Lori Loughlin is planning a comeback into acting now that she’s no longer in prison because of the college admissions scandal — but her options might be somewhat limited.
The setup
Unnamed sources recently told People magazine that Loughlin, who was recently released from federal prison for her role in the college admissions scandal, plans to return to acting in the future — once her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, is released from prison sometime this spring.
- Loughlin and Giannulli were accused of spending $500,000 in bribes so their daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose Giannulli, would be crew recruits for the University of Southern California. The couple pleaded not guilty at first before they switched their plea earlier this year.
Loughlin’s options for the future
Howard Bragman, a longtime Hollywood celebrity crisis manager, told me back in 2019 that Loughlin has a tough path ahead to find work.
- “I think people are still going to feel like she was found guilty. And whatever happens in the court of law will be perceived as a technicality. And I still think it’s going to be a challenge to get work.”
- “I think she should see what’s being offered,” Bragman said. “I mean, that’s the first thing. I think it’s a little soon to start thinking about a role when this isn’t resolved yet.”
Greg Skordas, a criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, told me in 2019 that Loughlin will have a lot to overcome as well.
- “A lifetime of good deeds can all be wiped out by one dumb act, because you see that person on the street and you think, ‘Oh, she’s the actress that defrauded the school to get her kid in.’ it’s a hard thing to overcome. You’ve got to commit your life to doing good and trying to overcome that image.”
Brand and reputation management expert Eric Schiffer told me Loughlin will likely face the “black death” of Hollywood because of the scandal.
- “There is a high amount of producers that just will not touch her and certainly a studio because of the economic effect meeting advertisers is not going to work.”
- “With a guilty verdict, and even her doing time, it’s going to be very difficult and will take time for her to get TV opportunities. Except for maybe playing villains, or characters that she wasn’t known for. And her brand isn’t align with.”
- “The Dobermans of destruction in Hollywood will not be nice and easy on her. But producers may see an at an angle to benefit from the publicity post-guilty verdict could put her in as the evil bad character, the antagonist or the criminal, you know, of conspirer. So she’d end up playing roles similar to what she was alleged to have done.”