Lori Loughlin Shocks With First-Ever Red Carpet Walk After College Admissions Scandal
June 18 marked Lori Loughlin's first red carpet appearance since the infamous college admissions controversy.
On this occasion, the "Full House" alum wore a knee-length, royal blue dress with long sleeves. She grinned squarely at the camera while holding a silver pocketbook and wearing thin-strapped pale gold heels. Her honey blonde hair also fell beyond her shoulders in free waves.
According to People magazine, the dinner was dubbed DesignCare and was held in Los Angeles to aid The HollyRod Foundation. The HollyRod Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting persons diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or autism.
In 2019, Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, were charged with conspiracy for reportedly paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella enrolled to the University of Southern California.
The parents also lied about their daughter's extracurricular activities, claiming they were ardent rowers despite never having engaged in the sport. As part of their college applications, they even took photographs of the young women on rowing machines.
However, a source told Hollywood Life declared the couple's innocence in May of 2020. "Lori and Mossimo got taken in by a con man, Rick Singer, and trusted him because many of their close friends had used him to help provide college counseling guidance to their children," the insider explained. "His non-profit foundation was a 501c3 and sanctioned by the U.S. government as a charitable organization. They had no idea what they were doing was a felony! U.S.C. [University of Southern California] actually cashed their check as well."
This did not stop the pair from being deemed guilty and jailed.
Loughlin and her husband ultimately accepted a plea bargain for the case.
The actress was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, while her husband was found guilty of one count each of honest services wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
Loughlin was ultimately sentenced to two months in prison, 150k in fees, and 100 hours of community service, while Giannulli received a five-month prison term, 250k in fines, and 250 hours of community service.
Giannulli was released from prison in April 2021, while Loughlin was released in December 2020.
