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![Ex-Destiny's Child Member LaTavia Isn't Here For Your Job Shaming](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODUyNzgyMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc4MTY5MDU5N30.R8pj3WrntSBZiGPEWYYWltUInvv6t1cJ_3RSrsEf9Ek/img.jpg?width=1200&height=600&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C62)
Ex-Destiny's Child Member LaTavia Isn't Here For Your Job Shaming
Geoffrey Owens was thrust back into the national spotlight recently, and not because he played the beloved "Elvin" on The Cosby Show. Owens became yet another victim of the internet when a woman snapped a picture of him working as a member of a local Trader Joe's in New Jersey. And because the internet can be an unforgiving place, the photo went viral with memes, taunts, and insinuations of a "fall from grace" soon to follow.
Despite it all, Owens took the high road when he addressed the situation with various news outlets, including sitting down with Robin Roberts for Good Morning America shortly after to barrage of negativity. And what he had to say about work is something that should resonate with everyone, whether you have a 9-to-5, work multiple side hustles, or are unemployed and looking for a ray of hope. He told Robin Roberts about the value of work and said:
"There is no job that is better than another job. It might pay better, it might have better benefits, it might look better on a résumé and on paper. But, actually, it's not better. Every job is worthwhile and valuable….I've had a great life, I've had a great career. I've had a career that most actors would die for. No one has to feel sorry for me. I'm doing fine."
The fact that this turned into a "thing" is quite ridiculous, at best. Most working actors are not Denzel Washington or Viola Davis. They find themselves having to take day jobs or incorporate side hustles into their acting schedules in order to make ends meet. There should be no shame for doing what you need to do in order to pay the bills—legally, of course. There also shouldn't be any stigma when it comes to humbling yourself in order to do so.
We should all take pride in an honest day's work, regardless of the job title.
Related: When Did 9 to 5 Job Shaming Become A Thing?
Owens' public shaming was short lived, however. Countless fellow actors, Hollywood and music stars, and even regular folks jumped in to applaud Owens for his willingness to do what it takes to live his best life. Tyler Perry offered him a job, Nicki Minaj wants to donate $25,000, and the country began a new dialogue around what it mean to do an honest day's work. And in the wake of this important conversation, another person who also fell victim to job shaming spoke out about her experiences as well, despite having two Grammy awards under her belt.
As one of the original members of Destiny's Child, LaTavia Roberson has first-hand experience of what it's like to rise to fame and then humble yourself just to pay the bills. While Roberson was eventually "removed" from the group in 2000 with much controversy and lawsuits to follow, that didn't remove her from her financial responsibilities.
Roberson revealed on Twitter that soon afterwards, she found herself having to take a job a record shop in her hometown right outside of Houston. She says that people would come in to the store just to see if was really her, which had to be the ultimate form of job shaming.
She hasn't let this curtail her creative endeavors, however. Roberson has appeared in a number of stage plays since 2008 and even starred in the third season of R&B Divas: Atlanta on TV One. Everyone has a different path in life, and for Roberson, she wouldn't take anything away from the ups and downs she's experienced along the way. Hindsight is indeed 20/20, and Roberson believes that she went through everything for a reason. In 2014, she said:
"Maybe when I was younger I may have thought 'Oh my gosh, could I have changed anything?' But now that I'm older and now that I have my daughter, I think back and I say, no matter how hard things have been for me over the past 10 years and me coming out and me feeling like I have victory, I think that I was supposed to go through those things for a reason...As hard as it was, I have to say I wouldn't change anything."
So many of us are out here hustling so that we can transform our "surviving" into "thriving."
Madame Noire
Social media tends to glorify this lifestyle of easy money and quick success. Much of the time, what we are really seeing is the fruits of an arduous road to success. Our nation is filled people willing to sacrifice their pride and take jobs they might not want to take just to keep the lights on, and they should be applauded, too. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do until we can do what we want to do, and I am no exception.
One time for all the hard workers who have figured out how to provide for themselves and their families without the help of a corporate job, a trust fund, or a quick come up. Just good ole hard work. That's a real boss move.
Michelle Schmitz is a writer and editor based in Washington, DC originally from Ft Lauderdale, FL. A self-described ambivert, you can find her figuring out ways to read more than her monthly limit of The New York Times, attending concerts, and being a badass, multi-tasking supermom. She also runs her own blog MichelleSasha.com. Keep up with her latest moves on IG: @michellesashawrites and Twitter: @michellesashas
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."