Lori Loughlin returns to Hallmark after Varsity Blues scandal forced hiatus

like Lori Loughlin Continuing to navigate life after the “Varsity Blues” scandal and recent marriage woes, the “Full House” alum is reclaiming her healthy image with an anticipated return to Hallmark.

Loughlin, who is preparing to reprise her role as Abigail Stanton in Hallmark’s “When Calls The Heart” after a seven-year hiatus, has had a tough few years both personally and professionally — including a two-month stint in prison for her involvement in the crime. University admissions scandal and Separation from her husband For nearly 28 years, Mossimo Giannulli.

But despite the setbacks, experts said Loughlin could come back strong. And the timing is perfect.

Lori Loughlin praises law enforcement 5 years after college admissions scandal

Lori Loughlin is set to reprise her role as Abigail Stanton in Hallmark’s “When Calls The Heart” after a seven-year hiatus due to her involvement in the college admissions scandal. (Olivia Wong/WireImage)

“Cancel culture has declined in recent years, and depending on the crime, the public has become more tolerant,” Steve Honig, founder of Honig, told Fox News Digital. “We’re seeing more and more celebrities weathering the storms and getting back to normal. There’s also some truth to the old adage that time heals all wounds, and Loughlin has been off the grid for some time now.”

“Her bread and butter is wholesome family entertainment and that’s what sets her apart. She needs to stick to what she knows and where she has a successful history.”

— Steve Honig, founder of Honig

“Loughlin returning to her Native roots is a smart move on her part, and it’s lucky for her that her former employer wants her back,” Honig continued. “She was very entrenched in the genre, and returning to it would bolster her pre-scandal image and help attract her core audience.”

“Her bread and butter is wholesome family entertainment, and that’s what she enjoys in the pit,” he added. “She needs to stick to what she knows and where she has a successful history.”

Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, said Loughlin was given sympathy, in a way, because of her relatability.

Loughlin spent two months in prison, completed 150 hours of community service and paid a $150,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges stemming from payments to William “Rick” Singer, the mastermind of the scam. (John Tlumacki/Boston Globe via Getty Images)

“We are a nation of second chances. We love a comeback story and have always embraced the underdog. Loughlin fits both roles,” Eldridge said.

Lori Loughlin is splitting from her fashion designer husband five years after her college admissions scandal

He continued: “She was arrested, convicted and spent two months in prison.” “Most Americans tune in to the news and see rampant insider trading in the halls of Congress, or violent criminals walking the streets on cashless bail. However, here was a woman who did everything in her power to give her children a competitive advantage, and she was paraded around and made an example of.”

While Eldridge explained that this doesn’t make her decisions “less wrong,” it’s a matter of perception.

“From a public relations standpoint, once the initial dust settles, the average American can react to her actions,” he said. “Sure they couldn’t afford a half-million-dollar bribe like I did, but wanting our kids to do better than we did is the common denominator in American society. Empathy goes a long way.”

Despite the personal and professional setbacks, Loughlin could make a strong comeback, according to experts. And the timing is perfect. (AP Photo/Steven Sinn, File)

He added: “Second chances and the underdogs are back.”

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In 2020 actress He served two months In prison, she completed 150 hours of community service and paid a $150,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges stemming from payments to William “Rick” Singer, the mastermind of the scam, to get her daughters, Isabella and Olivia Jade, into the University of Southern California.

In April 2024, Loughlin spoke with The first for women About forgiveness and moving on.

“Every day, we face different obstacles. But to me, it’s as if that song says, ‘I got knocked down, but I get back up,'” she said in the outlet’s cover story. “No one said life would be easy. We all make mistakes, but the important thing is perseverance.”

She continued, “For me, it’s just perseverance, and as an actress, I hear the word ‘no’ a lot, so I just have to be myself and persevere and try not to let negativity in.” “My advice is to keep moving forward. Everyone has good times and bad times. That’s life. I think you just have to pick yourself up. No one said life would be a breeze. There is beauty in life, but there is also hardship in life.”

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Although she did not directly address the scandal, she did talk about asking for forgiveness.

The couple separated after nearly 28 years of marriage. (Donato Sardella)

“Actually, I try to be a forgiving person. I’m not someone who holds on to things. Things happen to everyone. We’ve all been in a position to ask for forgiveness, but to ask for that, you have to learn and know how to forgive as well,” Loughlin said.

She continued, “My family didn’t hold grudges. I didn’t grow up in a house where if you made a mistake, you wouldn’t be forgiven.” “No one is perfect, we all make mistakes. So I was always told to let things go. And I think, for your health, you have to let things go, because you can’t hold on to negativity. Life is too short.”

Amid her musings, Loughlin was dealing with her marital struggles behind closed doors.

In October, Loughlin separated from her husband of nearly 28 years, Mossimo Giannulli.

“Lori and Mossimo are living apart,” Loughlin’s rep, Elizabeth Mutch, told Fox News Digital. “There are no legal proceedings underway.”

One expert said Loughlin’s personal struggles would not have an impact on her return to the screen. (Rich Fiore/Invision/AP, File)

A source said the people magazine said the couple’s last few years had “put a strain on their marriage.”

“Things are not the same as they used to be,” the source said, after the duo “survived the repercussions of college admissions and prison sentences together.”

Although devastating, the personal struggle will not have a significant impact on her return, Eldridge said.

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He added: “With regard to her divorce, the impact is likely to be minimal.” “Unfortunately, more than 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce; 72% of them are initiated by women. Until you have to live in it, most people don’t accept it. As such, this won’t move viewers.”