Lessons from Geoffrey Owens' work: America has a distorted understanding of the artist's life

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Imagine having trouble finding a job. You look and look, only to find nothing open in your field. But bills are guaranteed like death and taxes, so as a responsible adult, you throw your backpack in the closet and take what is available. But wait, there's another element: this expertise in this bag you threw includes a past life where you played in one of the most successful sitcoms in the history of television. supermarket.

But again, you have bills, so you do what you have to do. And it's cool because you know that working in a market is honorable and that gives you the flexibility to provide while keeping an eye on your acting career. Everything goes well until two customers recognize you – they know you're the type of TV and you're noticed in the worst moments of history, the age of social media . They launch a tabloid. So you move from honest work to shame all over the Internet and you are laughed at as a celebrity fallen from grace. It's Geoffrey Owens' week.

"I got to the point where I had to take a job to pay my bills, to support my family, it was essentially that," Owens said in an interview with CNN earlier this week. "I wanted a flexible job, so that if I stayed in the entertainment industry, I could continue to audition and do work if I could, and Trader Joe's did it. "

Owens played Elvin Tibideaux in Bill Cosby's "The Cosby Show" from 1985 to 1992. Elvin was the boyfriend of Sondra (Sabrina Le Beauf), the eldest daughter of Cosby (Cliff Huxtable) who eventually became her husband. The two hugging liberals met in Princeton, felt enamored and decided not to attend elementary school to open a wilderness store in Brooklyn, which seemed silly in the early '90s. Child, I had no connection with reality nor any understanding of their reality, I did not know why they were calling their children Winnie and Nelson, they knew nothing of their strong political positions, their mission or their cultural references in general. I honestly thought that they were clumsy. Now, as an adult, I understand them and, as a person who has experienced gentrification, I realize that they have won millions of dollars in a wild store in Brooklyn, because everyone walks around.

The syndicated reruns of "The Cosby Show" have been removed from most resorts as a result of numerous allegations of rape and sexual assault against Cosby. Owens continued to work in the entertainment industry, regularly acting on New York stages, including Broadway. He has also appeared on numerous cable and network television shows – "The Affair" by Showtime, "Divorce", "Hibiscus", "Greenpoint", "Lucifer", "Blue Bloods" and "Medium". He did not land a regular TV role in "The Cosby Show".

"People do not realize because of the occasions that [the show] completed 26 years ago. In the last 26 years, I have hardly ever had any acting work for more than 10 weeks, "continued Owens. Most of these jobs were theater jobs that earn much less than television and film. "

Owens was faced with the dilemma of many artists: you work very hard to perfect your craft, you get enough breaks to gain notoriety and even fans, you open a wall with limited opportunities and then you have to look for work as your profession former. It's hard, but it happens all the time. And instead of these so-called fans gathering around you and supporting your art that they claim to love, they say to the tabloids, shame you online and write to you as a failure, as if working at Trader's Joe & # 39; He was a homeless person. drunk.

"I worked at Trader Joe's a few weeks ago for 15 months.As soon as I heard about this story, I resigned because I did not think that for my peace of mind, I would be able to function positively, spiritually and emotionally, "Owens told CNN." Trader Joe said, instead of leaving, why not just call it a temporary leave. I can go back whenever I want. "

I am depressed when I hear stories of writers. I went to high school with those who gave up their art because it did not happen fast enough, or they could not handle a job while browsing their passion. It's an extremely hard job. So we always have to take the time to defend a guy like Owens who has worked not only to feed his family, but also to finance his dream by going through the ups and downs of the game or being an artist in general.

"I was devastated only for an hour or two," Owens told CNN about how the story exploded. "It was hurtful but of very short duration.What was born, now, over the days, is how much love and support there is." Not just for me, but for the workers The idea: "Joe, or any job like that?"

Karma Lawrence, the woman who took the picture, apologized during an interview with NJ.com.

"I do not know why I took a picture. I thought everyone was doing it. I do not know what possessed me. I just did it. I did not even think about it. I just did it on an impulse and it was a bad impulse, "Lawrence said.

"In fact, I wanted to go to him and say something, but I thought you could embarrass him," she continued. "But then I did something that really embarrassed him. I did not go with my first instinct and I should

But Lawrence slamming this photo may have been the best thing to do for his career since he played Elvin. The 57-year-old actor has gone from a well-kept secret to "Good Morning America".

"It was surreal," Owens said of "Good Morning America". "These are contacts and e-mails, phone calls, texts and non-stop interviews. It's really weird – a lot of fun, though.

More importantly, he has become the spokesman for many personalities who work outside their industries to stay in their sector. Actor Terry Crews tweeted: "I swept the floors AFTER the @NFL. If necessary, I would do it again. A good, honest job is not a shame. "

Actress Patricia Heaton added, "Again, why this news? When I was working on "Thirtysomething", I also summarized the depositions to pay my rent. Why are you trying to humiliate this honorable and hardworking actor? Shame on you! #geoffreyowens – Many great blessings come to you!

Heaton was right. After the story gained momentum, Tyler Perry offered Owens a work on a drama series.

"#GeoffreyOwens I'm about to start filming OWN's number one next week! Come join us !!! Perry said, "I have so much respect for people jostling each other between concerts," he continued. "The measure of a true artist."

Things are better for Owens, but what does he say about society in general? We can not gather around a person until it is attacked on the Internet? What if Owens's photo was not viral, or if shame had caused him to hurt himself, or even other people?

I am extremely happy for Owens to see his career improve, but I hope we can all learn from his ordeal. Life has ups and downs. Celebrities are people too, and no one has to face difficult times or even just need a flexible concert, even if it is not prestigious, to bridge the gaps between projects. Owens treated all this attention and controversy with honor and grace. I hope his detractors will remember how they acted in this situation when they are facing struggles because we will all have our day.

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