Geoffrey Owens speaks on Trader Joe’s shaming

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In an interview with Good Morning America, actor Geoffrey Owens spoke about the job shaming he received after a photo went viral of him working at a New Jersey Trader Joes.

Geoffrey Owens on Trader Joes picture

Though not needing to explain to others for simply doing what you have to do survive, Owens shared his experience as a working actor to ABC’s Good Morning America:

“I was really devastated,” Geoffrey said of the initial reporting.

“But the period of devastation was so short because, so shortly after that, my wife and I started to read these responses of support from all over the world, so the shame period didn’t last very long.”

“I’d been teaching, acting, directing for 30-plus years, but it got to a point where it just didn’t add up enough. You gotta do what you gotta do,” he said.

He was offered jobs after viral photo

After the photo of Owens went viral, Tyler Perry offered the actor a job:

#GeoffreyOwens I’m about to start shootings OWN’s number one drama next week! Come join us!!! I have so much respect for people who hustle between gigs. The measure of a true artist.

— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) September 4, 2018

Despite the newfound attention, Owens said he doesn’t want this to turn into sympathy for acting jobs:

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable with someone giving me a job because this happened,” he said, adding that he would be open to offers to audition.

“I want to get a job because I’m the right person for that job.”

He also expressed as the news of him working at Trader Joe’s will fade, he hopes the conversation on the value of hard work continues.

“There’s no job that’s better than another job,” he said.

“Every job is worthwhile and valuable, and if we have a re-thinking about that because of what’s happened to me, that would be great.”

“I’ve had a great life, had a great career. I’ve had a career that most actors would die for,” he said.

“No one has to feel sorry for me. I’m doing fine.”

As I stated in my previous article, rock on brotha!

FULL INTERVIEW: @GMA EXCLUSIVE — “There’s no job better than another…every job is worthwhile…” Actor Geoffrey Owens speaks out, responding to job shaming and backlash after a photo of him working at a grocery store was posted online: https://t.co/0wZJnpowI9 pic.twitter.com/aNiG5fV2yf

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 4, 2018