After nearly 28 years together, actress Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli are heading in separate directions. The unraveling may have been years in the making. Their joint public image once referenced Hollywood glamour, but the recent split exposes deeper fractures of trust, scandal, and financial strain.
Loughlin, 61, and Giannulli, 62, confirmed via a statement from her representative, Elizabeth Much, that the couple is “living apart and taking a break from their marriage. There are no legal proceedings at this time.” The pause comes as sources tell Page Six the rift was triggered by Loughlin’s discovery of “incriminating” text messages and emails on Giannulli’s phone.
“Truly, the tipping point came when Lori found a bunch of text messages,” a friend of Loughlin told Page Six. The friend said Mossimo had “used Lori for years” and noted that after Giannulli’s release from prison in April 2021, Loughlin hoped for change but felt he “got worse” instead.
That “prison” reference harkens back to the couple’s joint involvement in the 2019 college-admissions scandal. The two admitted to paying $500,000 to secure their daughters’ admission to the University of Southern California. They did so under the guise of athletic recruits. Loughlin served two months in federal prison. Giannulli served five months.
With their daughters now adults, custody issues won’t be part of any forthcoming legal dissolution. Yet what looms large are the financial and emotional stakes. Legal analysts point to the division of property and potential alimony, particularly since both partners’ careers and reputations were affected by the scandal.
At the center of the couple’s assets is their Hidden Hills, California, mansion, an 11,800-square-foot property. They purchased it in August 2020 for around $9.5 million. It was relisted for $16.5 million in February and is now down to approximately $14.95 million. Legal experts say that under California’s community-property law, such an asset may be split 50/50 unless a valid prenuptial agreement dictates otherwise.
Public commentary highlights the separation. Actor John Stamos, a longtime friend and former co-star of Loughlin, spoke negatively about Giannulli and described Lori as resilient, saying the situation had significantly impacted her.
Despite the drama, Loughlin reportedly hoped the break might salvage the marriage. A source told Us Weekly she was “devastated” and believed a temporary separation might lead to reconciliation. But the reports suggest reconciliation is unlikely. Giannulli has been seen spending time between Orange County and Idaho. Loughlin remains in the Hidden Hills home she once shared.
Underlying the split is the reputational impact from the past. While both partners have made efforts to rebuild, the effects of the admissions scandal persist. A recent International Business Times piece noted that their financial and legal matters may result in complex proceedings.
For Loughlin, the separation may symbolize more than a marital dissolution. It may be the end of a chapter defined by public scandal and personal compromise. As she once told First for Women magazine, “Every day, we’re met with different obstacles… But … it’s like that song says, ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again.’” The question now is whether she will rise alone, free of the legal burdens, the trust betrayals, and the ties that once bound the couple together.
Regardless of legal results, the situation reflects issues of trust and reputation. As one insider put it: “She wants to get her life back.”
