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Nicki Minaj sent the hard-working ‘Cosby’ actor a huge check. He’s giving away every penny.

Geoffrey Owens is having a whirlwind moment he never dreamed of.

In just a few weeks, the former “Cosby Show” star has gone from a victim of online bullying to a compassionate human being helping other artists in need.

It all started when a stranger photographed Owens working at a local Trader Joe’s grocery store. Outrage over the mistreatment of Owens, and fascination over how a “successful” actor could end up in such an average job captured the attention of countless people around the world.


It was a great teaching moment for Owens and other actors about the ups and downs of their profession and a learning lesson for people who often forget that the people whose lives we deconstruct on social media are real human beings with thoughts, feelings and lives.

Owens came out of the experience with a lot of love and support from his peers in the entertainment world. And though he refused any charity, he did land a high-profile role on a Tyler Perry show.

One of the people who took note was singer Nicki Minaj, who said during a radio interview that she wanted to give Owens a check for $25,000 .

He accepted the gift but only so he could pay it forward.

Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images.

Owens is standing by his refusal to accept charity or acting roles given to him out of pity. And it’s working: he’s landed several roles this month alone that will keep him busy for the foreseeable future.

But he accepted the financial gift from Minaj to make an important point about actors who continue to struggle with financial insecurity.

“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),” Owens said in a statement. "I am extremely grateful to Nicki Minaj for enabling struggling actors to continue pursuing their dreams.”

Acting isn't always glamorous. But helping others makes anyone a star.

The Actor’s Fund is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping actors with a number of career and personal needs that are often underserved in creative fields. The group thanks Owens and Minaj via their Twitter account, writing:

“Thank you to Geoffrey Owens for paying forward his gift from Nicki Minaj & making a very generous donation of $25,000 to our work,"

Owens has already found a way to turn his initially painful experience into a huge positive for his personal and professional life. But by literally paying it forward, he’s showing how powerful character leadership and compassion can be in the face of what started off as a mean joke.

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Making new friends as an adult is challenging. While people crave meaningful IRL connections, it can be hard to know where to find them. But thanks to one Facebook Group, meeting your new best friends is easier than ever.

Founded in 2018, NYC Brunch Squad brings together hundreds of people who come as strangers and leave as friends through its in-person events.

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Despite its name, the group doesn’t just do brunch. They also have book clubs, seasonal parties, and picnics, among other activities.

NYC Brunch Squad curates up to 10 monthly events tailored to the specific interests of its members. Liza handles all the details, taking into account different budgets and event sizes – all people have to do is show up.

“We have members who met at our events and became friends and went on to embark on international journeys to celebrate birthdays together. We have had members get married with bridesmaids by their sides who were women they first connected with at our events. We’ve had members decide to live together and become roommates,” Liza says.

Members also bond over their passion for giving back to their community. The group has hosted many impact-driven events, including a “Picnic with Purpose” to create self-care packages for homeless shelters and recently participated in the #SquadSpreadsJoy challenge. Each day, the 100 members participating receive random acts of kindness to complete. They can also share their stories on the group page to earn extra points. The member with the most points at the end wins a free seat at the group's Friendsgiving event.

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Democracy

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Image by Tax Foundation .

Map represents the value of 100 dollars.

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The Tax Foundation addressed many of these shortcomings using the most recent (2015) Bureau of Economic Analysis data to provide a familiar map of the United States overlaid with the relative value of what $100 is "worth" in each state. Granted, going state-by-state still introduces a fair amount of "smoothing" into the process — $100 will go farther in Los Angeles than in Fresno, for instance — but it does provide insight into where the value lies.

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His performance of “Africa'' is unique because it opens with him creating a rhythm track and looping it by strategically tapping the piano and rubbing its strings to create the sound of shakers and congo drums.

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Family posts a very chill note to neighbors explaining why their dog is on the roof

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If you were taking a stroll through a quiet neighborhood and happened to catch a glance of this majestic sight, you might bat an eye. You might do a double take. If you were (somewhat understandably) concerned about this surprising roof-dog's welfare, you might even approach the homeowners to tell them, "Uh, I'm not sure if you know...but there's a...dog...on your ROOF."

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Embarrassing stains on your T-shirt, sniffing someone's bum to check if they have pooped, the first time having sex post-giving birth — as a new mom, your life turns upside-down.

All illustrations by Ingebritt ter Veld. Reprinted here with permission.

Some good not so good moments with babies.



Embarrassing stains on your T-shirt, sniffing someone's bum to check if they have pooped, the first time having sex post-giving birth — as a new mom, your life turns upside-down.

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via UNSW

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