John Stamos Publicly Defends 'Full House' Co-Star Lori Loughlin Following Her Split From Husband Mossimo Giannulli

John Stamos is speaking out with rare intensity, breaking his silence to defend Lori Loughlin while placing full blame on her ex-husband, Mossimo Giannulli, for the fallout from their high-profile split and past scandal.

John Stamos is standing firmly behind his longtime friend and "Full House" co-star Lori Loughlin following her recent separation from husband Mossimo Giannulli.

During the October 20, 2025 episode of the "Good Guys" podcast with hosts Josh Peck and Ben Soffer, Stamos didn't hold back his thoughts on the designer, who was married to Loughlin for 27 years.

The actor made it clear he has no plans to stay in touch with Giannulli. "I will never talk to him again," Stamos declared. "He's a terrible narcissist."

Heartbroken Over Loughlin's Struggles

Stamos spoke candidly about his decades-long friendship with Loughlin and how deeply affected he is by her recent hardships.

"Forty years I've known her," Stamos said. "You can see through people after a few years. This woman's a saint ... I'm just heartbroken for her right now."

With Loughlin's permission, Stamos shared how he supported her through challenging moments — including her divorce and the college admissions scandal she once found herself embroiled in.

The Morning Everything Changed

Stamos recalled how he first learned about the 2019 scandal through a text from his friend, Roger Lodge. "I get a text around 5:00 a.m. from my friend Roger Lodge, and he said, 'Is Lori okay?'" Stamos shared. After learning it involved a college scandal, he began searching for answers online.

"She was the poster child for white privilege," he said of that challenging time in his co-star's life. He quickly called Loughlin, who was in Canada filming for Hallmark.

When asked if she was okay, Loughlin replied, "Yeah, why?" She told Stamos she had seen "a couple emails about it" and that Giannulli was handling everything for her.

While on the phone, Stamos mentioned hearing a beep on the call, to which Loughlin casually replied that she thinks her phone line was bugged.

Media Frenzy and Prison Time

Stamos turned on the television and saw a press conference about the case. When Loughlin asked what channel, he texted, "ALL CHANNELS. EVERY CHANNEL." That was the last he heard from her at the time.

Loughlin later served three months in prison. When Stamos asked about the experience, she responded in her usual calm style. "You know, I met a lot of nice ladies in there. We have a book club. That's her!"

"She didn't deserve to be dragged through that," Stamos said. "I know for a fact that was all him."

Reacting to the Divorce

Turning to the recent divorce, Stamos expressed his sadness over what Loughlin is going through. "I know she's just devastated," he admitted the podcast hosts.

"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 exploding, blowing up her family this way. And I just hate to see her go through this. I really do," Stamos said, trying his best to explain how he felt about Loughlin's situation.

Close Neighbors and Closer Friends

After four decades of friendship, Stamos and Loughlin still live in the same neighborhood and remain close. "Whatever he did to her, it busted her up to the core," he explained. "And she put up with a lot over the years for this guy."

While he avoided commenting directly on cheating allegations, he expressed disbelief. "How do you do that? How do you bust that up?" Stamos asked in disbelief, referring to Giannulli.

Until the end of the interview, Stamos made his position clear about his good friend. "To me, she's an angel," he said.

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli's Separation

Loughlin and Giannulli are officially separated, as reported by People on October 2, 2025. The couple, who share daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose, are spending time apart as they navigate this new chapter.

Reactions online reflect a mix of cynicism and sympathy. On Instagram, one netizen wrote, "Too bad. So sad." Another asked, "Is it because the college scandal?.. has that been brewing for years?[sic]"

On Facebook, speculation deepened. "Might have been the ultimate fallout from the college scandal," a fourth added. "People grow and change and don't always find themselves wanting the same thing anymore," another mused.

Some questioned whether Loughlin's legal challenges had finally caught up with her marriage, while others weren't the least bit surprised. A few believed the couple had already gone their separate ways, and others dismissed the news as just another Hollywood split.

A Fresh Start for Loughlin?

The separation became public shortly after Loughlin was spotted dining in West Hollywood with actor James Tupper. The two were seen deep in conversation and sharing a brief hug outside The Bird Streets Club, a private haunt for the city's elite.

A representative for Loughlin later described the outing as strictly friendly, noting that she and Tupper have worked together in the past, including co-starring in the 2023 films "A Christmas Blessing" and "Fall Into Winter."

The College Admissions Scandal

Their personal lives had already been under the national microscope years earlier, when both became embroiled in the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal.

Prosecutors revealed they had paid $500,000 to secure their daughters' entry into the University of Southern California (USC) as rowing recruits, despite neither girl participating in the sport. The case was part of a sweeping federal crackdown that implicated more than 50 parents, coaches, and university officials.

Both Loughlin and Giannulli pleaded guilty. Loughlin served two months in prison at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, and was released in December 2020. Her sentence also included two years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a $150,000 fine.

At a virtual sentencing hearing, Loughlin acknowledged that she had knowingly participated in a scheme intended to give her daughters an unfair edge in the college admissions process.

She admitted that, although she believed she was acting out of love, the choice ultimately compromised her values and diminished her daughters' accomplishments.

She also recognized the broader societal impact of her actions, noting that her decision had contributed to existing inequalities. As she neared the end of her statement, Loughlin grew emotional, expressing regret for her choices and emphasizing her desire to take responsibility and move forward.

The TV personality told the court, "I am truly, profoundly and deeply sorry...I'm ready to face the consequences and make amends."

Meanwhile, Giannulli reported to prison in November 2020, serving five months at the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc, California, before being released to community confinement in April 2021. His sentence also included two years of supervised release, 250 hours of community service, and a $250,000 fine.

Long before their legal unraveling, the couple had been held up as a picture of Hollywood resilience. The "Full House" actress married Giannulli, a fashion designer, in 1997.

Loughlin's Previous Thoughts on Her Marriage

In a 2016 interview with Closer Weekly, Loughlin spoke openly about the strength of their marriage. "I've been married for 18 years! I always [knew] I was in it for the long haul." she said.

She reflected on the importance of choosing peace over pride, sharing that knowing when to let things go had been essential. "Just always remember to pay attention to your partner and pick and choose your battles carefully," Loughlin noted. "Don't sweat the small stuff, let it slide."

She also stressed the value of carving out dedicated time together amid their demanding schedules. Loughlin revealed that she and Giannulli made a ritual of reserving Friday evenings for dinner dates as a way to catch up and reconnect at the end of each week.