How Will Lori Loughlin’s Legal Drama Affect Hallmark’s ‘When Calls the Heart’?

Disputing Hearts
©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Eike Schroter

UPDATED (3/15/2019):

Following Loughlin’s firing from Hallmark, fans who worried about the future of When Calls the Heart are now being comforted by the network.

According to a Twitter post from the channel, the show will continue on in her absence, “#Hearties, we assure you that Hallmark Channel has no plans to cancel When Calls the Heart. Hope Valley has many more stories left to share and we will let you know the details soon.”

So, as the network said above, rest assured When Calls the Heart fans, the show will return.

UPDATED (3/14/2019):

Lori Loughlin has officially been fired from the Hallmark Channel, a statement released by Crown Media Family Network Channels confirmed the news.

“We are saddened by the recent news surrounding the college admissions allegations. We are no longer working with Lori Loughlin and have stopped development of all productions that air on the Crown Media Family Network channels involving Lori Loughlin including Garage Sale Mysteries, an independent third party production.”

The news comes just two days after the indictment against her was made public, the actress was accused of bribing her daughter’s way into USC with $500,000.

ORIGINAL STORY (3/13/2019):

As fans of the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart probably know by now, star Lori Loughlin was indicted this week for allegedly bribing her daughters’ way into college.

The former Full House actress was named alongside fellow actress Felicity Huffman in a case indicting dozens of parents who paid upwards of $6 million to cheat their kids’ way into school. Considering the case ahead, Loughlin’s future with When Calls the Heart is now coming into question by viewers.

Sure, she’s known to some as Aunt Becky, but Loughlin’s also played Abigail Stanton for six seasons on the hour-long period drama. And while no official word about Loughlin’s future with Hallmark has changed, conditions for traveling may impact it.

Loughlin’s husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, was charged Tuesday and released on $1 million bail on the condition that he only be allowed to travel within the Continental United States. It was during this time in court that Loughlin’s need to travel was discussed.

Loughlin with Erin Krakow in When Calls the Heart (Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs)

The actress has reportedly requested permission to travel to Vancouver, BC, as that’s where When Calls the Heart films. At that time, no permission has been granted, but during Giannulli’s court appearance, the judge shared that it wouldn’t be impossible to receive the proper approval.

And the judge’s statement wasn’t wrong as the actress was granted permission to travel under the condition that she keep the courts aware of her whereabouts by sharing her traveling schedule. Loughlin is currently set to work on projects for the Hallmark Channel through the better part of spring and summer this year.

Loughlin is currently appearing in the sixth season of the Hallmark favorite. When Calls the Heart is still in production as the show has seven episodes that have yet to air during its latest season.

That said, there’s a chance that Loughlin will return to working on When Calls the Heart as the trial continues, but depending on how legal proceedings go, she may have to eventually leave the show. Only time will tell.

Loughlin has become somewhat of a staple on the network appearing in many of their seasonal films as well as When Calls the Heart. The actress has also reprised her role as Aunt Becky in Netflix’s spinoff series Fuller House which will air its final season this year.

When Calls the Heart, Sundays, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel