel that way]…when I first saw those pictures,” Owens confessed. Then he jokingly stated, “By the way, they photoshopped those pictures. You know they photo shopped them, you know I don’t look that bad, LOL. I was actually preparing for the role as fall-staff in production of ‘Henry the IV part 1,’ set in a grocery store.”
Geoffrey Owens then revealed the pain that the reports initially caused him and his wife, but it didn’t last long:
“I was REALLY devastated. But…the period of devastation was so short, because so shortly after that…my wife and I started to read these [online] responses- literally all of the world- of support. And so, fortunately the shame part didn’t last very long. It hurt, but then….it’s just amazing.”
On how he ended up working as a cashier and his persistent determination to pursue acting:
“I’ve been teaching, acting, directing for 30-plus years, but…it got to a point where it [the pay] just didn’t add up enough, you know. And you gotta do what you gotta do. I wanted a job where I can have some flexibility, um…try to stay in the [acting] business. I didn’t advertise that I was…at Trader Joe’s. Not that I was ashamed of it, but I didn’t want the entertainment community to kind of decide ‘Well he’s doing that now…he’s not pursuing acting anymore,’ you know. I felt like I had to be careful about that.”
As far as feeling sorry for him- don’t, says Geoffrey. He in no way feels sorry for maintaining an honest living and doing what he needs to do for his family:
“I’ve had a great career and uh…I’ve had a career that most actors would die for. So no one has to feel sorry for me, I’m doing fine.”
Well said Geoffrey! On a side note: Trader Joe’s needs to cut this man a MAJOR check for all this free publicity he’s garnered for them across the globe.
Anyways, the fact that he’s stood up and stood IN his truth- as a hard working man who is humble enough to go from Hollywood, to Trader Joe’s- speaks volumes about his character. We, here at I Love Old School Music, humbly tip our hats to Geoffrey Owens for taking care of his family by any means necessary. And uh…for those who laughed at him, there is hope: You can actually un-learn senseless ignorance…if you push hard enough to overcome it, just sayin.’
