Lori Loughlin’s daughters are reportedly opting not to return to school in the wake of their parents being indicted in a nationwide college bribery scheme.
Loughlin, 54, and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, paid a total of $500,000 in bribes to William Singer and his organization, federal authorities said.
In return, Singer got Olivia Jade, 19, and Isabella, 20, designated as recruits to the crew team at the University of Southern California (USC), despite the fact that they didn’t compete in primary school or participate once entering college.
After arriving at USC, Olivia Jade, a YouTube star, said she didn’t care about school.
According to TMZ, Olivia Jade and Isabella, an actress, have decided not to return to USC because they’re afraid they’d get bullied.
Sources told the website that neither girl really wanted to go to USC, preferring to attend Arizona State University (ASU). In correspondence obtained by FBI agents, Giannulli at one point tells Singer that he wants to get his daughters “into a school other than ASU!”
Sources told TMZ that Olivia in particular “is a mess, despondent, and feeling like it’s the end of the world.” Both girls fear that if they return to school, they’d get “viciously bullied” so they plan to “lay low” and forgo attending any college for now.
Prosecutors said there’s no evidence that any children of parents indicted in the scheme had knowledge of the bribery and other crimes, apart from one.
Olivia Jade has also dealt with several sponsors cutting ties with her after her parents were charged.
“After careful review of recent developments, we have made the decision to end the Sephora Collection partnership with Olivia Jade, effective immediately,” Sephora said in a statement.
Hi there, After careful review of recent developments, we have made the decision to end the Sephora Collection partnership with Olivia Jade, effective immediately.
— Sephora (@Sephora) March 14, 2019
And hair products company TRESemme said in a statement on Thursday that it would no longer work with the social media influencer.
Loughlin, best known for her role as “Aunt Becky” on “Full House” and “Fuller House,” was dropped by the latter, according to TMZ. In recent years, Loughlin had been starring in the Hallmark shows “When Calls the Heart” and “Garage Sale Mysteries.” In a statement, Crown Media, Hallmark’s parent company, said it was parting with the actress.
“We are saddened by the recent news surrounding the college admissions allegations,” Crown stated.
“We are no longer working with Lori Loughlin and have stopped development of all productions that air on the Crown Media Family Network channels involving Lori Loughlin including Garage Sale Mysteries, an independent third party production,” the company added.
Loughlin surrendered to authorities on March 13 and was released later that day on a $1 million bond.
Giannulli had surrendered the day prior and was released on a $500,000 bond.
They’re both slated to appear in a federal courtroom in Boston on March 29 for the charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.