Lori Loughlin's daughter reportedly learned about bribery scandal while on a billionaire's yacht


Olivia Jade Giannulli's spring break vacation in the Bahamas was interrupted on Tuesday with news that she was in the center of a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal.
Olivia Jade wasn't just hanging around on a dinghy, either — the 19-year-old YouTube personality was staying on billionaire developer Rick Caruso's luxury yacht, TMZ reported Wednesday, along with Caruso's daughter, Gianna, and their friends. Caruso told TMZ they headed down to the Bahamas well before authorities announced that Olivia Jade's parents — actress Lori Loughlin and clothing designer Mossimo Giannulli — stood accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to get her and her older sister into the University of Southern California.
Caruso, the chair of USC's Board of Trustees, said that "once we became aware of the investigation, the young woman decided it would be in her best interests to return home." Olivia Jade has not been charged with any crimes. Giannulli was arrested and posted bond Tuesday, and Loughlin, who was filming out of the country, returned to California and turned herself in on Wednesday; she has been released on a $1 million bond.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'The way AI is discussed makes it seem like this is a necessary outcome'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
The New York Times plays defense after publishing leaked Mamdani college application details
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision to publish details of Zohran Mamdani's Columbia University application has reignited simmering questions about sourcing and editorial guidelines
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin on August 1, with rates ranging from 25% to 40% on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration