Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman’s college admissions scandal has lies, money, fame, and justice. Naturally, it’s becoming a movie.
For those not up to date on the scandal, Loughlin and Huffman paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to forge documents for their daughters’ college applications. These included edited images of their daughters in a rowing team and fraudulent SAT scores. This was all exposed in March 2019, with 51 people in total being charged. Adding to the publicity was Loughlin’s daughter Olivia Jade, a beauty YouTuber and influencer who got into USC. Videos of Olivia stating she didn’t care about school and preferred partying were found on YouTube. Criminal charges of felony conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering were brought against the parents. Loughlin and Huffman maintained their daughters’ ignorance of the fraud.
Now Lifetime is making a TV movie about it, set to release later this very year. The synopsis is enough to get us excited:
College Admissions Scandal will follow two wealthy mothers who share an obsession with getting their teenagers into the best possible college. When charismatic college admissions consultant Rick Singer offers a side door into the prestigious institutions of their dreams, they willingly partake with visions of coveted acceptance letters in their heads. But when Singer cooperates with the FBI and pleads guilty, the mothers who risked everything for their kids, must face the consequences of their crimes and the loss of trust and respect from their families. (source)
I’m particularly interested in learning more about Rick Singer and the company that gamed the college admissions system. It seems unthinkable that the most prestigious universities in America could be fooled, so it will be fascinating to see how they did it. The trial revealed that eleven university personnel, including coaches from Yale and Stanford, assisted Singer. I hope the movie shows some of this too, as it conveys how wide-reaching this scandal was. It also speaks to the larger significance of the scandal – just how much does a prestigious university degree mean if the rich and famous can buy their way in?
It will also be captivating to see how the families have dealt with it, as the children believed their results were real. For Olivia Jade, it has essentially ruined her career as an influencer. Loughlin’s other daughter Isabella received a letter of intent meaning she may be subject to a criminal trial. Both girls’ boyfriends broke up with them. Huffman and husband William H. Macy have said daughter Sofia is passionate about acting and wants to break into Hollywood. Unfortunately, Sofia’s name has been tarnished before she’s even begun.
With a true story already chock-full of drama, we’re excited to see an even further dramatised version.
What do you think about this college admission scandal film? Let us know in the comments down below!
