Geoffrey Owens, known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the 1980s/1990s TV sitcom “The Cosby Show,” explains why he donated $25,000, given to him by Nicki Minaj, to charity after news broke that he was working at Trader Joe’s.
Owens, who was featured on V-103 radio station on December 12th to promote his starring role in a Christmas movie, said that it didn’t feel right at the moment. He emphasized that he appreciated the gesture from the Pink Friday rapper but said that he didn’t feel comfortable receiving it and didn’t want to feel like he was a charity case.
The Yale graduate, who is the son of former New York congressman Major Owens, said if the $25K were given to him to do work for Minaji, then he would accept it.
Geoffrey Owens photographed while working at Trader Joe’s in 2018; Courtesy of SWNS.COM
After the “viral grocery store” publicity, Owens was offered and accepted acting gigs for Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots” and 50 Cent’s shows “Power” and “Power Book II: Ghost.”
Owens also acknowledges that he attempted to request a refund from the charity, but they had already distributed the funds.
Owens, who is very private, told the radio station he left the job before the new gig went public because he was worried about the invasion of his privacy.
station in Atlanta; Video Credit: V-103.
He admitted that he is not much better off today than when he was photographed working behind the New Jersey grocery store register in 2018.
Owens said that he still struggles to make a living, and he no longer receives residual checks from the Cosby Show due to Bill Cosby’s sexual assault scandal, leading to the series being pulled from syndication, except for TV One.
The series is also available on TV streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and Philo. According to the New York Post, Owens acted in approximately 20% of the popular sitcom.
He’a currently featured in the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s House,” starring comedian Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., and Essence Atkins. Owens play the role of JJ, Damon Wayans Jr’s father-in-law. He also star in Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza” with Tommy Davidson, which aired in theaters on December 13, 2024.