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Fans criticize 'Dancing With the Stars' for adding Olivia Jade Giannulli to season 30 cast

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Olivia Jade Giannulli is set to star in the upcoming season of
Olivia Jade Giannulli is set to star in the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars." (Image via Getty Images)

"Dancing With the Stars" fans are not happy following news that Olivia Jade Giannulli has been added to the upcoming season the reality competition show.

Giannulli is one of the latest names added to season 30 of ABC's hit series, despite her involvement in the 2019 college admissions scandal. The 21-year-old influencer's parents, "Full House" actress Lori Loughlin and designer Mossimo Giannulli, served prison time after being convicted of conspiracy for paying $500,000 to have Giannulli, and her sister, Isabella, admitted to University of Southern California under the guise that both girls were recruited to the school's crew team.

According to E! News, a source revealed that Giannulli's decision to be a part of the show is her way of "taking her life into her own hands, learning from past mistakes and challenging herself in new areas."

While some think this may be a perfect opportunity for the YouTube star to make a better impression and fix her bruised reputation, others think that she is "undeserving" and have called out the show for "white privilege."

Giannulli will star on
Giannulli will star on "Dancing With the Stars" following her family's involvement in the 2019 college admissions scandal. (Pictured, Giannulli with her mother, Lori Loughlin and sister, Isabella. Image via Getty Images).

"Olivia Jade is living proof that no matter what happens, as long as you’re pretty and rich the world will give you a second chance," one Twitter user wrote.

"Why do they keep doing this? Stop rewarding terrible behaviour from people," someone else commented. "Who without opportunities like this actually could fade into oblivion."

Others defended ABC's decision, urging fans of the show to be open-minded and separate Giannulli from her parents's actions.

"If she can dance, why not?" one Instagram user reacted to the news.

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"What her parents did was a terrible, terrible thing and they should continue to be held accountable for it. But Olivia is literally just starting out her life and still has a chance to be a good person," they wrote. "We should try to nurture her potential and educate her on white privilege instead of making her out to be a lost cause for something her parents are responsible for. We need to shape ignorant people who are willing to learn and be better instead of discarding them."

In 2020, Giannulli broke her silence with an apologetic appearance on "Red Table Talk"where she assured viewers she did't wand or "deserve pity.

The beauty influencer admitted that at the time of the scandal, she wasn't "fully aware" of the severity of the crime.

“To be honest, I wasn’t angry. And I think it’s because I didn’t have a good understanding of what just happened. I didn’t see the wrong in it,” she said. “I was like, ‘Why is everyone complaining, I’m confused what we did?’”

Giannulli told hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield Norris that despite the struggles her family has faced, she has has done her best to learn and grow from her hardships.

“I think that this has been a really eye-opening experience for me and situation, and although there’s a lot of negativity around it, and there’s a lot of mistakes and wrongdoings, it’s led me to have a completely different outlook on a lot of situations,”

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