Dear Cancel Culture, Fuck You!!!

Look at what chall punk asses did to Elvin

Written 12/27/2024

Religious nuts may be the only group of people I despise more than cancel culture. This planet is just full of pompous ass motherfuckers, who swear they are the alpha and omega in this bitch. And in some cases, you have been allowed to be that within people's world, so it's all gone to your fucking heads

The above photo went viral back in 2018, due to the Trader Joe's customer who took the photo recognizing actor Geoffrey Owens, best known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux, husband and baby daddy to the eldest Huxtable daughter on the Cosby Show, as her checkout clerk

This has nothing to do with my views on this, but I actually met Geoffrey and talked with him a few times about 25 years ago, as he joined the same church I went to in Hollywood at the time. I remember thinking, "wow, he's just like Elvin but without all of the misogyny and chauvinistic views". He was genuinely one of the nicest people I've ever met

I'd seen the viral photo and read the article that contained the photo back in 2018. But honestly I didn't think much about it. Although we're led to believe that anyone in movies and/or tv never struggle financially unless they're frivolous, this is Los Angeles. It's expensive as fuck to live here. While he's an actor who was on a hit show, he wasn't the main star of the show, and it makes sense he'd need to supplement his income. We don't know what his family financial situation is like. Plus, in 2018, how many people were checking for Elvin Tibideaux? I would assume behind the scenes, a lot of actors in his position would have to get supplemental jobs at some point, especially if they reside in LA or NY

What I didn't know, is apparently that wasn't the case (at least not to this extent) for Geoffrey prior to 2014. The headline of this particular article I saw today read:

‘Cosby Show’ actor Geoffrey Owens still ‘struggling’ to make ends meet after he quit Trader Joe’s gig over ‘attack on my privacy’

And as I clicked on the article and read its content, I felt like such a fucking asshole for the assumptions I made. This article was following his appearance on Atlanta's V-103 radio station, and it contained a whole buncha shit I didn't know. From the article:

Owens, known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the six-time Emmy-winning series, claimed he’s “not much better off” today than he was when a customer snapped a photo of the actor working behind the grocery store register in 2018.

“Even today, right now, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living,” Owens told Atlanta’s V-103 radio station on Dec. 18. “I struggle every day to make my ends meet. And people can’t get their heads around that because they see me in movies. Well, yeah. That's kinda how we're told it goes. People in movies aren't supposed to be struggling to make ends meet

Owens’ residual checks “were never particularly wonderful” because he only acted in “maybe 20% of shows” on the hit series. Although IMDB says he appeared in 128 of the show's 197 total episodes. He probably had a shitty contract

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

Well, don't I feel like the village dumb ass. Apologies sir. I had no idea

He went on to explain how initially he dealt with job shaming when the photo went viral (smh, people are such fucking assholes. What would y'all have said if he wasn't working at all and accepting government assistance? Or if he turned to crime and robbed all y'all judgmental asses?). But he did say that "very soon after that, there was all this support and encouragement from all over the world". That's good. He revealed that he left his gig at Trader Joes before the gig went public after noticing photos being taken

“It was strange because someone had been in the store taking pictures,” Owens recalled. "And I was like, now that this is breaking I’m not going to feel comfortable working in this store wondering who is around with a camera. It would just be too weird. I’m a very private person.

It wasn’t like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything. I just felt like I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny and attack on my privacy.”

Totally understandable!!!! Fortunately, the article did say When the news broke, an outpouring of support came his way

I'm glad about that as well

Am I the only one who wants to just give this man a million dollars? Come on y'all. This dude ain't ever hurt nobody!

Another thing I didn't know from the article:

Nicki Minaj sent him $25,000 but Owens donated the money to a charity because it “didn’t feel right to keep it” without working for it.

Jesus Christ! Why was this man's name not on the Nov 2024 presidential ballot? But then there were more highs from his story that brought me joy

But he gladly accepted work in dozens of projects including acting gigs with powerhouses like Tyler Perry on the show “The Haves and the Have Nots” and the 50-Cent produced show “Power” and “Power Book II: Ghost.”

Owens currently stars on the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s House,” starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr.

That all made me smile. I'ma check out his stuff and support him wherever I can. And if I can get my movie and tv show ideas into production, I'm definitely finding all the parts for this man that I can! And more good news

The actor admitted that after the headlines calmed down, he went back to Trader Joe’s while acting and asked for more hours because money was — and is — still tight.

Good for you! It's not about how you look. It's about doing whatever you gotta do to make ends meet. How the fuck could you not respect that?

This whole fucking article has been an absolute roller coaster of emotions for me. But at this point, (deep sigh) the rest of the article (clears throat) PISSES ME THE FUCK OFF!!

Bill Cosby, the star of the titular sitcom, and his fall from grace after numerous allegations of sexual misconduct led the series to be pulled from syndication and affected Owens’ bottom line, he said.

I actually didn't know this. I knew the Cosby Show had been pulled from streaming services (didn't agree with that either), but I didn't know it was pulled from all syndication too where it was VERY big. That is some of the dumbest fucking shit I have ever heard of

The three-time Golden Globe-winning “The Cosby Show” was pulled from syndication on several networks back in 2014 after Cosby was accused and eventually convicted of sexual assault — which he denied.

The man formally known as “America’s Dad” served three years of a 10-year prison sentence until Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2021.

“Yes, it impacted me financially. At the time that the show was pulled, that did make a difference in our income,” Owens told People in 2018.

During his V-103 interview, he reiterated that his residuals were “gone” after Bill Cosby’s scandal.

Ok, there it is. That's the biggest problem I have with this shit, that I really don't think these cancel culture fucks thought all the way through. Let's break down these last four paragraphs of the article a little more carefully:

The three-time Golden Globe-winning “The Cosby Show” was pulled from syndication on several networks back in 2014 after Cosby was accused and eventually convicted of sexual assault Notice how it accurately states the show had been pulled after he was accused first? He was eventually convicted, but the show had already been pulled from syndication after he was only ACCUSED. That's number one. Number two, what the fuck does his accusations have to do with the show?! We'll get back to that point in a minute

The man formally known as “America’s Dad” served three years of a 10-year prison sentence until Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2021. Follow along with me on this children. So this MF is not only not even in prison anymore, serving only 30% of his original sentence, but his entire fucking conviction has been overturned by the Supreme Court? Why tf has the Cosby Show not returned to syndication?

We know that Bill Cosby ain't hurting for money. In fact, Pill Cosby, wannabe crime boss Diddy, and the child piper of R&B, R Kelly, ain't hurting for money despite being disgraced. These MFs are accused of some heinous shit and have been accused multiple times over. We all agree they're monsters

But any consequence done to them should be done strictly to them!! Do whatever the fuck you want to them. But when you lobby to get their old ass show canceled, you're not really affecting the superstar's bottom line as talked about above. But you are affecting the bottom line of the countless actors who worked alongside these fucking monsters, who were and still are simply trying to earn a fucking living. Pill doesn't need any money from the Cosby Show (and why the fuck can't the government just garnish his residuals from the show while in prison and/or on trial anyway? They have NO problem garnishing us regular people's wages even when we've done nothing illegal), but all of the other actors on the show are not well off like he is. How could y'all not even consider that? But y'all were supposedly riding for the victims though, right? What good does that do if your actions cause other people to be victimized too?

“Yes, it impacted me financially. At the time that the show was pulled, that did make a difference in our income,” Owens told People in 2018. So he said this back when that photo of him working at TJs went viral. Remember, he already said his residual checks "were never wonderful" to begin with since he only appeared in about 20% of the show's episodes/probably had a shitty contract. But however much it was, it's rightfully his money that he earned and may have really come to rely on. Maybe he wouldn't have needed to work at TJs at all if he still had his residual checks coming in, that you all took away from him for NO FUCKING REASON AT ALL. Why should this man have to continue to struggle to make ends meet because y'all only slapped the wrist of the true monster? While both that monster and y'all sit in your comfortable ass homes making ends meet all willy nilly. Selfish ass MFs

During his V-103 interview, he reiterated that his residuals were “gone” after Bill Cosby’s scandal. The residuals that were never that great to begin with are now GONE

You cancel culture MFs all really need to check yourselves. Seriously

Stay up, Mr Owens