The Truth About Lori Loughlin's Relationship With Her Daughters

Full house alum Lori Loughlin and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, are currently fighting charges surrounding their alleged involvement in the college admissions scandal, which the FBI code-named "Operation Varsity Blues." Prosecutors allege that Loughlin and Giannulli paid "$500,000 to get their two daughters" — Olivia Jade and Isabella Giannulli — "designated as recruits to the University of Southern California women's crew team as a way to ensure their admission to the school," per The New York Times. Loughlin and Giannuli were two of 33 parents, including actor Felicity Huffman, who allegedly paid money to bribe coaches and administrators, cheat on college exams, and fake athletic profiles to secure their children's acceptance into elite schools.

Loughlin and Gianulli rejected a plea deal and have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include "conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud; conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery; and conspiracy to commit money laundering," per CNN. The couple also filed a motion in March 2020 to dismiss the case, claiming the FBI told the architect of the college admissions scheme, Rick Singer, to "lie" about their "knowledge of bribes being paid," per People. Seemingly in response to the motion, federal prosecutors released photos of Olivia Jade and Isabella posing on rowing machines, although their faces are blurred. 

These photos have renewed interest in the scandal and the relationship Loughlin has with her daughters, as there have been rumors of tension between the trio.

When Lori Loughlin's scandal first broke in March 2019, a source claimed to Us Weekly that the situation had strained her relationship with Olivia Jade Giannulli, 20. "Olivia has been staying with her boyfriend in Malibu," the insider alleged. "She's not talking to her parents right now." They added, "Olivia hasn't been out with friends. She is completely in hiding right now. Olivia is posting private Stories on her Instagram, using the only-close-friends option, to share her days on social media with her close circle."

Considering Olivia Jade lost her big partnership with Sephora following the scandal, we understand why there might have been some tension.

Months later, in July 2019, the mother-daughter duo was supposedly on better terms, as a source claimed to Entertainment Tonight, "Their family situation has improved. Lori knows they will all grow and learn." Another insider said, "Things are better than they were. Time is helping to heal." Olivia Jade seemed to back up this report with a birthday post to her mom, captioning a throwback shot of the two, "I love you so much."

It appears time heals all wounds... or does it? 

Olivia Jade, once a popular YouTuber, left the platform for eight months after Lori Loughlin turned herself in to federal authorities. Then on Dec. 1, 2019, Olivia Jade appeared to stage a comeback of sorts, explaining in a video how she "really, really" missed YouTube. "I genuinely miss filming," she told her millions of subscribers. "I feel like a huge part of me is just not the same because this is something that I'm really passionate about. It's something I really like to do."

Loughlin, who was "very clear in telling Olivia to remain quiet and not do anything controversial," supposedly wasn't happy with the video, an insider told Us Weekly. The source added, "Olivia's YouTube video was a big betrayal. And cracks in the family are starting to show."

Olivia Jade shared just one more video a few weeks later, so it's possible she did feel stymied by Loughlin's alleged disapproval. Hmm.

As if things couldn't get any tenser in the Loughlin-Giannulli household, there's a possibility Olivia Jade and Isabella Giannulli, 21, will have to testify against their parents at their trial, which is slated for Oct. 5, 2020. "Lori has been told by the legal team that the United States Attorney's Office will use her daughters as star witnesses in hopes of securing a conviction," a source claimed to Us Weekly in January 2020. 

This possibility has supposedly upset Loughlin, but the alternative isn't ideal either. The insider explained, "Accepting a plea bargain would be the only solution."

Considering the actor and Mossimo Giannulli have since filed a motion to dismiss the case, we don't think a plea deal is in the cards at this point. And apparently, Loughlin's daughters were "really upset" that she didn't take a plea deal initially, per Us Weekly.

Of course, this all speculation, and it's impossible to know what's really going on with Loughlin and her daughters unless they speak out.