It’s a lot to process that Lori Loughlin—
Aunt Becky!—is among the 50 or so people who have been charged in a
huge college admissions cheating scandal uncovered by an FBI investigation. It’s like the Panama Papers or the Sony hack, kids’ edition. But it’s crucial not to let the sudden resurfacing of the beloved sitcom actress (whose last name is
pronounced “Locklin,” by the way, who knew?) distract you from the real stars of this imbroglio: Loughlin’s Instagram-influencer daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose Giannulli. Together with the girls’ father, designer Mossimo Giannulli, he of the eponymous Target brand, Loughlin allegedly paid $500,000 to get Olivia and Bella into the University of Southern California. The young women reportedly passed themselves off as crew recruits to gain admissions preference.
It’s not altogether clear whether the girls were aware of the scam, though they did pose for pictures with rowing machines to be sent onto USC’s subcommittee for athletic admission. (Though the swindle seemed to work beautifully—twice!—according to
the criminal complaint it created a tricky social situation for Mossimo, who is golf buddies with USC’s athletic director. How awkward!)