Over the past decade or so, reality television families have reigned supreme. From the Kardashians to the Irwins and the Duggars, these families allow us an access-all-areas pass into their unique lives. And since 2014, many fans across the world have fallen in love with the Chrisleys. Real estate mogul and “dadager” Todd Chrisley has shown off his family in Chrisley Knows Best, but this hasn’t always worked in his favor.
While there’s no doubt about the fact that Todd Chrisley has capitalized on the fact that fans can’t get enough of his family, it seems as though he’s got more than he’s bargained for. From family feuds to million-dollar lawsuits and relationship rumors, the Chrisleys’ business will never be secret again. But if you’ve got lost in all the drama, here’s a recap of all the controversies the Chrisley family has found themselves in over the years.
Todd Stopped Speaking to Lindsie and Her Ex-Husband When They Eloped Without Telling Anyone
It’s no secret that Todd Chrisley and his eldest child, Lindsie, have had their fair share of problems over the years. Apparently, this all started in January 2012 when Lindsie eloped with her now ex-husband Will Campbell. At the time, Todd was furious. Not just because they eloped… but also because Will didn’t ask Todd for his approval.
Todd even made it clear to the press that he wasn’t happy. He told E! News that Lindsie “should have never condoned that kind of disrespect… I had a problem with the way the marriage started. Not just on Will’s side but on my daughter’s side as well. I don’t think that the marriage started out the way it should have, and certainly not the way that a father would like to see a marriage start.”
Kyle Accused His Father of Stealing His Daughter Because “It Would Be Good for His Demographic”
Kyle Chrisley has struggled with multiple demons over the course of his life. However, it seemed as though his life changed for the better when he welcomed his daughter Chloe into the world with his ex-partner Angela Johnson in 2012. For a few months, Kyle and Angela were the perfect family. Then, Kyle was arrested and charged with assault – leaving Chloe in the shared custody of Angela and Todd Chrisley.
Kyle didn’t take kindly to his dad having custody of his daughter, stating that he “stole” his daughter because having her on their reality show “would be good for his demographic.” Todd denied these accusations and wrote on Twitter that “My son Kyle is bipolar, he suffers from mental illness, he will struggle for life.” Until recently, Todd and Julie had full custody of Chloe.
Lindsie’s Own Father Accused Her of Having Extramarital Affairs With Two Bachelorette Alums
In late 2016, Lindsie Chrisley was still married to her ex-husband – but that didn’t stop her father from accusing his daughter of cheating on him with fellow reality stars. To be more specific, Todd accused Lindsie of having affairs with former Bachelorette contestants Robby Hayes and Josh Murray. He told E! News that “We have tried to keep Lindsie’s extramarital relationships with Robby Hayes and Josh Murray private for her sake since August of 2016.”
Lindsie, Robby, and Josh all denied the accusations, and Josh Murray even went as far as to throw shade on the patriarch by speaking to E! News himself. He stated that “Lindsie and I have been friends for years. I know Todd and his family are going through some tough times right now and I pray everything works out in their favor. They should probably focus on how not to be imprisoned for 30 years rather than spreading gossip to try and hurt their daughter.”
Todd Has Been Accused of Having an Affair With His Male Business Partner
Rumors about Todd Chrisley’s marriage and sexuality have been flying around for years, and his former business partner has recently come out of the woodwork with claims that seem to back up these rumors. Mark Braddock used to work with Chrisley, and he maintains that they had a year-long secret affair in the early 2000s. He even claimed that the secret couple were forced to pay a blackmailer $38,000 after they threatened to expose their affair.
As if that wasn’t enough, Mark also admitted under oath that he committed bank fraud on behalf of his secret partner and Julie Chrisley herself. Not only did he forge fake documents and send them to banks, but he also reportedly sent correspondence impersonating Todd. Mark claims that Todd knew about everything and was involved in the whole process.
Kyle Told Good Morning America That His Father Would Brag About Not Paying His Taxes
During some of their many inter-family feuds, each member of the Chrisley family has said something scandalous about another member. In 2017, Kyle did this in front of millions on Good Morning America. During this interview, he claimed that his father would regularly brag about not paying his taxes. As Todd’s taxes have been the subject of much debate, this didn’t go down well.
However, in 2019 Kyle backtracked on his interview, stating that the interview was impacted by the narcotics he was taking at the time. He wrote on Facebook that “Everything I said in my interview was a lie. These allegations against my dad are all LIES! I can’t take it back so I’m telling you now, with a clear mind, my mom and dad have done nothing wrong! Today, I am sober. I am working, and I am at a good place in my life. I just want to fix what I’ve done wrong so that I am able to forgive myself.”
The Chrisleys Have Experienced a Terrifying Stalker Situation
While fame may equal fortune, it can also cause you trouble. The Chrisleys realized this for themselves in 2021 when they confessed on their podcast that the family was dealing with a terrifying stalker situation. To be more specific, the stalker was focused largely on Savannah, and reportedly purchased her number off the dark web in order to get close to her.
Todd explained more, stating that “We’ve been dealing with this stalker situation and it has now gone to another level. I mean to where we have 24-hour security. … This guy is a drug addict, he has been arrested multiple times … He’s gone to jail, I mean … he’s been in psych wards. You name it, he’s done it.” In the end, the family had a criminal warrant signed for the stalker.
Todd Hired a Private Investigator To Keep an Eye on Kyle at Work
Over the past decade or so, Todd Chrisley and his eldest son Kyle have had a complicated relationship. While they now seem to be in a good place, there was once a time when they weren’t speaking – and at one point they didn’t speak for three years. Since then, Todd has confessed that he went to extreme measures still to keep an eye on his son during this time.
While their relationship was broken, Kyle tried to keep a job down at UPS. And Todd confessed, “But what Kyle did not know in those three and a half years that he later found out is, was I really that far away? Folks, I hired a private investigator to watch him every week and send me photographs of my son in his uniform looking so handsome. I was so proud to make sure my child was OK.”
Kyle’s Ex-Wife Accused Todd Chrisley of Being Gay and Having Extramarital Relationships With Doctors
In 2014, Kyle Chrisley thought he had found the woman of his dreams in the form of Alexus “Lexi” Whilby. They tied the knot and even made music together, but their marriage didn’t last. After their divorce, Lexi came out of the woodwork with all kinds of claims about the family – including the claim that Todd Chrisley was not interested in women at all.
In a podcast, Lexi maintained that she believed Todd to be gay, and she even suggested that Todd would sleep with male doctors in order to get a proper mental health evaluation for his son Kyle. Lexi is not the only person to claim that Todd is interested in men, but the patriarch has simply laughed off these accusations in the past.
Todd’s First Wife Accused Him of “Abducting” Their Daughter
Before Todd Chrisley married his current wife Julie, he married Teresa Terry. The couple wed when Teresa discovered she was pregnant at just 19 years old, and they welcomed both Lindsie and Kyle into the world together. However, their marriage came to an end when Teresa accused Todd of abuse – and while they then continued to try to co-parent together, they struggled.
Teresa has claimed that their co-parenting efforts took a dark turn when Todd reportedly banned her from picking up a then 5-year-old Lindsie from Todd’s parents’ house. After two months without seeing her daughter, she filed a complaint against Todd for “unlawful abduction.” In response, Todd tweeted that “She can thank me later for that power bill she paid from that story of lies she sold & so can her cohorts.”
It’s Reported That Kyle Was Kicked Off the Show Due to His Narcotics Addiction Issues
Kyle Chrisley has not shied away from the fact that he has struggled with narcotics throughout his life, and he’s even spoken about this on their family reality show from time to time. But in July 2013, it was announced that Kyle would no longer appear on Chrisley Knows Best – and rumors of this drug addiction became even louder.
Rumors suggested that Kyle’s addiction became so bad he was kicked off the show, but his father denied this. Todd told E! News that “I didn’t kick Kyle off the show. He refused to take his medication. He was hostile to the crew. He was hostile to other people on the show and you can’t have that.” In a response interview with the Daily Mail, Kyle called his father a “snake.”
Lindsie Has Publicly Spoken to Fans on Social Media About Her Issues With Her Father
The Chrisley family is extremely active on social media. Whether it’s posting photos every day or gushing about their siblings or parents on special holidays, they’re always online. That’s why fans thought it was very telling when Lindsie celebrated Father’s Day in 2020. Although she honored her husband at the time, she made no mention of her father Todd.
When an Instagram follower commented and asked why she hadn’t posted about her father, she wrote back: “No, I didn’t. He didn’t bother to call me on any birthdays through college, or [recently] and hasn’t wished me a happy Mother’s Day once in 7 years. So I’m good, I can rest easy, sis.”
Now Todd and Julie Are Headed to Jail, Another Sibling Has To Step In and Take Custody
In 2022, it was announced that both Todd and Julie Chrisley would be going to jail for a combined 19 years. And while four of their children are adults and old enough to look after themselves with their parents behind bars, the couple are also parents to Grayson (16) and the legal guardians of their granddaughter Chloe (10). Now, we know who will look after them while they’re inside.
Savannah Chrisley has confirmed that she will be taking care of both children while Todd and Julie are in prison. She confirmed in an episode of her podcast that “[I’m] trying to navigate how you teach two younger children who aren’t fully developed yet and … get them to understand the circumstances.”
A Georgia Department of Revenue Investigator Is Suing Todd Chrisley for Defamation
Over the past few years, Todd Chrisley has found himself in hot water many times – and it seems as though his lawyers are working overtime. In 2021, Amy Doherty-Heinze, a former Georgia Department of Revenue investigator who investigated Todd and his wife for tax evasion, filed a lawsuit against Todd for allegedly defaming her on his podcast. He claimed that Amy “illegally” accessed the Georgia Crime Information Center.
Todd continued to speak negatively about the woman on social media, and after failing to retract his comments, she filed a second lawsuit against him in 2022. Both lawsuits are still pending, and it’s not known how they will play out now that Chrisley has been sentenced to almost a decade behind bars for tax evasion.
Lindsie Claimed in a Police Report That Her Father and Brother Were Attempting To Release Her Sex Tape
Lindsie Chrisley’s relationship with the rest of the family has often been so bad that she’s had to get the authorities involved. This was the case in July 2019 when she filed a police report against her father, Todd, and her brother Chase. She claimed that her family “were going to release [a] sex tape involving her.” According to reports, the tape allegedly also involved Bachelorette alum, Robby Hayes.
While Hayes claimed that he “did not make a sex tape,” he did suggest that they may have “got caught on [a] security camera.” Lindsie also hit back against the claims through her attorney, with her representative stating that the eldest Chrisley had “been a constant target of lies, harassment and threats from her family.”
Many Reports Suggest That Todd and Julie’s Marriage Is Completely Fake
Todd and Julie Chrisley have been married since 1996 and since built up an impressive family and business empire together. However, many sources close to the family have suggested that their relationship isn’t all as it seems – and it’s been suggested that their marriage is completely fake. In fact, an insider told Radar Online that their relationship is “made for TV.”
They continued by saying, “They do not display the same level of affection and love towards each other off-camera as they do when they are filming.” They’re not the only insider to say this, either. Another told the publication that “Things are very different between the two of them when the cameras are not rolling. It’s like night and day … Todd and Julie will never split. They both need each other to keep up this image that they have the perfect family.”
Todd Claims That Lindsie Fell Out With the Family Over Savannah’s Instagram Follower Count
Todd Chrisley is no stranger to speaking out about his family matters in the public sphere. He regularly talks about his family feuds in interviews and on podcasts, and that’s exactly what he did when asked about Lindsie’s estrangement from the rest of her family. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he stated that Lindsie fell out with them because she was bitter over her sister’s Instagram followers.
He claimed their feud “started out with Savannah having way more social media followers, and then [Lindsie] wasn’t getting enough time on [Chrisley Knows Best]. Lindsie wasn’t, at that time, willing to allow the cameras into her personal life. She wouldn’t tell the world anything. She is my daughter, and I love her. There was just some kind of emotional battle that Lindsie has had within herself and jealousy amongst her siblings.”
Todd’s First Wife Filed a Domestic Abuse Case Against Her Ex-Husband
To the world, Todd presents himself as a loving and generous husband. And while Julie Chrisley may think that, it’s fair to say that his ex-wife Teresa certainly doesn’t. The real estate mogul’s ex-wife has stated that “Most likely, we wouldn’t have married if I hadn’t been pregnant, but we did and it was a big deal.” And when they divorced seven years later, Teresa filed a domestic abuse case against him.
In this case, Teresa claimed that Todd had “battered” her while they were together. However, Todd denied all of these allegations that were put against him – and Teresa eventually decided to drop the case when their divorce was finalized in 1996. Since then, Teresa has continued to speak out, stating that “He likes to control his environment. That is one part of [Chrisley Knows Best] that is not fiction.”
Kyle’s Ex-Wife Reportedly Tried To Extort $20,000 From the Family
Kyle Chrisley’s marriage to Alexus “Lexi” Whilby seemed like a good one. They were together for a couple of years before they tied the knot, they forged a life together, and Lexi seemed to get on with the rest of the family. However, this all changed in 2014 when Todd Chrisley took to Twitter to tell his followers about Lexi’s reported wrongdoings.
In this tweet, Todd wrote: “Folks, Alexus Whilby tried to extort our family 4 20k or tell the press we r racist, we chose 2 keep the 20k and see her in court. #slander.” Lexi didn’t specifically respond to this tweet, but it seems as though Todd and his family didn’t choose to press this case any further either, as Lexi was not taken to court for this issue.
Lindsie Reportedly Left the Show Because She Thought Her Father Wanted To Use Her Marriage as a Plot Point
Fans of Chrisley Knows Best were upset when they learned that Lindsie would be leaving the show in 2017, and they couldn’t help but wonder why. However, sources behind the scenes suggest that this split had been coming for years – especially after Lindsie married Will Campbell in 2012. Their marriage was on-and-off and full of drama, and Lindsie had apparently had enough of her father using this to his advantage.
According to reports, Lindsie had a heated argument with her father when it was discovered that Todd was trying to use her turbulent marriage as a plot point for their show. In the end, she decided to leave the show – but some fans weren’t convinced. One person wrote on Twitter, “She’s a liar & just out to get her own show.”
The Chrisleys Filed for Bankruptcy in 2012, but They Were Accused of Hiding Assets
If you can make it in the real estate world, you can earn a huge amount of money. And fans of Chrisley Knows Best will know that Todd Chrisley has made a huge fortune from his real estate career – and he likes to show it off. The family certainly lives a luxurious lifestyle, and they did that even before their show aired in 2014. However, Todd filed for bankruptcy in 2012.
That year, he filed a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, and throughout the proceedings, he listed over $4.2 million in assets. Upon investigation, though, he owed almost $50 million. At the time, his lawyer stated that “He guaranteed a real estate development loan, and it failed. He was on the hook for $30 million. If he hadn’t had that happen, he would have been fine, financially… He has cooperated fully. He has been totally honest and forthright. He is not hiding assets.”
Savannah Was in an On-and-Off Relationship, and It Seems As Though They’re Fully Broken Up Now
Fans of the Chrisley family are always hoping that the children will settle down and find the loves of their lives, and it seemed as though Savannah had done just that in 2018. She started dating NHL player Nic Kerdiles, and within a year, they were engaged. However, the couple called off their engagement in 2020, stating that they had “moved too fast” and “needed to go back to dating.”
While the couple continued with their relationship and focused on being “more God-centered,” their love didn’t last long. Although it’s not known when they officially broke up, they’ve since gone their separate ways. In recent months, Savannah told Us Weekly that she’s now “focusing on me and I feel like that is the best way to go. And you know, it is what it is.”
Kyle Was Arrested in May 2019 for Drugs Charges and Terroristic Threats
Kyle Chrisley has been arrested on numerous occasions, and he faced even more legal troubles back in May 2019. He was arrested in Oklahoma when cops found narcotics in his car, and he was set to be charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. But that wasn’t all. At the time, he also had a warrant out for his arrest in Georgia.
The authorities were looking for him on account of the alleged death threats he had made against his ex-girlfriend Alexus Whilby. In the end, the district attorney decided to drop the drug charges, but he was charged with “terroristic threats.” He didn’t serve any jail time but was instead released on his own recognizance.
Todd and Julie Have Been Sentenced to a Combined Prison Sentence of 19 Years
The heads of the Chrisley household have been in the lurch for years. In fact, they were indicted on 12 counts of “conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion” in August 2019. During this time, they were accused of “evading nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016,” and authorities claimed that they had “concocted a scheme” in order to get the “money they allegedly used to fund a lavish lifestyle.”
The couple claimed that they had never done anything wrong, and they pled “not guilty” to all of their charges. However, they went to trial in May 2022, where they were found guilty. And when they were sentenced in November 2022, they were given a combined sentence of 19 years behind bars. As a result, their reality show was also pulled from the network.
Todd Was Called “Disrespectful” for Wearing Uniform Despite Not Serving
Todd Chrisley has been a real estate agent for most of his life – so fans were a little confused in 2020 when he took to Instagram to share a picture of himself with his granddaughter. Although he claimed that the post was to celebrate Chloe’s 10th birthday, fans didn’t rush to the comments section to wish her a happy birthday. Instead, they were outraged.
For some reason, Todd chose that day to wear a military-style uniform with lapels and a high peaked cap. He didn’t explain his outfit, and so fans felt the need to comment and call him out for his clothing choices. One angry fan even stated that it was “very disrespectful to wear a military uniform when you are [not] or never been in.”
Todd Offered Chase a Range Rover if He Got His Bible Verse Tattoo Removed
Chase Chrisley is just as religious as his mother and father, and the Bible is a huge part of his life. However, he angered his father in 2016 when he secretly got a Bible verse tattooed onto his ribs. Although he thought his father wouldn’t mind, Todd was fuming – and he wanted his son to get rid of it immediately.
In the end, the 19-year-old claimed that he was getting the ink removed because his dad promised to buy him a Range Rover if he did. He also stated that “‘But… the reason I got it taken off is I saw how disappointed my parents were, and I was just like ‘you know what, if it will make them happy, I’ll get it taken off.”
Kyle’s Father Once Forced Him To Take Weekly Drugs Tests
During season one of Chrisley Knows Best, the family didn’t shy away from the fact that Kyle had his struggles – especially with drugs and alcohol. In an effort to keep him on the straight and narrow, Todd decided to pull out all of the stops. Not only did he force Kyle to take random weekly drugs tests, but he also paid money to send Kyle to rehab.
It’s not known how much money Todd spent on rehab for his son, but he soon realized that his efforts were fruitless. According to TMZ, at one point he even told Kyle that “I had come to the realization that money wasn’t going to save you. You had to save you.”
Todd Was Called Out for His “Sympathy Card” Hospital Picture
In 2019, Todd Chrisley took to Instagram to share an update about his son’s life. He shared a photo of Kyle in a hospital bed with his family by his side, with the caption “NOT TODAY SATAN, NOT TODAY… God shows up and shows out, now won’t he do it? Kyle is great and we are back to the grind.” Although some fans were worried, others were quick to judge.
It was later confirmed that Kyle had had an adverse reaction to the medication he was taking. Because of this, many thought the photo was a way to take attention away from their court proceedings. It’s even been suggested that Lindsie shaded her father online, writing “Gah, flexing that sympathy card so hard. Keep reaching boo.” However, this has now been deleted.
The Family Have Since Had Their Television Shows Pulled From the Network
Considering Todd and Julie Chrisley’s upcoming jail time, it should come as no surprise to learn that we’ll be seeing much less of the family over the next decade or two. And while the 10th season of Chrisley Knows Best will reportedly still make its way onto our screens in 2023, it’s believed that this will be the final season. Alongside that, their other shows have been pulled.
According to Page Six, Growing Up Chrisley and Love Limo (a dating show that Todd Chrisley was supposed to be the host of) have both been canceled by the network. While this does leave their children in the lurch, it’s believed that the kids will continue to maintain their fame through their incredibly popular podcasts and their social media channels.
