In early 2008, Lusha sparked controversy due to her character's portrayal of a teenage girl who engages in sexual activity with an adult male character in a 1930s-era storyline. Many viewers of the show voiced their disapproval of the storyline, claiming it to be inappropriate due to the age of the character and actress at the time of the episodes' original broadcast. Disney Channel received many complaints from parents and advocacy groups, resulting in the removal of the episodes in question from the network's programming schedule.
Departure from the show and aftermath
After completing the third season of George Lopez in 2007, Lusha's character was written out of the show with no onscreen explanation or future mention in subsequent episodes. Lusha has cited the creative direction of the series as well as her pursuit of other professional opportunities as reasons for her departure. It is unclear if her departure was influenced by the controversies surrounding her character's portrayal.
Following her departure from the series, Lusha pursued a variety of projects in the entertainment industry, including acting, writing, and modeling. She has appeared in several films and television shows, including Blood: The Last Vampire (2009), Cherry (2010), and Anger Management (2012), and has collaborated with various charitable and humanitarian organizations.
Lusha has also had success in the fashion industry, appearing in campaigns for brands such as Bebe, and launching her own fashion line, Marimbela, in 2008. She has also been involved in entrepreneurship and business, co-founding a digital media company called The Catalyst Lab in 2015.
In 2020, Lusha publicly shared stories of alleged sexual abuse and harassment she experienced during her early acting career, as well as her struggles with mental health and addiction. The allegations against her former manager have become the subject of a legal case, and Lusha has expressed a commitment to advocating for victims of sexual abuse and raising awareness about mental health issues.