The Cosby Show alum Geoffrey Owens went viral back in 2018 after being spotted working at a grocery store. While some mocked the actor’s situation, most defended his right to support himself by any means necessary, as he received an outpouring of support from the public — including rap star Nicki Minaj.
In a recent interview on Atlanta radio station V-103, the 63-year-old confirmed previous reports that the Queens rapper gave him $25,000 to help him find his footing amid his financial woes. He also shares why he choose to donate the money to charity, despite the fact that he still struggles to “make a living.”
“I struggle every day to make my ends meet, and people can’t get their heads around that because they see me in movies…It was a very generous, lovely handout,” Owens added of the monetary gift from Minaj, “But I wasn’t comfortable with that.”
Fans of both the actor and “Barbie Dangerous” spitter have since questioned his decision, with many chalking it up to “pride.”
“I hope no one gives Geoffrey Owens another dime. Too prideful to accept her money, but takes pride in talking about how he’s still struggling financially. Foolish damn pride,” offered one observer on X, with another adding, “Geoffrey Owens, you are the reason why people chose not to help people. You are too proud for your own good.”
THE COSBY SHOW — Pictured: (back row, l-r) Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theodore ‘Theo’ Huxtable, Phylicia Rashad as Clair Hanks Huxtable, Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux, Geoffrey Owens as Elvin Tibideaux, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable, (front row, l-r) Bill Cosby as Dr. Heathcliff ‘Cliff’ Huxtable, Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable – (Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Yale University graduate also detailed of the viral experience, “People have a false impression of what the average middle-class actor makes and their ability to make a living in the industry…At first, there was some negative stuff about basically the job shaming. A ‘Where is he now?’ kind of thing, but then, very soon after that, there was all this support and encouragement from all over the world.”
He went on to describe quitting his job at Trader Joe’s following the viral moment, sharing, “It was strange because someone had been in the store taking pictures. And I was like, now that this is breaking, I’m not going to feel comfortable working in this store wondering who is around with a camera. It would just be too weird. I’m a very private person.”
“It wasn’t like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything. I just felt like I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny and attack on my privacy.”
Owens was offered a number of opportunities after the sighting, including appearances on Tyler Perry’s The Haves And The Have Nots and 50 Cent shows Power and Power Book II: Ghost. He currently stars alongside Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. on CBS show Poppa’s House and in new holiday movie, Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza. Check out the full Q&A below.
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