Lori Loughlin arrested in college admissions scandal - video Published By Alexandra Heilbron on Mar 13, 2019

Lori Loughlin, 54, was arrested this morning when she returned to California from Vancouver, where she is filming a TV movie.

The Fuller House star and her husband, well-known designer Mossimo Giannulli, have been charged with paying $500,000 to get their daughters -- Isabella Rose, 20, and Olivia Jade, 19 -- on the rowing team at the University of Southern California. The indictment says they "agreed to pay bribes totaling $500,000 in exchange for having their two daughters designated as recruits to the USC crew team -- despite the fact that they did not participate in crew -- thereby facilitating their admission to USC."

Ironically, Loughlin can be seen below in a 2017 interview with her daughter Isabella, in which she says she "never pushed her kids" and only told them to "do the best you can" because "that's enough."

Olivia Jade makes her own money as an Instagram "influencer" with millions of followers, although she is now being criticized on the social media app for taking college spots away from deserving students who excel at academics and/or athletics. She also has a YouTube channel on which she stated her social media career wouldn't allow much time for academics, adding she was really only going to school to party, because, “I don’t really care about school, as all you guys know.”

Loughlin, Mossimo, and actress Felicity Huffman are among 50 people charged in the college entrance cheating scandal. Huffman's husband, actor William H. Macy, has not yet been charged, but was allegedly heard on tape during a conversation with his wife and a third party, in which a payment of $15,000 is discussed to ensure their 17-year-old daughter, Georgia, receives a high score on a college entrance exam.

U.S. attorney Andrew Lelling announced that the parents charged in the scam represent "a catalog of wealth and privilege."

Athletic coaches at a number of universities and colleges have been fired for allegedly accepting bribes. William "Rick" Singer, the ringleader of the scam and owner of a college counseling service, pleaded guilty in court yesterday on a number of charges. He took in an estimated $25 million in bribes from parents, allegedly helped them create glowing athletic and academic profiles for their children, in addition to staging and/or creating photos of their children engaged in sports activities with the use of Photoshop.

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Comments & Discussion

Nick - 3/13/2019 5:53:09 PM

So sad. Her daughter is watching her and knows what she is saying and what she wants are two different things. That's her lesson. She bought the way into university for her daughters even though they did not make the mark. Her daughter's learning: if you can't achieve something you can buy it.
Tammy Nguyen - 3/13/2019 6:31:32 PM

And her kids took away 2 spots from kids who works so hard in both academics & sports but never had the chance to get in & represent the school....so sad
Tammy Nguyen - 3/13/2019 6:32:04 PM

And her kids took away 2 spots from kids who works so hard in both academics & sports but never had the chance to get in & represent the school....so sad
Dierdre - 3/14/2019 10:27:14 AM

And this is what happens to some people when they have to much money, and think their untouchable. Shame on them
MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE - 3/14/2019 10:43:38 AM

MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE. PUBLIC SHAME. NONE OF THIS "CHARGES WERE DROPPED" NONE OF THIS "AFFLUENZA" MONEY, POWER, PRIVILEGE...LEFT UNCHECKED, AND YOU GET THIS. AND IT WILL NOT STOP. thanks for reading
Jimmy - 3/14/2019 10:44:57 AM

I'm sure there are way more college admissions scandals happening that we don't know about... Almighty dollar.
christina - 3/14/2019 10:49:13 AM

these people thrive on any attention they can get. they would benefit from the same suffering we all are subject to. Hope the best for them.
Peter K - 3/14/2019 10:53:33 AM

Wire fraud and tax fraud are serious federal offences . Hopefully they receive very long jail terms at federal supermax prisions .
Gina - 3/14/2019 11:00:13 AM

Even though what Lori and Felicity did was absolutely wrong, I feel they should be forgiven with time served because I am sure the way they will be treated in the future by their Hollywood population, will more than be a punishment in itself! They have set a bad example for their children but in the end we are all human,and we all make mistakes.
Terry - 3/14/2019 11:02:45 AM

I don't doubt this has been going on among the wealthy since the first university was ever built. This isn't new news, they're just making a public example out of these recently caught ones. In fact, that's likely why they got caught -- it's so common among the affluent that they didn't even bother to hide it. For these people --- it's normal.
Bruce Mack - 3/14/2019 11:16:16 AM

Peter K: Yes fraud is a very serious crime. But,â€ very long jail terms at federal super max prisonsâ€? Really?
Luis - 3/14/2019 12:03:12 PM

Really Gina? they should be forgiven? and what time served are you referring to? Sadly these Hollywood trumpets will never see the inside of a cell because money will buy them that as well!
Debbie - 3/14/2019 12:52:27 PM

I think we have all heard about people buying fake certificates online and then practice medicine, etc. And celebrities that have been given a diploma from a school, for being one.This is a step up or down, I suppose. Am just waking up, so I will write the best I can. Even if they don't do time, which would be 'luxury' cells or separate from the public, it should at least, hit them in the pocket book. But...then people will feel sorry for them, and offer them more work. I think it will hurt the kids more. Anyway, I think justice should be served, but maybe someone will make a special facility for them to do time, and then make a movie. But...people associated with Trump are serving prison time so who knows. Again, the shame of it may be against them, but in Hollywood...well, it could be 'for' them. And lots of people are involved. Maybe another 'times up' moment.
Rodney - 3/14/2019 1:17:19 PM

The suspect was arrested after returning from Vancouver to the United States. I am glad that the American authorities took her passport away. With her future, expected criminal record, I feel safer without her in Canada.Canada Border Services Agency can identify her true character now.
lorena - 3/14/2019 1:18:19 PM

...shame, shame..... I know one thing money can't buy......character.
Jude - 3/14/2019 1:41:08 PM

I've always suspected this, because there is NO WAY that George Dubya Bush and Donald Trump passed their university courses without help. Just listen to the way they talk. George didn't know anything about geography, well, neither does Trump for that matter. Neither can make a complete sentence that makes sense. Trump sounds like a teenager when he talks, probably from waaaayyy (yes, it's wrong, but I just really need to get the point across) too much time on twitter. He sounds like a millenial, and someone running the country should sound like he really did his own homework and exams in university. Have the universities gone so downhill in letting their students write papers that sound like Trump's speeches? If so, it's time they close their doors. I'm certain that they tried to cover this up, because it has probably been going on since the year they first opened their doors, and will go on until they put a stop to it themselves. Not that I expect that to happen any time soon. It's very sad, and if you want a real univerity education, you're better off going to a better country.
Mike Ramanauskas - 3/14/2019 2:26:14 PM

These celeb parents were busy with their careers to put an effort in actually encourage and support their children becoming college athletes. I am sure it would have been less expensive to hire a private coach than it is to pay a gym teacher $500,000. This payola scam was only one poor sour parent's scorn away from unravelling and these people should have known better. The court of public opinion will hold it's own sentencing..
Dee - 3/14/2019 2:43:57 PM

Love it Lori said she never pushed them or over scheduled the kids. Maybe she should have maybe just a little pushed them to do better if they could have then she wouldnâ€™t be having to buy their way in to school.
Explorado - 3/14/2019 3:09:03 PM

Wow what a miserable comment from "Understanding Father" he does not get it at all. The schools don't get any more money from the rich students as they money they paid to get in did not go to the colleges; its bribery and it's illegal and corruputed way to get in.
Dianne - 3/14/2019 4:08:45 PM

Lori Loughlin turned herself in once she returned from filming in Vancouver she wasnâ€™t picked up. She was released as well as her husband each on a $1m bond. Plus sheâ€™s still filming projects and once her projects have ended sheâ€™s to turn in her passport in around that time I believe I read in November. Same as Felicity Huffman she too had to pay a bond and has been released and to turn her passport in as well after her projects are finished. They are all to appear in Boston I believe it was in December. Why is it mostly Lori and Felicity appearing in the news feeds about all this. Felicityâ€™s husband William H. Macy hasnâ€™t been charged but heâ€™s been in the taped phone conversations with Felicity and the guy they paid (Rick Singer I believe his name is). Second Loriâ€™s husband seems to be in most of the emails sent to this Rick but he mentions Loriâ€™s name but he isnâ€™t in the news as much as Lori and heâ€™s a huge fashion designer. Plus there are more parents involved in this scam then just Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman but no ones talking much about them. I wonder how many years this goes back. There could be thousands of people whose parents had there way bought into school that just got away with it. They need to go further back for justice to be served completely.
Rita - 3/14/2019 7:09:17 PM

What a Shame!! It Wouldn't be hard to hire a Tutor for their children!! It would've been so much more better to spend time with them and teach them yourselves. That way you can bond with them mor!! No but they're rushing off to make more zillions of dollars more than they'll ever need!!!
Lady K - 3/14/2019 9:25:13 PM

There are young women out there who could have these two very spots, those who work hard to make ends meet striving to make academics but for someone who has money influential power whatever, basically swept under the rug get your foot in the door. Those who donâ€™t have that opportunity maybe there is less to know about.
movie buff screen junkie - 3/14/2019 10:47:14 PM

Gina Gina Gina, as Lori Loughlin got you're forgiveness then she will never learn and will think money can buy a shoe in for her daughter, while people that work hard get short handed to people that got the money, it remind me of the typical crappy company i work at were u get the short hand of the stick and people with money think they can do what ever they please because they got money, Lori Loughlin and her money will be her master then and now, we are all human,and we all make mistakes and their forgiveness, but with stars that are arrogant and think they can buy people with their money or think they can do what ever they want should learn the hard way but some stars will never learn and that is sad because the kids will learn their bad immoral behavior
Lou - 3/15/2019 7:13:26 AM

And Trump paying off $130,000 to silence a porn star so that he can be president is okay ...
Terry - 3/15/2019 8:43:17 AM

Just wondering why it's such a big difference from the big actors who get their kids into acting through all their big contacts, etc. Others who don't have family already in the acting industry have to go to college or university & get a degree in the theatre arts etc. I don't think the acting profession should be an inherited occupation -- no acting college or education -- just their parent's or other family contacts that get them in there. That's not at all fair to the people trying to make it into the acting profession fairly and then having to pound pavement trying to get some producer or director to just give them one chance. Many actors know their kids will never make university so they use their power to get them into the acting field. Isn't that exactly the same thing as paying big money to get their kid into university? What's the difference? Look at all the actors who got in there just because their parents or sibling is in there! Kirk Douglas got his son Michael in. Charlie Sheen got all his sons in. Meryl Streep now has one of her daughters in. Kevin Bacon is in because his parents are actors, Will Smith is trying to get his son in.. etc, etc... you can name a ton of them if you think about it. Sorry, but I don't think occupations should be inherited --- they are studied for, degrees in the Arts accomplished at universities, tons of interviews & auditions have to be set up & successfully achieve a starter role in their first stage appearance. Kids of actors have to go through none of that, they're found a role somewhere. My gosh what would happen if the sons & daughters were inheriting the jobs of their brain surgeon parents! Kids inheriting actor jobs is not a life or death situation, granted, but still not fair to others struggling to make it into Hollywood & Big Screen.
Linda - 3/15/2019 10:03:34 AM

It's not just this that smells bad. Hollywood stars/producers have for years been using nepotism as a way to cast movies. This means qualified, more talented actors are not getting work. Take a look at the movie The Kid, just released last week in the States. The director is Vincent D'Onofrio. Producer is Jordan Schur. And who are the two leads? Their kids, Jake Schur and Leila George (D'Onofrio's daughter). That, to me, reeks. It's just as bad as this school scandal. Think about it, how many stars do you know have famous parents in the business? And the rest have somebody who got them in, a cousin, a sibling, an aunt or uncle. Kate Hudson. Gwyneth Paltrow. Blake Lively. Katherine Waterston. Josh Brolin. I could go on and on, but you get the point. Name someone, and they had a connection. You have to be as lucky as a lottery winner to make it into acting without a connection.
marthaswannabe - 3/15/2019 10:37:43 PM

I realize that children of actors are in the forefront right now, but we need to include sports and politics in the bribery department! Does anyone think that the three baby Trumps got their education the legitimate way, by hard work or brains? Whether it be musicians or politicians, money will always win out! Cannot see any of this changing anytime soon! Exposing them to the public is a great start!
Eliza Olson - 3/17/2019 4:29:28 PM

These parents who bought their children's way into university failed to teach them some of life's best lessons. Find what you believe in and work for it. Picasso's father bribed the examiner to pass Picasso so that he could be able to get a job. Picasso was dyslexic--not lazy. There wasn't accommodation for people with dyslexia in those days. That is completely different from what is being exposed now. If the money had been spend on tutors, etc. to help their children pass the exams no one would complain. Oh, the social media era has changed so many things. Churchill was another student who had difficulty passing exams. He studied. He memorized maps, etc. in hopes of passing. He finally did!
Beth - 4/11/2019 3:50:38 PM

I think the BEST thing is not community service or jail time. I think setting up scholarship funds for kids who canâ€™t afford but want to go to school is appropriate for what has been done. Take the amount of money, double or triple it to be paid in and held into an interest bearing account and pay that money for 4 years. This will keep the scholarship rolling for more that just the kids who lost their spots. Honestly, what does jail time do? Or community service? DO SOMETHING WORTHWILE & LASTING!
bill - 4/11/2019 10:36:45 PM

i sure feel sorry for lori she has the money to get her kids the best education and is willing to use it and everybody comes down on her because she'll go to any length to get her kids the best education everyone comes down on her because they don't have the money to do whats right for her kids
Kimberly - 9/22/2019 5:17:03 AM

make them accountable for their actions. Let them and everyone know that if they do this again, there will be repercussions.

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