"Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" Cast and Creators Reflected on the College Admissions Scandal and the Show's Timely Message
The much anticipated debut of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists has been months in the making. However, as the cast shared during their most epic premiere party, the show's plot — which is centered on the mysterious, and deadly, secrets kept by students at Beacon Heights University — comes just as the entertainment industry grapples with the fallout from the recent college admissions scandal.
Mere days after news broke that Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were among 50 people indicted in a college admissions cheating scandal, members of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists cast noted the striking similarities between the IRL event and their show.
Speaking with Variety, actress Kelly Rutherford, the Gossip Girl alum who plays Claire Hotchkiss in *The Perfectionists, said, “We’re in a time right now where any form of corruption is being brought to the surface, from college to the environment." Freeform president Tom Ascheim also touched on the timing, saying, "The whole theme of the show is about the internal battle for children who have been made to feel that they’re supposed to be perfect. In truth, what we see in the college scandal is the externalization of that same feeling the parents have, which is tragic.”
The show's creator, I. Marlene King, pointed out how the show's fictional basis contributes to ongoing conversations surrounding the news that multiple parents had allegedly used bribery and cheating to get their children into prestigious universities.
"I hope that we can speak to people who feel like they have to be that person who gets into USC," she said. "There are thousands of great colleges in this country. If you feel like you have to get into one and cheat or your life is over? We’re about shining a light on the fact that that’s not how it needs to be. Young people need to learn that you can fail. It’s OK. You’ll pick yourself up and you’ll survive.”
The one major difference between the show and what's currently making headlines? As star Sasha Pieterse joked, "Nobody died."
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: The Perfectionists Premiere Party Looked Like an IRL PLL Episode
