Lori Loughlin Splits from Her Husband After 27 Years
After nearly three decades together, actress Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli have separated. The news was confirmed on October 2 by Loughlin’s publicist, Elizabeth Much, who told USA TODAY that while the couple is now living apart, no legal proceedings are currently underway.
A Long Marriage Comes to an End
Loughlin, best known for her role as Aunt Becky on the beloved sitcom Full House, married Giannulli, founder of the Mossimo clothing brand, in 1997. Together, they raised two daughters: Olivia Jade Giannulli, 26, and Isabella Rose Giannulli, 27.
The pair were often seen publicly supporting one another throughout their marriage and appeared to have a united front during moments of personal and professional turmoil. Their separation marks the close of a partnership that spanned more than 27 years.
Impact of the College Admissions Scandal
The couple’s marriage endured public scrutiny in 2019 when they were implicated in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal. Prosecutors alleged that Loughlin and Giannulli paid $500,000 to have their daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as crew recruits, despite neither child participating in the sport.
In 2020, both parents pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case. Loughlin served two months in prison at a facility in Dublin, California, before her release in December 2020. Giannulli served five months, including two weeks of home confinement, before completing his sentence in April 2021.
The scandal cast a long shadow over their public image. For many, it became a defining chapter in their personal and professional lives.
Loughlin’s Return to Acting
Following her prison sentence, Loughlin cautiously stepped back into acting. She reprised her role as Abigail Stanton on the When Calls the Heart spinoff When Hope Calls in 2021, signaling the start of her professional comeback.
Since then, she has appeared in a series of television projects, including the 2023 holiday-themed films Fall Into Winter and A Christmas Blessing. Most recently, she made headlines for a cameo on the final season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing a fictionalized version of herself and satirizing her involvement in the admissions scandal.
Public Reflections on Forgiveness
Loughlin has also spoken about personal growth and resilience in the years since the controversy. In an April 2024 interview with First For Women, she discussed the importance of forgiveness, both for others and for oneself.
“Stuff happens to everyone. We’ve all been in positions to ask for forgiveness, but to ask for it, you have to learn and know how to give forgiveness, too,” she said. “No one is perfect; we all make mistakes. So I was always told to let stuff go. And I think for your own health, you have to let things go because you can’t hang on to negativity. Life’s too short.”
Her comments fueled speculation that she was addressing her past legal troubles and the lessons she drew from the experience.
Where Things Stand Now
For now, neither Loughlin nor Giannulli has provided additional details about the reasons behind their separation. The decision appears to be a personal one, reached quietly after years of navigating both private and highly public challenges together.
Though they are no longer together, their family ties remain central. Both daughters, Isabella and Olivia Jade, have pursued careers in entertainment and social media, often drawing public interest in their own right.
Loughlin’s separation comes as she continues to rebuild her career and public image following one of the most widely covered scandals in recent Hollywood memory. Whether the separation becomes a legal divorce or simply a long-term arrangement has yet to be seen, but the couple’s decision closes an important chapter in their nearly 30-year relationship
Can you believe they called it quits after nearly 30 years? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline to share with your friends who might not have heard the news yet.