Lori Loughlin’s daughter, Olivia Jade Giannulli, is facing some serious backlash after she posted about racism and white privilege on Instagram. Just days after her parents pleaded guilty in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal for paying $500,000 in bribes to get Olivia and her sister into USC as fake crew recruits, Giannulli’s comment about the protests over George Floyd’s death came across as “tone deaf” and “clueless.”
“need to understand that just ‘not being racist’ is not enough,” the YouTuber wrote on her Instagram Story. “if you hear people saying disrespectful things. CORRECT THEM. Don’t sit there & allow this to continue happening.”
Olivia Jade says “if you see something that doesn’t look right…do something!!!!” Hm. She should have taken her own advice during her staged photoshoots on rowing machines. Can we ban her from the internet already? #oliviajade
— stormyweatherdc (@stormyweatherdc) June 1, 2020
The 20-year-old explained that as a person who was born into privilege based on her skin color and financial situation, she was not always aware that these issues were “still so present.” Giannulli says that makes her feel awful, but it also fuels her.
“It makes me want to learn more and do more and be better for all my beautiful black friends and any other person who faces discrimination,” wrote Olivia. “I’m not racist and i never have been but i need to speak up about this because just not being racist isn’t enough. It outrages me. It makes me feel sick. It brings me to tears. THERE SHOULD NOT BE SUCH A GAP BETWEEN PEOPLE LIKE THIS. We need to support and stand up and speak and use our WHITE PRIVILEGE TO STOP THIS.”
Immediately, Giannulli’s post faced criticism because many people see her as the textbook definition of white privilege. One skeptic wrote that the college admissions scandal contributes to the sense of outrage that many people feel as they take to the streets and violently protest systematic entitlement, privilege, and discrimination.
However, at the same time, “sweet lil olivia jade drops make-up tutorials like nothing happened. Dumb, clueless, and tone deaf,” tweeted the skeptic.
Well said #oliviajade @oliviajadee and I’m in your corner. People can be so cruel. Here is a 20 year old young lady trying to do something positive, yet is being harshly criticized because of who her parents are. That is another kind of discrimination.
— Hopley Douglas (@hapley63) June 2, 2020
Another added that Giannulli needs a reality check, and repeated that the post was tone deaf. A third noted that her white privilege “got her out of trouble.” One critic pointed out that Giannulli is white privilege personified and she willingly contributed to her parents’ attempts at cheating her way through school.
“She is not allowed to speak on this matter,” wrote the angry Twitter user.
There were some fans who came to her defense and praised Giannulli for speaking up. One said Giannulli should use her platform and privilege to speak on the injustices in the world.
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Olivia Giannulli’s parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded guilty last week to their part in the college admission scandal. Loughlin accepted a plea deal and agreed to serve two months in prison, while Giannulli will serve five months. Both will pay fines and perform community service, and the judge in their case is expected to accept the plea deals and sentence the couple in August.
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