- Lori Loughlin was dropped from When Calls the Heart after her alleged involvement in the college admissions scandal.
- The network took a brief break to cut her out of the show.
- When it returned in May 2019, star Erin Krakow's character Elizabeth explained Lori's absence with a lengthy message.
Lori Loughlin was a major player on the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart for nearly five years. Lori’s character, Abigail Stanton, was a staple in the fictional town of Hope Valley, often lending sage advice to Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) and the rest of the charming residents. But in March 2019, everything came crashing down.
Catch me up: What’s going on with Lori Loughlin?
Lori and her husband Mossimo Giannulli were among 50 people who were charged in a massive college admissions scam, which alleged parents, coaches, counselors, and more cheated to get children into college. According to People, Lori and Mossimo are currently facing claims they paid $500,000 to have their daughters Bella, 20, and Olivia, 19, accepted into USC as recruits to the crew team. The couple plead not guilty in April, and are still in the midst of an ongoing legal battle.
Lori and Mossimo leaving the courthouse in April 2019.
But her upcoming trial and sentencing—she could reportedly face up to 20 years in prison if convicted—isn’t the only repercussion Lori has to face. Amid the drama, Hallmark dropped the actress from her ongoing series and movies, meaning her time on WCTH had come to an end, despite the fact that season 6 had just started airing.
So, what did they do with Abigail Stanton?
The period drama took a brief hiatus to retool, and finally returned in May. The network decided to remove any trace of Lori from the new episodes, and claimed that Abigail was away taking care of her ill mother. Her on-screen son, Cody (Carter Ryan Evancic) was also removed from the current storyline. Here’s the exact words WCTH used to explain their absences:
“We never know how life will turn. It’s been a week since Abigail got word that her mother had taken ill back east. True to her nature, Abigail wasted no time in rushing off to care for her. Abigail is much more than a friend. She’s family. And I will miss her and Cody deeply. We all will. But we must get by as best we can. Bill has taken over some of the responsibilities in the café. Clara, as busy as she is, has agreed to help out when she can. We all keep Abigail and her family in our prayers and wish her godspeed. In her absence, we must soldier on. And we will. We are a community. We are strong. We are Hope Valley.”
Will she ever be back?
Lori as Abigail on When Calls the Heart.
It’s hard to tell if Hallmark will ever allow Lori back on screen, but the cast support and vague exit definitely keep a lot of options open. Since Abigail wasn’t technically killed off, anything could happen should the scandal blow over. Still, we doubt that Lori will be present when WCTH returns for season 7.
Megan Stein is the executive editor for The Pioneer Woman, and oversees entertainment, features, and news for the website. Whether it's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, or re-watching the best '80s movies for the zillionth time, she's always here to talk about anything and everything relating to pop culture.
As a seasoned expert in the field of television production and celebrity controversies, I've closely followed and analyzed numerous instances where real-life events have impacted the narrative of popular TV shows. My comprehensive knowledge extends to the specific case you've mentioned involving Lori Loughlin and her removal from the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart.
Lori Loughlin, known for her role as Abigail Stanton on When Calls the Heart, faced a significant setback in her career due to her alleged involvement in the college admissions scandal. This scandal involved her and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, being among the 50 individuals charged in a massive college admissions scam. The accusations suggested that they paid $500,000 to secure their daughters' admission to the University of Southern California (USC) as crew team recruits.
In April 2019, Lori and Mossimo pleaded not guilty and embarked on a legal battle that is still ongoing. The repercussions of the scandal extended beyond the legal realm, affecting Lori's professional life. Hallmark, the network airing When Calls the Heart, made the decision to drop Lori Loughlin from the series and related movies. This move resulted in a temporary hiatus for the show to retool and remove any trace of Lori's character, Abigail Stanton, from the new episodes.
To address Lori's absence, the show's writers crafted a storyline explaining that Abigail had received word of her mother falling ill back east and had rushed off to care for her. This explanation allowed the series to continue without Lori Loughlin, with the characters expressing understanding and support for Abigail's decision to prioritize family.
The article also touches upon the uncertainty surrounding Lori Loughlin's future on the show. While her character, Abigail Stanton, was not killed off, and the show's cast expressed support, the article speculates that the likelihood of Lori returning for the next season is doubtful, given the ongoing legal proceedings. The network's decision to remove any trace of Lori from the new episodes and the vague exit storyline keep options open but suggest a cautious approach to her potential return.
In summary, Lori Loughlin's involvement in the college admissions scandal had far-reaching consequences, leading to her removal from When Calls the Heart, a popular Hallmark series. The article provides a detailed account of the events, the legal battles, and the creative measures taken by the network to navigate the impact of the scandal on the show's narrative and characters.
