Lori Loughlin’s daughters, Bella and Olivia Jade Giannulli, are standing with their mom.
The girls broke their social media hiatus on Sunday to wish their mother a happy birthday, which marks their first posts since their parents allegedly agreed “to pay bribes totaling $500,000 in exchange for having their two daughters designated as recruits to the USC crew team—despite the fact that they did not participate in crew—thereby facilitating their admission to USC.”
While it wouldn’t typically raise eyebrows to wish your mom a happy birthday, the messages look like an olive branch among the family members, considering multiple outlets have reported a major rift between the family.
“She’s cut herself off from her mother and is going out and partying a lot,” a source told ET about Olivia, 19, at the time. “She feels she hasn’t been a part of any wrongdoing and feels tricked by her parents into going to a school that wasn’t even her top choice. Right now, she wants to prove she can do it on her own, and she thinks going back to school will help renew her image.”
Bella, 20, who initially deleted her Instagram altogether after the college admissions scandal, was the first to post a picture for her mom’s 55th birthday.
“Happy birthday mama,” Bella wrote of a black and white snap with the Full House alum. “I love you.”
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/B0fEzPbA5PP/”]
Her sister jumped in the comment section writing, “my people” with a heart emoji.
Olivia, who lost her partnership with Sephora in the wake of the news, was a day late to post, but ultimately returned to Instagram with an adorable throwback.
“One day late. happy birthday. i love you so much,” the YouTube star captioned the sweet picture.
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/B0gKsLsAMtQ/”]
In a cautious move, Olivia used a monitor tool to filter out offensive or inappropriate comments.
For the low-key celebration, Lori and Mossimo were seen at an early morning service at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, according to People Magazine.
“They try to go every Sunday,” a source told People. “This is the church they have been coming to for years. They are getting support at the church. They were approached by other churchgoers and people seem genuinely supportive.”
Their daughters reportedly joined them for a “small celebration” with a few friends.
It would be an understatement to say the scandal has affected Lori’s girls.
Initial reports claimed Olivia’s relationship with her parents was majorly strained and both kids were advised not to talk to anyone outside the family and lawyers.
Additionally, Olivia felt her parents “ruined her career” and in May she moved out of her parents’ Bel Air Home to focus on her own mental health, E! News reported.
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpsc0rlna6p/”]
“She wants to focus on rebuilding her business and not deal with daily negative attention,” the outlet reported at the time. “This is the healthiest thing for her right now and she wants to do what’s best.”
Lori has also lost a lot more than her reputation.
Hallmark cut ties with her, she is no longer welcome on Full House, and she was removed from her show “When Calls the Heart.”
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BvCSAZEAYuX/?utm_source=ig_embed”]
It looks like time is healing the family’s wounds after the fallout.
As for Lori and Bella, ET has said that the pair has “remained incredibly close throughout and have been a wonderful support to one another.”
While Lori’s Full House family has been treading lightly on the subject, Candace Cameron Bure publicly wished the star a HBD in the comments.
Previously, at the Kids’ Choice Awards, Candace nodded to her friend during an acceptance speech saying, “Family sticks together no matter what.”
“They stick together through the hard times. They support each other. They encourage one another. They pray for each other, and they stand by their side no matter how tough it gets. And a loving family that sticks together also celebrates the really good times together,” she added.
[fm_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8nluTh4Hbc”]
While Lori and her husband Mossimo Giannulli were among the highest profile individuals charged in connection to the college admissions scandal, 40 other parents were involved in the alleged college entrance exam scheme.
Lori and Mossimo have plead not guilty and are scheduled to next appear in court on Aug. 27.
“Giannulli and Loughlin are innocent of the charges brought against them and are eager to clear their names,” documents obtained by Mercury News stated. “And they believe their interests will be advanced most effectively by presenting a united front against the Government’s baseless accusations.”