The Tragic Scandals Of The Full House Cast
The following article includes mentions of eating disorders, drug addiction, and suicide.
"Full House" is a cult-classic family sitcom for American households that many still watch today. Representing the essence of family, "Full House" showed all sides of it, good and bad — and no matter what the problem was, the Tanners always found a resolution or life lesson by the time each episode's 20 minutes were up.
Fans of the show loved it for its authenticity, as well as the cast members who made being a part of a family relatable. The show ran for almost a decade, giving viewers the unique opportunity to watch the Tanner family grow up right before their very eyes. The show gained so much popularity, Netflix decided to do a reboot with the original cast members (apart from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) called "Fuller House," which also became a hit.
In real life, however, the "Full House" cast members weren't always like the family-friendly characters they portrayed on screen. Many of them faced a good deal of hardships after the show went off the air, with some fans speculating that the show's conclusion may have actually served as the catalyst. Let's take a look at some of the tragic scandals of the "Full House" cast.
Dave Coulier, John Stamos, and Bob Saget once did whippets on set
In 2014, Bob Saget released a memoir titled "Dirty Daddy," sharing some shocking details of what happened behind the scenes while filming "Full House." One such revelation was the fact that he did whippets — a dangerous way to get high by inhaling nitrous oxide — with his co-stars John Stamos and Dave Coulier, per The New York Post.
While waiting for Michelle (portrayed by both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) to finish up a scene, Saget recalled feeling so bored he had the bright idea to get high from cans of whipped cream, which were intended as props. Saget wrote, "Dave and John followed my lead and we inhaled the little bit of air still left in the cans that were meant for Michelle's birthday cake scene." Interestingly, he wasn't even completely sure if they did get high, as the trio "were in a hurry and whipped cream started squirting everywhere."
Bob Saget often made inappropriate jokes on set
In an interview with SiriusXM, Bob Saget shared that he, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier would often joke around on set and do pretty obscene things with each other to get a laugh. One particular instance Saget shared was the time he pretended to perform sexual acts on a doll meant to be a stand-in for his character's daughter, Michelle. Saget noted that the four-foot rubber doll even looked like a child to resemble her.
As Saget recalled, when the child actors were off-set between takes and there were only adults around, he performed sexual acts on the doll, which he said made everyone in the room burst into laughter. However, what he didn't know at the time was that the child actors who were in their classroom off-set had a monitor inside where they could see everything happening on set — which prompted one of the production crew to come down to the set and ask Saget to stop.
In an appearance on Conan, Saget talked about the time the cast did a live show in front of a studio audience. The episode in question featured a donkey which, as Saget described, was "excited" during the show. In the scene featuring the donkey, it was originally called Eeyore, but Saget dubbed it "Pepper Mill" to make light of the situation while among young children.
Bob Saget had a very controversial standup routine
Contrary to the family-friendly image he portrayed on "Full House," Bob Saget had quite a raunchy and twisted sense of humor. His standup jokes were mostly explicit, involving sex, drugs, and even pedophilia — all of which, as one could imagine, would easily get him "cancelled." One example was the joke he made in a 1984 set at Rodney Dangerfield's club."I'm a happy guy, because I got married," Saget says. "Married my girlfriend of seven years. That's her age. I'm going to jail."
Saget did standup shows from 1979 up until the very night of his passing. Even after decades of performing, it was evident that he enjoyed his craft. In an interview with News4Jax, Saget commented on his routine, saying, "I really love doing standup now more than I ever have. I just want to make people have a good time and have a good night out."
After watching his last show at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Florida, audience member Doug Nickels recalled Saget being in high spirits and very upbeat. He described Bob Saget as feeling "very humbled by the fact that so many people were there to see him" (per E! News).
Mary Kate was treated for an eating disorder in 2004
In the early 2000s, Mary-Kate Olsen's drastic weight loss became a huge topic of discussion, which many speculated was because of an eating disorder. In 2004, just after graduating high school, her father and therapist gave Mary-Kate an intervention, and she shortly entered rehab for treatment.
According to People Magazine, a close source of the family stated that the Olsens felt an urgent need to take action, as "they didn't want to find [Mary-Kate] dead on the floor from not eating." When this news first broke, Mary-Kate's rep Michael Pagnotta commented, "This is a challenge that Mary-Kate has made a decision to face."
The year 2004 also marked the end of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's joint acting career, with the last film they starred in together being "New York Minute." In 2012, the twin sisters made a rare appearance in an interview, discussing their decision to leave acting behind. "It doesn't mean I'm not interested in Hollywood," Ashley told Elle UK (per ET Online). "But if I ever get back in, it's not going to be as an actress."
If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).
Jodie Sweetin struggled with drug and alcohol misuse
Child star Jodie Sweetin, known for her role as Stephanie Tanner, developed a drug and alcohol habit at a young age, which later led to excessive use. According to her book titled "Unsweetined," Sweetin started experimenting with soft drugs and alcohol in high school, then got into harder drugs as she grew older – cocaine, Ecstasy, and eventually, meth (per Today).
Sweetin reportedly spent over $60,000 on drugs during a nine-month period between 2006 and 2007. In her book, she admitted to faking the time she first entered rehab when she was still using drugs. During this period, she was giving drug awareness lectures and interviews, and enjoyed the career opportunities that followed. However, she admitted feeling like a fraud and putting the money she was making toward drugs.
According to Sweetin, her sobriety truly began in December 2008, after being investigated by child services for driving under the influence with her daughter Zoie. "I made some really poor choices," she told the Today Show's Matt Lauer. "But now I'm almost a year clean and sober and I hope that [Zoie] will never have to see some of the things I did before."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
John Stamos got a DUI in 2015
In 2015, John Stamos received a DUI for drunk driving in Beverly Hills. According to Pop Sugar, BHPD officers pulled the actor over after receiving many calls in the area. After the incident, paramedics escorted him to a hospital. Just a month later, Stamos entered rehab, and was then sentenced to three years probation. "I thought I was fooling everybody," Stamos said, adding that rehab was "the hardest thing ever" for him.
The event became a huge wake-up call for him, which led to his sobriety journey. In an interview with CBS News, he admitted that there was a dark period through his sobriety. "For the longest time when I was not sober, or I was fuzzy, I thought 'I've done it all.' I don't — I wouldn't — I don't want to kill myself, but I didn't care if I died," he stated, adding that he no longer sees things this way.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The Lori Loughlin college admission scandal
In 2019, Lori Loughlin made big headlines after being caught in a college admission bribery scandal. According to reports, Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli bribed a college coach at the University of Southern California with $500,000 to ensure their two daughters, Oliva and Isabella, were accepted into the school as athletes on the rowing team — a sport which neither of their daughters actually played (via Buzzfeed News).
It was later revealed that Loughlin staged rowing photos of the two daughters for their college applications by showing them pretending to row with rowing machines. In an email, William "Rick" Singer, described as the "ringleader of the college admissions scam," suggested to the couple that they should get "a picture with [Isabella] on an ERG in workout clothes like a real athlete too."
This scandal came at Loughlin's expense, virtually costing the "Full House" star her career. Hallmark immediately ceased their working relationship with Loughlin after the news broke, as confirmed by the company's official statement (per The Hollywood Reporter). Netflix also cut ties with Loughlin, just before the last season of "Fuller House."
In 2020, Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison, while her husband was sentenced to five, for their participation in the scam. At a court hearing, Loughlin apologized for her actions. "I am truly, profoundly and deeply sorry, and I need to face the consequences and make amends," she said, as Reuters reported. Loughlin also admitted that she "helped exacerbate existing inequalities in society generally and the higher education system for specifically."
Candace Cameron Bure had an internet feud with Jojo Siwa
In 2022, Jojo Siwa posted a Tiktok video ranking celebrities she's met from nicest to rudest — with the latter being none other than Candace Cameron Bure. Although the since-deleted video did not give details as to why she thought Bure was rude, she later revealed to Page Six that it was because Bure turned her down for a photo op at the "Fuller House" premiere. "I was 11, and I was a big, big fan, and I wanted to take a picture with her, and it wasn't a good time for her."
In an Instagram video, Bure told followers she got in touch with Siwa to understand what happened, and likely to make amends as well. "She said, 'I had come up to you and said, 'Can I have a picture with you?' and you said to me, 'Not right now.' And then proceeded to do what you were doing and take pictures with other people on the red carpet.'" Bure then expressed regret over breaking Siwa's young heart, adding that she felt "crummy" about it.
This wasn't the end of the celebs' feud, though. Later that year, Siwa took to Instagram to discuss Bure's decision to work with GAC Family. For background, Bure told the Wall Street Journal that the network would not feature same-sex couples in its Christmas movies. "Honestly, I can't believe after everything that went down just a few months ago, that she would not only create a movie with intention of excluding LGBTQIA+, but then also talk about it in the press," Siwa captioned the post. "This is rude and hurtful to a whole community of people."
Bob Saget's death still remains a mystery
Many were shocked when news of Bob Saget's death broke, mainly because he had no major underlying health issues the public knew about. The details authorities revealed about the tragic incident may have even resulted in more questions than answers, as during the night of his death, Saget reportedly seemed completely fine and even did his regular standup routine.
According to the official autopsy from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Saget's death was a result of accidental blunt force trauma to his head, which fractured his skull (per The New York Times). But exactly how this could have happened remains a mystery, leading many to speculate about the actual cause.
Per the autopsy, it could have been an accidental injury due to "something hard, covered by something soft" in the hotel room where he was found (per Rolling Stone). However, the report also revealed that there were no hard surfaces at the scene that could have caused it: "Most of the suite was carpeted. The headboard of the bed was lightly padded and set slightly out from the wall ... nothing was located in the room that allows for a definitive conclusion."