Felicity Huffman has finally opened up about the college admissions scandal, which saw her briefly jailed.
In an interview with ABC-7’s “Eyewitness News” that aired Thursday, Huffman, 60, broke his silence about his role in the sprawling criminal conspiracy, dubbed the “Varsity Blues.”
In it, wealthy parents of high school students — including celebrity mom Huffman and Lori Loughlin, 59 — are accused of using bribes, fraud and deception to fake their children’s way into elite colleges.
“People assumed that I was involved in this looking for ways to cheat the system and make the proverbial back-alley criminal deal, but that’s not the case. I worked with a highly recommended college counselor named Rick Singer,” Huffman said, referring to the ringleader, who was sentenced to 3½ years in prison in January.
“I worked with him for a year and trusted him implicitly,” said the Oscar-nominated actress.
“And he recommended programs and tutors, and he was an expert. And after a year, he started saying, ‘Your daughter’s not going to get into any college she wants.’ So, I believe him.”
Sophia Grace Macy, Georgia Grace Macy, William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards on January 6, 2019. Getty Images for FIJI Water Felicity Huffman on ABC’s “Eyewitness News.” ABC
The “Desperate Housewives” star, who paid $15,000 to fake her daughter’s SAT answers, served 11 days in jail for the scheme in October 2019. Huffman’s husband, William H. Macy, was not charged with any wrongdoing.
Huffman lays the blame at the feet of Singer’s leader.
“As he slowly began to unfold the criminal scheme, it seemed like – and I know this seemed crazy at the time – that was my only option to give my daughter a future,” she told the outlet.
William “Rick” Singer, pictured in 2019, was sentenced to 3½ years in federal prison in January for his role in the Varsity Blues scheme. REUTERS Lori Loughlin leaves US Court John Joseph Moakley after appearing to answer charges stemming from the college admissions scandal April 3, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
“I know hindsight is 20/20 but I feel like I’d be a bad mother if I didn’t. So, I did it. It feels like I have to give my daughter a chance for the future,” he said. “So it’s like my daughter’s future, which means I have to break the law.”
He did not tell his daughter, Sophia, about the plan. Sophia retook the SAT and was accepted to Carnegie Mellon University. Huffman’s daughter, Georgia, attends Vassar College.
The Macys at the Los Angeles VIP screening of “Rudderless” at the Vista Theater on Oct. 7. 2014. FilmMagic Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy at the A New Way of Life charity gala at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 3. 2022. MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Huffman said when Sophia first took the SAT, she began to think twice about faking her daughter’s results.
“I kept thinking, ‘Turn around, just turn around,'” Huffman said.
“To my endless shame, I didn’t.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
