Lori Loughlin Returns to Acting After Completing Prison Time for Daughters' College Admissions Scandal

Lori Loughlin college admissions scandal Mossimo Giannulli Olivia Jade Gianulli When Hope Calls GAC Family Carter Ryan Isabella Gianulli University of Southern California usc Loughlin and Giannulli prison time

By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Oct 26, 07:33 pm

Photo: (Photo : JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

Famous "Full House" actress Lori Loughlin is back on the screen for the spinoff Hallmark series "When Hope Calls" after being written off the original show due to her involvement in her daughters' college admissions scandal with husband, Mossimo Giannulli, and other wealthy and privileged parents.

In a preview of the spinoff, which GAC Family released on YouTube, Loughlin is shown having a heartfelt exchange with her TV son, Cody, played by Carter Ryan. According to Today, GAC Family turned off the comments section for the short teaser given Loughlin's controversy.

Set to premiere on December 18, Loughlin's TV return was lauded by her daughter, Olivia Jade Gianulli, 22, who told Entertainment Tonight that she is "super excited" to see her mom reprise her role. It comes after Loughlin spent two months in prison after admitting to her guilt in the college admissions scandals.

Paying Off Millions

In 2019, Loughlin and her husband, the fashion genius behind the famous Mossimo brand, were charged in the scandal. During the trial, the couple was accused of paying more than $500,000 so that Olivia Jade and another daughter, Isabella Gianulli, 23, could be easily accepted as student-athletes of the University of Southern California. However, neither of the girls were competitive rowers nor varsity players.

In an interview on "Red Table Talk," Olivia Jade conceded that their family made a huge mistake, and it has been hard for her to see her parents behind bars. Loughlin and Giannulli were imprisoned at separate facilities in Dublin, California (for Loughlin) and Lompoc, California (for Giannulli).

Olivia Jade also acknowledged that she does not deserve any pity for taking her privilege for granted. On the other hand, her parents apologized for also messing up in trying to provide the best life for her and her sister. However, the young Instagram influencer defended her parents amid the judgment from the public, saying that they are good people.

"Neither of them went to college so I think it was important to them [to say], 'We didn't get to have that; I want to give it to you,'" Olivia Jade said.

After the scandal, Olivia Jade has since quit USC and has been doing volunteer work to "redeem" herself. Now that her parents have completed their prison time, they will still have to finish their community service and be under probation.

Permission to Travel to Mexico

Meanwhile, Loughlin and Giannulli have sought permission to travel to Mexico to attend a friend's wedding between November 5 to 12. The couple's lawyers said they have been complying with judges' terms and have also received backing to travel from their probation officers.

Giannulli said that the travel would include work-related meetings with a large business account holder in a separate filing. The judge granted the couple's request, per Us Weekly.

In May, the judge also granted the couple's request to travel to San Jose Del Cabo to have a brief family vacation. It came a month after Giannulli finished his five-month prison term.