Geoffrey Owens says he still ‘struggles’ to make a living years after Trader Joe’s controversy

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Geoffrey Owens, best known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on 'The Cosby Show', has revealed he is still grappling with financial difficulties years after being thrust into the spotlight for working at a Trader Joe’s grocery store.

The actor, who rose to fame on the Emmy-winning sitcom, shared in a December 18 interview with Atlanta’s V-103 radio station that he continues to face financial challenges.

“Even today, right now, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living,” Owens said.

Geoffrey Owens explains how he lost his grocery store job

In 2018, a customer photographed Geoffrey Owens working behind the register at Trader Joe’s, leading to an outpouring of both criticism and support.

“At first, there was some negative stuff about basically the job shaming,” he said. “But then, very soon after that, there was all this support and encouragement from all over the world.”

Despite the public solidarity, the incident forced Owens to leave his grocery store job due to concerns about privacy, according to the New York Post.

“Someone had been in the store taking pictures,” he recalled, adding, “I’m a very private person, and I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny.”

Geoffrey Owens' residuals and financial strain

Geoffrey Owens explained that his residuals from 'The Cosby Show' “were never particularly wonderful” because he only appeared in about 20 percent of the episodes.

The show’s removal from syndication in 2014, following Bill Cosby’s misconduct allegations, further impacted his earnings.

“Yes, it impacted me financially,” Owens previously told People. “At the time that the show was pulled, that did make a difference in our income,” he added.

Nicki Minaj’s gesture and Geoffrey Owens' return to acting

In the aftermath of the Trader Joe’s controversy, Geoffrey Owens received significant support from Hollywood.

Nicki Minaj gifted him $25,000, which he donated to charity, saying it did not feel right to keep it without earning it.

He also landed roles in several high-profile projects, including Tyler Perry's 'The Haves and the Have Nots' and 50 Cent’s 'Power and Power Book II: Ghost'.

Owens currently stars on CBS’s sitcom 'Poppa’s House', alongside Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr.

However, the actor admitted that even with acting opportunities, his financial situation remains precarious.

At one point, he returned to Trader Joe’s while acting, asking for more hours to make ends meet.

Owens highlighted a common misconception about the financial stability of actors.

“People have a false impression of what the average middle-class actor makes and their ability to make a living in the industry,” he said.