Olivia Jade Giannullihas broken her silence on parentsLori LoughlinandMossimo Giannulli’s involvement in thecollege admissions scandal.
The 21-year-old YouTube star appeared on Tuesday’s episode ofRed Table Talkto discuss the scandal for the first time publicly, as her parents areboth currently serving time in prisonafter pleading guilty in May. Loughlin, 56,admittedto one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, while husband Mossimo, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and one count of honest services wire and mail fraud.
During the interview, Olivia Jade admitted to co-hostsJada Pinkett Smith,Willow SmithandAdrienne Banfield-Norristhat she “wasn’t angry” with her parents after news of the scandal broke last year.
“To be honest, I wasn’t angry,” she said. “And I think it’s because I didn’t have a good understanding of what just happened. I didn’t see the wrong in it.”
Lori Loughlin and Olivia Jade Giannulli.Steve Granitz/WireImage
She added, “Like 100 percent honesty when it first happened I didn’t look at it and say, ‘Oh my god, like, how dare we do this.’ I was like, ‘Why is everybody complaining? I’m confused what we did,’ and that’s embarrassing to admit. That’s embarrassing within itself that I walked around my whole 20 years of life not realizing, ‘You have insane privilege. You’re like the poster child of white privilege. And you had no idea.’ "
Olivia Jade Giannulli onRed Table Talk.Red Table Talk
Noting that she’s had a “really strong relationship” with her parents all her life, Olivia Jade said she was “confused” about the their role in the scandal and confronted them about it.
“They didn’t really have much to say except like, ‘I’m so sorry, I like, really messed up in trying to give the best to you andyour sister,’ " Olivia Jade recalled. “And they’re my family and I’ve known them since I was out of the womb, so I know they’re good people and I know that I’m not gonna judge them for a mistake they made. And although it’s a big one, they’re gonna pay the price for it and regardless of what people say, I’ve seen them day in and day out and how they receive all of this and I know that they’ve struggled.”
Ollvia Jade, Lori Loughlin.Steve Granitz/WireImage
Loughlin and Mossimo were accused of paying college admissions scam ringleader Rick Singer $500,000 to falsely designate daughters Olivia Jade andIsabella Rose, 22, as recruits to the University of Southern California crew team. After denying any wrongdoing for more than a year, the couplepleaded guiltyto fraud charges in May.
On Aug. 21, a judge approved the couple’s plea deal, sentencing theFull Housestar to two months in jail, a $150,000 fine and 150 hours of community service, while fashion designer Mossimo received five months in jail, a $250,000 fine and 250 hours of service.
Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli.Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
With the pair both in jail, a source told PEOPLE last month that Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose are struggling without their parents.
“They are beyond worried,” the source added of Olivia Jade and Isabella. “They can’t wait tohave their mom home in December,though. They try to focus on this.”
source: people.com
