Although many had suspected it for a while, recent revelations have shown the public just how corrupt the US college system really is. With stars Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman facing real jail time over their alleged fraud attempts to get their kids into prestigious colleges, people are finally paying attention to how, exactly, students are making the cut.
Never one to shy away from controversy, it seems that rapper and entrepreneur, Dr Dre, has recently thrown some fuel on the fire. He posted what some are seeing as a rather incendiary picture to his Instagram as he celebrated his daughter's acceptance to USC. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that he seemed to be throwing shade at Loughlin and Huffman, as his caption for the image boasted, "No jail time!!!"
However, some noted that although Dre wasn't part of any allegedly illegal activities, he had certainly helped his daughter out with her college acceptance - just in a slightly more subtle way.
College is a huge part of many people's life plan.
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Getting into the right school is often seen as a being a step in the right direction for a lot of young people; it can lead to more opportunities, including better career prospects and a better future as a consequence of that.For some parents, it can become and all-consuming need.
Getting their kids into a prestigious school can become an intense motivator for some parents - and there are a select few who will do almost anything to get what they want.And a recent scandal proved that some of these parents are quite well known.
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Celebrities were revealed to have been allegedly partaking in fraud in attempt to get their children into the schools they wanted. One of the accused is Felicity Huffman, star of Desperate Housewives.The other high-profile name in the story is Lori Loughlin.
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Loughlin is best known for her portrayal of Aunt Becky on ABC sitcom Full House. Her daughter, Olivia Jade Giannulli, is a popular YouTube star.The scandal was investigated by the highest of offices.
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The FBI uncovered the underhanded tactics and broke the story of what's being called one of the biggest scandals of the year so far.As you may expect, the internet went wild for the story.
Rich buy their kids the "right" tutors, supports etc. to get the "right" colleges & big jobs. Sometimes they go fur… https://t.co/KYLIn4WSzc— Richard D. Wolff (@Richard D. Wolff)1552929240.0
Some were feeling a little smug when the story came out.
Me, knowing I worked my way into a university #collegescam https://t.co/fEnja0oOGo— Estevan Pena (@Estevan Pena)1552672610.0
People thought that the whole thing was also kind of funny.
Imagine working at the FBI and everyone around you is uncovering crimes by the President, and you get assigned to w… https://t.co/q8QQg4fZLd— Zack Bornstein (@Zack Bornstein)1552426953.0
Some made a very salient point.
Rich people use their money to scam and get their dumb kids into a good college?!?!?! #collegeadmissionsscandal https://t.co/sZAsnVeDgG— Sonny Trujillo Jr. (@Sonny Trujillo Jr.)1552437519.0
The scandal is emblematic of a wider problem.
While the #CollegeAdmissionsScandal gets the headlines, the real issue is all the systematic, legal ways that discr… https://t.co/2wEXEbwedE— Tricia Ebarvia (@Tricia Ebarvia)1552989335.0
Because people with money have pretty much always had an advantage.
Particularly when it comes to college admissions. Wealthy parents are able to "donate" to a school, which ultimately helps their children get into that school if they apply. This can be in the form of a lump sum of cash, or in paying for buildings to be built on campus!Legacy preferences are also something many take issue with.
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If you're the child of a particular school's alumni, you may end up being more likely to get in, regardless of any of your own merit, which is another way privilege can affect college admissions.And now another celebrity has stumbled into the scandal.
Andre Romelle Young, better known as Dr Dre, is a rapper, producer and entrepreneur. Alongside his impressive rap career, he's the founder of Aftermath records and Beats Electronics.Dre rose to fame as part of rap group N.W.A.
He's had some huge hits including "No Diggity," "Nuthin' But A G Thang," and "Deep Cover." In recent years, Dre has worked with Kendrick Lamar on songs for his 2012 smash album, "Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City."Dre has been the most recent participant in the college admissions scandal.
But not because of any alleged fraud. It seems that Dre has stumbled into the story by accident, with a potentially ill-thought-through Instagram post in praise of his daughter's college acceptance.He posted a snap with his eighteen-year-old daughter, Truly Young.
Beneath the picture, Dre wrote: "My daughter got accepted into USC all on her own. No jail time!!!"
Many saw this as Dre calling out those who have been caught up in the college admissions scandal, those that are facing jail time for their alleged discretions.Dre drew attention to the fact his daughter didn't have any help getting in
Dr. Dre celebrates his daughter getting into USC 'on her own' https://t.co/9Uu91scrsT https://t.co/zJA3w3SXV1— CNN (@CNN)1553513090.0
But post was pretty savage.
While some were quite excited to see Dre so proud of his daughter's accomplishments, others had a slightly different reaction.Some people pointed something out...
The caption was all very well and good - but how true was it, really, that Young had been accepted into USC without any of Dre's influence? Some pointed out that that isn't necessarily true.Because although Dre hadn't partaken in any bribing, exactly, there was still an exchange of cash between the star and the college.
And a rather large exchange, at that. So Dre's assertion that his daughter had been accepted to USC "on her own" may not have been entirely accurate.In fact, Dre had almost certainly helped to get his daughter in.
In the past, Dre had made such a large donation to USC (along with Jimmy Lovine) that the college ended up naming a building in their honor. The donation is reported to have been around seventy million dollars!Some pointed out the hypocrisy of Dre's post.
Some people thought that the post was a bit misleading, considering the indebtedness that USC undoubtedly feel towards Dre. We have no doubts that Truly probably deserves her spot at USC, but to claim that she was treated exactly as any other student at the college would have been, simply seems a little delusive.Some fans were pretty annoyed.
Just when you think a celebrity can't be a bigger asshole #DrDre says hold my beer #USC #collegeadmissionsscandal— Ulanda (@Ulanda)1553450828.0
Some drew attention to this fact.
All those black ppl struggling in Compton and Dr. Dre gave $70 million to USC 😳— Shashana 🇺🇸 (@Shashana 🇺🇸)1553436668.0
But it's not like this hasn't always gone on.
I don’t see the problem. He should have turned on full white mode and named her dorm after her. #DrDre @people #collegescam— Teroya: MOMSTER!™️ (@Teroya: MOMSTER!™️)1553449611.0
Because it's true, Dre will face "no jail time."
@yashar @drdre Dre is technically correct - his bribe was legal— Fletcher Cocquyt (@Fletcher Cocquyt)1553416981.0
Fans pointed out something else, too.
@yashar Going rate for a USC bribe was about $500,000, that’s chump change compared to the $70 million Dre donated.… https://t.co/xswmtzyvx4— bracerolegacy (@bracerolegacy)1553394801.0
Some thought the internet had missed the point of Dre's post.
You (a normie) see Dr. Dre bragging about his daughter getting into USC “on her own” and think he’s oblivious to th… https://t.co/rV1yaIiswB— kyle a.b. (@kyle a.b.)1553432521.0