I’m enjoying the People Magazine cover story about Lori Loughlin being “duped by unscrupulous people” because, clearly, she was forced to bribe people and lie and cheat. I’m also enjoying Lori’s attempts at using hokey legalese to explain her crimes, like when someone said Lori would “take the fall” for her daughters so that her daughters wouldn’t be charged with the crimes they so clearly committed. It’s all very schadenfreude-y and yes, I feel bad about laughing at this story so much. But it’s still f–king funny! Okay, this one isn’t so funny – apparently Lori is close to having a nervous breakdown or something:
As the college admissions scandal continues to intensify for Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, a source says the Full House star is cracking under the pressure.
“It’s getting harder and harder for her to keep it together,” says a Loughlin source. “This stress is about to break them.”
The U.S. Department of Justice said in a press release Oct. 22 that Loughlin, 55, Giannulli, 56, and nine other defendants “conspired to commit federal program bribery by bribing employees of the University of Southern California (USC) to facilitate their children’s admission.” They have been charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery.
As Loughlin’s future remains unknown, maintaining her innocence is taking its toll. “It’s remarkable to watch sometimes,” says the source. “Lori will have moments where she breaks down because this is all so much. But then something changes. You can watch her clench her jaw, and her eyes change, and it’s like, ‘Okay. Let’s do this.’ She is a fighter. She maintains that she did nothing wrong, and if they are going to lock her up, they need to lock up everyone who has donated a library to a college so their kid will get in,” the source shares. “She realizes that her only hope is to beat this in court.”
I went from “okay I feel sort of sorry for her” to “F this B” over the course of a paragraph. That last paragraph/quote is a journey – the aim is to make Lori seem sympathetic, but also… strong AND delusional? “If they are going to lock her up, they need to lock up everyone who has donated a library to a college so their kid will get in.” Yeah but did those people donating a library also bribe NCAA officials and falsify their kids’ high school athletic careers? Oh, and Lori must have called up CNN too:
Lori Loughlin has hit “rock bottom,” according to a long-time friend of the actress. The most recent blow came when Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, along with nine other accused parents in the college admissions scandal were hit last week with an additional bribery charge.
“She’s at rock bottom, devastated,” the source tells CNN. “She knows she could go away for a long time and it’s terrifying for her.”
When asked by CNN how her marriage has been affected by this scandal the source said it’s “beyond strained.”
“All she wanted was the best for her daughters and she wishes people would see that,” the source added. “She definitely regrets the way she’s handled herself since all this came out.” The source noted that Loughlin and her daughters are “closer than ever.”
“She definitely regrets the way she’s handled herself since all this came out.” She regrets how she’s behaved since she was arrested? Does she have any regrets about what got her arrested in the first place?
Also: Lori was in court on Friday to plead not guilty on the latest federal charge, which was just added to the indictment a few weeks ago. According to Us Weekly, Lori was actually debating whether to plead guilty. A source claims: “Lori turned the corner and backed out of considering a guilty plea due to her husband’s insistence. She had been talking to her lawyers about it, but her friends and family were encouraging her to pursue a plea deal. She’s only listening to Mossimo though.” I think a big part of Lori’s current problem is that she’s not listening to her lawyers, right?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Pretty sure “tough” and “delusional” are mutually exclusive.
@Luna I was just laughing about that. She Strong, but delusional almost sounds like a SNL skit
Strong + delusional is sort of the worst combo. Like, if you have a physically dominating parent who loses their mind.
Amen to Luna – it is the worst combo. My elderly, alcoholic mum is delusional but also very, very tough, which means that although she’s been in hospital 5 times this year, she won’t agree to going into aged care.
She’s mentally tough, so she can’t be swayed from her delusional thinking that she’s not an alcoholic, but she’s also physically tough, so she keeps bouncing back after every hospital stay. It’s a nightmare.
They are not at all mutually exclusive. They are a very bad combo to have, tho!
“I think a big part of Lori’s current problem is that she’s not listening to her lawyers, right?”
Oh the tales I could tell!
This is why it’s so often recommended that people have their own lawyer (and don’t “share” with a co-defendant). Her husband doesn’t want to listen to his lawyer that’s his funeral, but if she has doubts she needs to act on it. She’s going to stand by her man right into a long jail term. Idiot.
I think she’s also spinning the story so that she can blame her husband when they are found guilty. “Oh! Poor me! I’m just a white faith-based lady who listened to her husband and I’m going to jail for it. Not my fault at all!” They both are delusional and they both are responsible for not listening to their lawyers. Unlike FH, she’s taking absolutely no responsibility, she’s not even able to fake it because she’s not a very good actress
Yes! I think she is throwing her husband under the bus for something she may well have been the foremost instigator of. Maybe he is even telling her that’s okay.
FH was smart, listened to her attorneys, pled, did her time and is out. This one didn’t and now she’s paying (because, please) for People magazine covers to influence the jury pool. She’s too arrogant to realize that the longer this goes on the less sympathy she’ll get. If it goes to trial even more dirty details—tapes, transcripts, bank records, testimonies, rowing pictures! are going to be splashed all over the news. What idiots.
“I think a big part of Lori’s current problem is that she’s not listening to her lawyers, right?”
@ Mia4s : Oh, the tales I could tell too! I agree she should have separate counsel from her husband as it’s obvious their best interests are not sailing on the same boat. It’s either one of them doing time while taking all the blame or both of them doing time while arguing who should take the blame. Felicity Huffman and her lawyers are the “how-to” guide of what others in this position should do. I definitely believe that Lori Loughlin is not taking her lawyers’ advice. At this point, the only bright point in the lawyers’ lives is thinking how much money they will make from the trial where their client will inevitably lose.
Yep, if she’d followed Huffman’s example, she’d have been in and out of prison by now and have spent a tiny fraction of whatever she’s spending on legal fees. And she is so, so guilty. Absolute madness.
“All she wanted was the best for her daughters and she wishes people would see that.” So much arrogance and privilege in that comment. It’s everyone else’s fault for not seeing that she just wanted the best for her daughters—not that she BROKE THE LAW.
My thoughts too.
Yep.
Based on her so-called logic, anyone charged with robbery, burglary, etc., could use the same excuse. “It was for my children!”
Good point
She’s rewriting history there anyway. She wanted her daughters in that school so she would have bragging rights – it’s all about her own ego.
Truth @minx. Also does that mean the rest of us filthy poors don’t just want what’s best for our kids and that’s why we don’t understand?
Get bent, aunt Becky.
She wants the best for her kids at the expense of everyone else’s kids.
I waited until I had a lifetime of peasant job savings to get into college. I’m with the 18yr olds in a community college- at age 50. I can tell you I love being smart. Knowing things, thinking and getting grades. Maybe I’ll be a school teacher when I should be retiring, but I’ll finally have a salary job. Right wing church Becky’s arraignment will be my red carpet moment. I’ll be getting ready all day to see her pick up the reward for the most days in prison. I. Can’t. Wait.
Lol at this whole thing. The only “breakdown” Aunt Becky is having is a temper tantrum that being a rich white woman isn’t saving her.
She’s just pissed she’s been stupid and screwed herself. And she is desperate to deflect, even if it mean throwing hubby under the bus.
This whole, “Mossimo made me not take the plea” is her attempt to make herself look better and try to convince the Feds to negotiate cause they aren’t talking. She’s come to her senses and realized she needs a plea, and is mad it’s too late now.
She and Mossimo won’t divorce though, unless he gets tired of the scapegoating. He’s got all the money and she needs it. She’ll stick it out long as he pays the bills. He, on the other hand, might start seeing these PR slurs as an issue. She better hope she’s not screwing herself over with him too. I have a feeling he’s dirtier than her, and she’d regret making him an enemy.
That’s my take on this. He’s calling the shots. Easier said than done for her to get her own lawyer, too. I just think they both were equally involved here. As far as his business interests goes & other matters, it’s entirely possible that he’s crooked & he doesn’t need extra scrutiny. So maybe Lori’s latest PR attack might not bode well for her
Yo, Aunt Becky, those libraries benefited thousands of students. How was USC enriched by your daughters barely attending classes? Oh and although shady, the donate a building/library/swimming pool deal is legal.
Exactly. While it’s *still* an “in”, a building or something that can benefit ALL students is legal. What she did, and what she had her DAUGHTERS do is completely illegal. And both those girls KNEW: they POSED on those rowing machines, knowing FULL WELL they never were on Crew in HS, and they KNEW they didn’t have the grades/test scores to get in USC (or any UC for that matter).
We don’t know much about her older daughter, Isabella, who seemed to actually like being at school (ie: attending class), but that younger one, Olivia Jade, wow, did she inherit her mother’s entitlement!!
Yes, having her daughters pose on the rowing machines shoots down her argument right there. She knew for sure that was a lie.
Will we ever see the fake rowing machine pix, maybe if it goes to trial? I bet those are a hoot.
I’m a little offended she chose libraries for this example! Hardly anyone donates libraries! They donate soccer stadiums and workout complexes.
No matter what the donation is for, the point is going through official channels and proper taxation procedures to do it. I don’t blame her for wanting to get her children into a good school- I think most parents do what they can with the means they have- I blame her for the fraudulence of it all. She seems to have no comprehension whatsoever that it is illegal to knowingly give money to a fake charity and that it has real consequences.
Also they can write off donating a building to the IRS. She wrote off that sham donation so yeah there’s also the tax angle. How to explain that away?
I can’t stop being angry for the kids who couldn’t get in because her 2 apathetic snowflakes took their spot. It’s completely unethical. CNN had an interesting documentary on the college scandal last night. The application process for these ‘prestigious’ schools has always been an elitist sh**show. For example, Ivy Leagues wanted to limit the number of Jewish students and labeled the applicants J1, J2, etc. according to their possible Jewishness. How did I not know this? Everything about this scandal makes me ragey and I have no sympathy for Lori or any of the others.
While I do think it’s complete bs that a parent can donate a million dollar building to a school to get their kid in, that is unfortunately legal. What she did is not.
Please….tough and delusional. Nope, I would say stubborn and delusional. Just take your medicine and shut up. Can’t wait for sentencing.
While I don’t think she or her husband deserve a 50 year sentence for their crimes, I feel like they deserve at least a few years without the possibility of early release just for their arrogance alone.
My GOODNESS this chick is delusional.
I think she’d be better off not going to the media. Just sit back quietly and ponder what you’ve done. Having “sources” give these ridiculous stories will in no way help your case.
It’s only making people realize what an entitled, narcissist you truly are.
With horrible taste in footwear.
YES!
She should also know that the prosecution will use all the media info against her. Just like people are using orange mango’s tweets to prove a point in the courtroom.
The level of arrogance that she and her husband have shown is nauseating. Most people want the best for their children as well. They don’t cheat, lie and fake their way into their school of choice Her children were coming from an already privileged position and still couldn’t get in without breaking the law. They didn’t have the grades, or put in the effort required. These attempts at making people feel sympathy are so off base. I don’t feel sorry for her or her family in any way, shape or form. Their daughters are culpable too. Ild love to see them pay for being part of the scam as well.
Donations to schools, as other commenters mentioned, benefit the rest of the student body. So if Dr Dre’s kid gets into USC because he gave enough money to start a whole new school/building, that, to me, is fairly easy to swallow. It sucks we can’t all be that privileged but that’s life. At least there’s a benefit to everyone else.
What Lori did was not that.
But no matter what, one is legal and one is not, period.
If for no other reason, she should have taken a plea deal to avoid being put on the stand.
Her PR tactics and excuses have been as full of holes as Swiss cheese. If this is any example of their/her courtroom plan, a rookie prosecutor will effortlessly rip them apart.
I think she is still shocked she got caught. Because she knows rich people do shady shit all the time. Money = power = ability to game the system. You think gwenyth Paltrow ever waits for a table? Or JayZ has to go on ticketmaster to get tickets? (Yes I know
These examples are small photatoes). She knows this is how people in her stratosphere operate. She prob feels she is taking the fall when others are getting away scot free. I think she could prob make a case that she was using a college consulting business. They just need reasonable doubt.
I’m thinking Mossimo is afraid of what his experience will be like in prison. He may be thinking Lori will have it easy because she’s a television star and a woman while he is a former designer going to a male prison. His visions of his experience are freaking him out and he needs Lori to keep screaming she’s Not Guilty for him to have any chance.
I find the “sources” description of Lori so offensive and annoying. They are trying to make her sound like Scarlet O’Hara in rags trying to feed her family during the Civil War or something. The very idea that she would try to paint herself as a victim makes me hope she is put away for a long time. What an a hole!
She is a jerk that thought she was outsmarting everyone by getting her airhead daughters into a prestigious college. I think the old saying of “not sorry she did it, but sorry she got caught,” would fit perfectly here.
Lock them up.
I love that she thinks not being on prison is “rock bottom”
Oh Lori for the millionth time: when people donate a library or academic building, it at least benefits the other students. Your spoiled spawn posing for faux photos benefited no one but your vile ego.
They need separate lawyers. If he goes down he intends to take her with him. Her husband is a coward and she is stupid.
If I donate books to the library it’s not so my kid can be able to read there