Olivia Jade Giannulli deemed ‘the epitome of white privilege’ on Red Table Talk

Olivia Jade has broken her silence following the college admissions scandal

Olivia Jade and Adrienne Banfield-Norris on Red Table Talk (Facebook/Red Table Talk)

Olivia Jade Giannulli’s appearance on Red Table Talk was preceded by a conversation between the show’s three co-hosts, in which the influencer’s presence in the studio was deemed “the epitome of white privilege”.

Giannulli, 21, was featured on a new episode of the talk show released on Tuesday. Prior to her arrival, the show opens with an exchange in which Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, debate the decision to welcome Giannulli on the show.

Giannulli’s parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, have both been convicted in the college admissions scandal. They took plea deals and are both currently serving prison time.

Norris struggled with the decision to feature Giannulli as a guest. “I fought it to the nail,” she said. “I just found it really ironic that she chose three Black women to reach out to for her redemption story.”

She continued: “I feel like here we are, a white woman coming to Black women for support when we don’t get the same from them. It’s bothersome to me on so many levels. Her being here is the epitome of white privilege to me.”

Pinkett Smith told her mother: “I understand where you’re coming from, but let me just be clear. I never want to be the thing that was done to me by white women.” 

She added: “I also feel like this is a practice of compassion. To me, this young girl is reaping the repercussions of some actions of her parents.”

Nonetheless, she said that many people would likely agree with Norris, and she was prepared for the episode to potentially elicit strong reactions from viewers.

Giannulli’s appearance included a discussion of privilege, with Norris asking her: “Do you understand why different people in the community would be upset? Do you have any understanding of why I would be upset at your being here?”

Pinkett Smith later prompted Norris to tell Giannulli about her position.

“There is so much violent dehumanisation that the Black community has to go through on a daily basis,” Norris said. 

“There is so much devastation, particularly this year, 2020, with the pandemic and everything being brought to the table. There’s so much inequality and inequity that when you [Giannulli] come to the table with something like this, it’s like, ‘Child, please.’”

Norris added: “I’m exhausted. I’m exhausted with everything that we have to deal with as a community and I just don’t have the energy to put into the fact that you lost your [brand] endorsements.”

Prior to the college admissions scandal, Giannulli had built a profile as an influencer and a YouTuber. She still has more than a million followers on each platform.

Norris told Giannulli that “at the end of the day, you’re going to be OK”.

“You guys will go on and you’ll be OK and you will live your life,” she added. “And there are so many of us for whom it’s not going to be that situation.”