Lori Loughlin’s daughter Olivia Jade is set to speak out about her parents’ involvement in the college bribery scandal for the first time in an intimate interview with Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
The 21-year-old revealed on Instagram on Monday morning that she has recorded a sit-down for Jada’s Red Table Talk show on Facebook, which is due to premiere on Tuesday at 9AM PT.
It is the first time that Olivia has publicly discussed the scandal, and comes as both of her parents remain behind bars serving out sentences for paying $500,000 in bribes in order to get the former YouTuber and her older sister Bella, 22, into USC.
Comment: Lori Loughlin’s daughter Olivia Jade is set to publicly address her parents’ involvement in the college bribery scandal for the first time on Tuesday morning
Consequences: Lori and her husband Mossimo Giannulli (pictured outside court in August) pleaded guilty to paying $500,000 in order to have both of their daughters admitted to USC
Although the teaser clip gives little away about what Olivia might discuss, she is overheard vowing to be ‘honest’ and to ‘lay it [all] out here’.
‘I’ve watched the show and I think you guys are all amazing, and it feels really safe,’ the social media star is heard saying – while a clip of her sitting at the infamous red table flashes up.
‘But it also feels honest and it feels like we’re all going to lay it out here, and it’s going to be an open conversation.’
Sharing the video on her Instagram, Olivia thanked Will, Jada, and Jada’s mother Adrienne Norris, for inviting her on the show, writing: ‘Thank you @jadapinkettsmith @adriennebanfieldnorris @willowsmith for bringing me to the table so I can publicly share my experience for the first time.’
The official Red Table Talk account also posted the trailer video, giving a further hint about what Olivia may say during her interview.
Teaser: Olivia, 21, who lives in Los Angeles, will appear on Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook show Red Table Talk, and a small trailer features her vowing to ‘lay it [all] bare’
Ups and downs: There have been varying reports about how the scandal has impacted Lori’s relationship with Olivia and her older sister Bella (pictured with their mom in 2019)
‘For the first time, @oliviajade is breaking her silence after being caught in the middle of one of the biggest school bribery scandals,’ the caption reads.
‘Now that her parents Lori Laughlin and Mossimo Giannulli are serving short prison terms for their participation in the scandal — its her turn to speak.’
Olivia’s first on-screen interview about the bribery scandal comes six months after her mother Lori, 56, and father Mossimo, 57, pleaded guilty to paying half a million dollars to have their daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as recruits of the crew team, despite neither of their children ever taking part in the sport.
In August, Lori was sentenced to two months behind bars, and was also ordered to pay a fine of $150,000, and complete 100 hours of community service after her release.
Her husband Mossimo was given a five-month sentence, and was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and complete 250 hours of community service.
‘I went along with a plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process. In doing so, I ignored my intuition and allowed myself to be swayed from my moral compass,’ Lori said at the time of her sentencing.
Controversy: In April, prosecutors revealed images of Lori and Mossimo’s daughters posing on rowing machines as part of their bid to bribe their way into the prestigious school
Since news of the college admissions scandal first broke, there have been varying reports about how Lori and Mossimo’s involvement has impacted their relationship with their daughter, with sources initially suggested that Olivia was incredibly ‘upset’ with her mother and father and was refusing to speak to them.
However, it has been claimed more recently that the scandal has actually helped to strengthen the couple’s bond with both of their children, particularly when it was made clear that Lori and Mossimo would be spending time in jail.
In November, ET reported that Lori is in ‘constant communication’ with her family while in jail, with a source telling the outlet: ‘Lori’s been communicating daily with her family and is trying her best to get acclimated to her new surroundings but she’s ready to go home.’
The person added that Olivia and Bella are both ‘worried’ about their mother, particularly amid the rise in coronavirus cases, which is said to be causing ‘huge stress’ for Lori.
But while sources have offered insight into the ups and downs of Lori and Mossimo’s relationship with their daughters, this Red Table Talk interview will mark the first time that Olivia has actually spoken out herself about the scandal.
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