
Why Are Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Headed for Divorce?
Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, once a prominent Hollywood couple, have separated after nearly 28 years of marriage. Their relationship, which began in 1997 and produced two daughters, Olivia Jade and Bella, has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2019, both were implicated in the college admissions bribery scandal, leading to guilty pleas and prison sentences. Despite their long-standing relationship, reports indicate that the couple’s marriage became strained after the scandal, with Loughlin feeling “betrayed” and the likelihood of reconciliation considered slim. So, why are Loughlin and Giannulli headed for a split? Here’s what to know.
Why are Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli separated and headed for a divorce?
Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli’s separation underscores how their marriage, once a fixture of Hollywood stability, was deeply affected by years of public scrutiny and legal challenges. Sources report that the tension between them grew after the college admissions scandal, with lingering feelings of mistrust and disappointment straining their relationship. Despite having shared nearly three decades and raising two daughters together, the couple has chosen to live separately. No official legal proceedings are underway. But fans suspect a divorce is imminent.
An insider told People that the college admissions scandal broke the camel’s back. “Things have never been the same” after the couple “weathered the college admission fallout and the prison sentences together,” the source alleged. The source added that Loughlin feels “betrayed.”
“It’s not a happy situation for her,” the source added. “They’re in very different places right now, and it’s unlikely that they’ll find their way back together.”
The insider also added that the couple’s adult daughters, Olivia and Bella, don’t feel “resentment” over the split. “They both love their parents and just want them to be happy,” the source added. “At the end of the day, they just want everyone to be OK.”
What happened with the college admissions scandal?
In early 2019, federal prosecutors launched an investigation into a nationwide college-admissions fraud scheme involving wealthy parents, admissions consultants, and university coaches. As part of this scheme, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli were accused of paying $500,000 to an admissions consultant (William ”Rick” Singer) disguised as a donation. They did this so their two daughters could be portrayed as athletic recruits to the University of Southern California rowing team.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Giannulli caused payments of $50,000 to a USC athletics account and $200,000 to the Key Worldwide Foundation (Singer’s sham charity) to facilitate the fraud. The filings included emails illustrating how Loughlin and Giannulli coordinated with Singer’s associates to create false athletic profiles and paperwork for their daughters.
In May 2020, Loughlin and Giannulli abruptly accepted plea agreements. On May 22, 2020, Loughlin and Giannulli entered guilty pleas for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison, fined $150,000, and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Giannulli was sentenced to five months in prison, fined $250,000, and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service.
John Stamos says he’s ‘heartbroken’ for his ‘Full House’ co-star
John Stamos spoke candidly about Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli on the Good Guys podcast. According to Stamos, Loughlin is a “saint” who got caught up in a bad situation because of her husband, which is now leading them down the path to divorce.
“Forty years I’ve known her,” he said of his Full House co-star. “You can see through people after a few years. This woman’s a saint. I’m just heartbroken for her right now.”
Stamos said he “tried to be there for her” during the college admissions scandal and marital issues. “I’m not going to debate whether she had much to do with it or not,” he continued. “I know she didn’t. … She goes to f***ing prison for this a**hole for three months.”
He added that Loughlin “put up with a lot” while married to Giannulli.