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As many of us continue to root for former “Cosby Show” actor, Geoffrey Owens, following the foul job-shaming he was recently subjected to for working at Trader Joe’s, a former Destiny’s Child has a revelation. LaTavia Roberson is saluting Geoffrey for handling his business by any means and she’s also simultaneously confessed to going through a similar situation.

After Mathew Knowles (Beyonce’s Dad) kicked LaTavia out of Destiny’s Child years ago, she fell on some extremely tough times. In efforts to make ends meet, like Geoffrey Owens, she did what she had to do to earn an honest living. In a recent Twitter post, LaTavia voiced her opinion about Owens’ Trader Joe’s cashier job and revealed that she understood his plight. Why? Because after having sold millions of records and won Grammys in one of the largest female groups of that era, she ended up working behind the counter of a local record shop. She expressed her initial embarrassment every time fans would flock to the store to make sure it was really her . She also expressed her strength of withstanding that part of her life. Here’s what she wrote:

@IAmLatavia: “I understand #GeoffreyOwens after I was removed from the group I ended up working at a Lil record shop I think in Acres Homes. People used to come in just to see if it was really me 😔. However; I still had to feed my family and survive. So 👏🏽👏🏽 to him for not giving up!!!!!”

https://twitter.com/IamLaTavia/status/1037138618077331457

Soon after her confession, LaTavia was getting trolled by people we, here at ILOSM, refer to as ‘keyboard gangstas’- people who talk foul online, but wouldn’t dare say it in person. That’s when LaTavia got fed up though and went off on her haters:

@IAmLatavia: “On that note IM SO OVER BITTER ASS PEOPLE who find joy in attacking and spreading negative energy in the name of someone YALL WILL NEVER MEET!!!!! … When your used to being the underdog and riding for yourself then what a hater say won’t hurt you ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽 … Thanks guys but I think I’m done with social media for a minute!!!!

Jackee Harry Makes Her Own Confession While Supporting LaTavia’s Admission

Shortly after getting word of LaTavia’s prior record store employment revelation, former “227” and “Sister, Sister” actress, Jackee Harry replied to LaTavia and what she revealed was equally humbling and real. In her post, Jackee stated that, like many entertainers, she’d fallen on tough times, following the decline of her acting gigs. According to Jackee, if it were not for the help of fellow actress, Loretta Devine, she would have had to take backwards steps in her career, just to stay afloat:

@JackeeHarry: “Once I considered joining a “celebrity” circus until Loretta Devine gave me a loan & some encouragement. We have to stick together, keep our priorities straight & never lose our drive in order to turn things around. That applies to ALL careers in which we hope to find success.”

LaTavia was truly grateful to Jackee for taking a minute to show her love:

@IamLaTavia: “Wow thank you this is what is needed more encouragement and wisdom!!!!!”
She followed it up with a throwback pic of Jackee and a caption that read, “The best to ever do it! Thank You @JackeeHarry for just being YOU 💋💋💋💋.”

https://twitter.com/IamLaTavia/status/1037841540683575296

Moral of the story is, celebrities go through ups and tough times, just like us regular folks. What matters is how we get up from the down times and how we maneuver during the up’s. That is what makes the character of a human being, nothing more and nothing less. We salute actor, Geoffrey Owens, LaTavia Roberson, Jackee Harry, (and any other hustling entertainer out there doing what they’ve gotta do) for being a true definition of great determination, will, and strong character.