TV
Lori Loughlin returns to Instagram 7 years after college admissions scandal
Lori Loughlin’s “Full House” co-stars helped her make her Instagram return on Monday after seven years offline.
The actress, who hasn’t had an active social media account since the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal, captioned her video, “Wake up, San Francisco! I’m back on IG 💕.”
The phrase, notably, is a reference to Loughlin’s character Rebecca Donaldson’s catchphrase as a newscaster.
Her former “Fuller House” cast members John Stamos, Jodie Sweetin, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure, Scott Weinger and Andrea Barber each said the signature phrase to kick off the video.
When Loughlin, 62, appeared, she quoted a moment from the series when her character returned from maternity leave.
“Hi, I’m Rebecca Donaldson, and I’m welcoming myself back to the show,” she said. “Welcome back, Becky. Why, thank you, Becky. Welcome back.”
She was all smiles in the footage, standing outside in a brown coat with leather detailing.
Her late co-star Bob Saget, who died in January 2022 at 65, was also included in the social media upload as his character, Danny Tanner, did his own introduction to viewers in the throwback scene.
The video then cut back to Loughlin in present day, with her triumphantly saying, “And I’m Rebecca Donaldson.”
Stamos, 63, commented that the footage was “cute” on Monday.
Coulier’s wife, Melissa Bring, gushed, “Yes!!! 👏👏 Love you so much!!! ❤️”
Loughlin played Donaldson on “Full House” from 1987 to 1995. She later reprised the role for guest appearances on the show’s Netflix revival for four more seasons.
She did not make a cameo in Season 5 of “Fuller House” in 2020 — as her and then-husband Mossimo Giannulli became embroiled in the headline-making scandal the previous year.
The duo were accused of paying $500,000 for their daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose’s admissions into the University of Southern California, and they pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud in May 2020.
Loughlin, who was sentenced to two months in federal prison, has been out since December 2020.
The Daytime Emmy nominee, who has since split from her spouse, returned to television in 2022 with roles in “When Calls the Heart,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and more.
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