Nicki Minaj has finally come through on her pledge to give Geoffrey Owens $25,000.
The 35-year-old rapper said she would give the former Cosby Show star the money when he was photographed and shamed for working at a grocery store.
Nicki’s team apparently reached out to Owens and sent him a check. The 57-year-old actor has chosen to donate the money to a cause that means a lot to him.
He explained to TMZ: ‘I would like to give this donation of 25k to the Actor’s Fund in memory of the late, great Earle Hyman – who played Cosby’s father, Russell, on The Cosby Show – who lived his last many years and died at the Actors’ Home, (funded and run by the Actor’s Fund).
Followed through: Nicki Minaj has finally paid Geoffrey Owens the $25,000 she promised to give him when she heard about him being shamed for working at Trader Joe’s grocery store
‘I am extremely grateful to Nicki Minaj for enabling struggling actors to continue pursuing their dreams.’ he said in a statement.
Fans weren’t sure that Nicki would come through with the money after she made the promise earlier this month.
On her Beats 1 show Queen Radio Nicki called out the woman who took Geoffrey’s photo at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey.
‘They took a picture of Geoffrey Owens and put this motherf***ing man on the motherf***in’ internet while he was f***ing baggin up some f***ing ‘groceries to feed his muthaf***ing family,’ said the Grammy-nominated artist. ‘I personally want to donate, on behalf of Queen Radio, $25,000 to Geoffrey Owens today.
Owens has given the money to charity and told TMZ ‘I am extremely grateful to Nicki Minaj for enabling struggling actors to continue pursuing their dreams.’
Owens donated the $25k to the Actor’s Fund in memory of late Cosby Show star Earle Hyman who passed away in November 2017
‘Let me tell you something: This man is a whole f***in’ legend in these streets,’ said Nicki, who noted that the 57-year-old actor ‘is getting so many opportunities’ amid interest in the wake of the job-shaming controversy.
Meanwhile, as well as being offered a guest star role on NCIS: New Orleans, Owens has begun filming his ten episode run on The Haves and the Have Nots following his public shaming for working at Trader Joe’s.
The former Cosby Show star was pictured posing at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia last week for his triumphant return to acting.
Perry had stepped in to offer the 57-year-old a gig after he spoke out about being shamed for working at Trader Joe’s when a customer took photographs of him at a checkout and posted them to her social media account.
In his memory: Hyman played Cosby’s father, Russell, on The Cosby Show. He is pictured with Bill Cosby on the show in 1988
Back on set: Owens was pictured posing with actress Edwina Findley,at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, last week for his triumphant return to acting
On Wednesday, freelance casting associate Michael Gillespie posted a photo of himself with Owens at the studios, calling him ‘an amazing human being’
On Wednesday, freelance casting associate Michael Gillespie posted a photo of himself with Owens at the studios, calling him ‘an amazing human being.’
Then on Thursday, Get Hard actress Edwina Findley, and Here We Go Again star Andra Fuller, both posted separate selfies of themselves with Owens.
‘Oooh.. Look who it is!!!’ Findley wrote, adding to the hashtag #YesHeWill.
Fulled added: ‘It was a pleasure to work with Geoffrey Owens on HAHN.
‘Work ethnic and integrity are 2 necessary characteristics that every MAN should possess, yet should NEVER be made fun of.
‘Kudos to TP for stepping up and creating a role that allowed Mr. Owens to showcase his acting chops perfectly. I look forward to seeing him back doing what he loves to do.’
Perry is the creator and director of The Haves and the Haves Nots, which is based on his own 2011 play.
Dedicated: The actor was photographed bagging groceries at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey
Owens had appeared on Good Morning America proudly wearing his Trader Joe’s name tag as he spoke of being ‘shamed’ for working at the supermarket chain.
Shortly after the interview Perry invited Owens to join his hit drama as he tweeted: ‘#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.’
Owens had revealed that he quit his supermarket job due to the unwanted attention.
Done deal: Owens accepted an offer to star in Tyler Perry’s drama The Haves And The Have Nots after the actor was shamed for working at Trader Joe’s
Offer: Perry is the creator and director of The Haves and the Haves Nots and offered Owens a role on his show via Twitter after his story hit headlines
Joining the cast: Owens headed to Atlanta last week where the show shoots. It’s currently in its sixth season
Owens is pictured in a head shot from The Cosby Show. He appeared in the hit show from 1985 to 1992, when it wrapped
During his GMA appearance Owens also seemed to indicate he would turn offers like Perry’s down, noting he would not feel comfortable accepting an acting gig because of the recent attention.
‘This might sound weird but I wouldn’t feel comfortable getting acting jobs from this event,’ he said.
‘I wouldn’t mind getting auditions. But I wouldn’t feel comfortable, someone giving me a job, because this happened. I want to get a job because I am the right person for the job.’
Owens said he never intended to advertise his work at the store and was stunned when the photographs first emerged.
The actor revealed he had been working at store in New Jersey for 15 months ‘out of necessity’ between short-term acting gigs and teaching.
The former Cosby Show star said he never intended to advertise his work at the store and was stunned when the photographs emerged