Lori Loughlin was released from prison today (Dec. 28) after serving barely two months behind bars and, once again, Twitter is not having it. The former “Full House” actress’ release reignited the outrage that many felt was an unjust and ridiculously short prison sentence after Loughlin was found guilty of participating in a massive college admissions bribery scandal. On Twitter, actress Janet Hubert — who made her welcomed return to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” last month — reacted to the news.
“So when white actresses commit crimes they get new shows, pilots, etc. Lori Loughlin …I assume, will get an Emmy for her time in prison,” Janet Hubert tweeted Monday afternoon. “Hmmmm…oh to be white, blond, and privileged!”
“No thanks I would rather be bold, black, and dignified!” the 64-year-old actress added.
Also on Twitter, civil rights lawyer Kristen Clarke compared Loughlin’s treatment within the criminal justice system to others’ experiences.
“Lori Loughlin. Pleads guilty to federal crimes. Less than 2 months in prison,” she wrote. “Kalief Browder. Falsely accused of stealing a backpack. Couldn’t post bail. Spent 3 yrs at Riker’s awaiting trial. Dies by suicide after release.”
“Justice looks different when you’re poor and Black,” Clarke tweeted.
Others remembered Tanya McDowell, a Black mother who was sentenced to five years in prison after falsifying her home address so she could send her son to a better school district.
“In light of Lori Loughlin getting out of prison after TWO months, after paying $500,000 in bribes to get her daughter in a good college, quick reminder that Tanya McDowell served [five] years in prison for falsifying an address so her son could go to a better school,” one Twitter user wrote.
Loughlin was one of 60 people arrested in the bribery scheme — including her husband —who will be released in April. Both she and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, paid $500,000 to get their two daughters accepted into the University of Southern California and were consequently charged with conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and more.
Actress Felicity Huffman was also convicted in the crime and spent 11 days in prison. See reactions on Twitter to Loughlin’s release below.