Lori Loughlin Makes Youthful Appearance at Los Angeles Charity Event
Lori Loughlin, the 61-year-old former Full House star, captivated attendees at a high-profile charity event in Los Angeles this week, presenting a casual yet elegant look that belied the personal turmoil reportedly surrounding her recent separation from husband Mossimo Giannulli. The actress served as a leading figure at the grand opening celebration for The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Kitchen & Campus, an initiative supported by Project Angel Food.
Stylish Arrival Amid Personal Turmoil
Loughlin arrived at the event wearing a lacy white top paired with blue jeans and brown leather heels, accessorizing with a beaded necklace, multiple silver bracelets, and a ring on her right ring finger. Her highlighted hair flowed freely, complemented by subtle makeup and glossy lip color that enhanced her youthful appearance. The outing occurred against a backdrop of claims that the actress remains "extremely angry" at Giannulli following the public revelation of their split after 28 years of marriage.
Other notable celebrities in attendance included:
- Jamie Lee Curtis, who sported a navy blue suit
- Sandra Lee, who kept her sunglasses on throughout
- Judith Light, opting for an all-black ensemble
- Sharon Lawrence, who also made a stunning appearance
Charity Expansion and Community Impact
The event marked the official launch of The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Kitchen & Campus, which represents a significant expansion for Project Angel Food's culinary operations. The new facility more than doubles the organization's previous footprint, growing from approximately 7,700 square feet to 16,000 square feet. This expansion includes:
- Increasing hot cook lines from one to three
- Expanding annual meal production capacity from 1.5 million to over 4.5 million meals
- Enabling the organization to serve more than 10,000 people across Los Angeles County in a single day
Marital Breakdown and Lingering Fallout
Meanwhile, sources close to Loughlin indicate she continues to grapple with intense emotions following the October announcement of her separation from Giannulli. Initial reports suggested the split stemmed from Loughlin discovering "incriminating" texts and emails on her husband's phone, though subsequent sources have pointed to lingering consequences from the couple's involvement in the 2019 college admissions scandal as a contributing factor.
In that notorious case, Loughlin and Giannulli paid a fixer $500,000 to fraudulently present their daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose, as elite rowing recruits to secure admission to the University of Southern California. Both initially denied wrongdoing but ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, resulting in Giannulli serving five months in prison and Loughlin serving two months.
Separate Lives and Conflicting Perspectives
According to multiple sources speaking to People magazine, the former couple has been living "separate lives" since announcing their separation, with Loughlin reportedly maintaining her anger toward the fashion designer. However, a contrasting perspective suggests Giannulli views his ex-wife more favorably, with one insider stating, "He thinks she's a lovely person and an incredible mom" and noting his desire to resolve matters quietly without further conflict.
When the separation first became public, Loughlin's representative Elizabeth Much told the Daily Mail that the couple was "living apart and taking a break from their marriage" with "no legal proceedings at this time." Around the same period, Loughlin was photographed sharing a hug with actor James Tupper, her former Great American Family co-star, outside LA's Bird Streets Club.
Public Sightings and Professional Connections
On the same day as Loughlin's sighting with Tupper, Giannulli was photographed browsing shops in Beverly Hills alongside 32-year-old stylist Hannah Harrison. Harrison later clarified to Us Weekly that their outing was strictly professional, calling it "bad timing" and emphasizing they were "good friends" meeting at the G/FORE Supply store. The pair were subsequently seen arriving together at West Hollywood nightclub Zouk in November.
Despite these public appearances, sources describe the former couple's relationship as "friendly" rather than hostile, with one insider characterizing the split as "more amicable than people think or would expect," noting that Giannulli was even reportedly invited to Loughlin's family Christmas gathering. Still, the same source acknowledged that "divorce looks like it's the future" as both parties navigate separate lives and determine next steps.
Support from Former Co-Star
Loughlin's former Full House co-star John Stamos expressed sympathy for her situation during an October appearance on the Good Guys podcast. "She put up with a lot over the years of this guy," Stamos remarked. "She's just devastated. For a girl who has lived her life really well, a good person, a good mother, a good wife—I know all this for a fact—to be thrown into now this separation and, you know, exploding, blowing up her family this way... I just hate to see her go through this. I really do."
Professional Rebound and Personal Reflection
Professionally, Loughlin's legal troubles initially kept her off-screen during the fifth season of Fuller House, though she returned in late 2021 for a two-part Christmas special of the series When Hope Calls. She made her first post-scandal red carpet appearance in June 2022 at the DesignCare 2022 Gala benefiting the HollyRod Foundation.
In an April 2024 interview with First for Women magazine, Loughlin reflected on navigating the life-changing events of recent years. "I try to be a forgiving person," she shared. "I'm not one to hold onto stuff. Stuff happens to everyone. We've all been in positions to ask for forgiveness but to ask for it, you have to learn and know how to give forgiveness, too." She added that her upbringing emphasized forgiveness rather than grudges, stating, "My family wasn't one to hold grudges. I didn't grow up in a household where if you made a mistake, you weren't forgiven."
The Daily Mail has reported receiving no response to requests for comment from representatives for both Loughlin and Giannulli regarding the current situation.
