Todd Chrisley Responds to Remarks on His Appearance Post-Prison

Todd Chrisley is convinced he has transformed after his prison stint for a crime he passionately claims he did not commit.

“We monitor social media comments. We see the articles that flood in,” Todd, 56, exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the premiere of The Chrisleys: Back to Reality on Lifetime this coming Monday, September 1. “People say, ‘Well, Todd doesn’t look like he’s ever been to prison.’ In another chapter of my life, I would have told the kids or Julie, ‘Oh, great! They complimented my appearance in an article.’ So, I take that as a positive.”

Nowadays, Todd questions why some are more fixated on his appearance rather than addressing deeper, more significant issues.

“Now I ponder, ‘Why are we focused on how I look? Why isn’t there more discussion on what I endured? On all the individuals still experiencing this today?’”

In January 2023, Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, began their prison sentences, totaling 19 years after being convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. (Both have consistently asserted their innocence.)

On May 27, both Todd and Julie, 52, received pardons from President Donald Trump, allowing them to reunite with their family, including Savannah, Chase, Grayson, and Chloe Chrisley.

“It’s hard to go through such an ordeal and not evolve, and it would actually be heartbreaking if you didn’t,” Julie shared with Us. “There are definitely moments when you gain new perspectives, when you react in ways you hadn’t before, all because of your experiences.”

While both parents take pride in how their children have navigated the last few challenging years, Todd particularly commended Savannah, 28, for stepping up as a guardian for Grayson, 19, and Chloe, 12, while their parents were incarcerated.

“She took the helm in caring for her younger brother and sister. She managed the family finances,” he detailed. “She fought every day to bring her mother and father back home.”

Savannah also faced heartbreak in September 2023 with the loss of Nic Kerdiles, who tragically passed away at 29 from a motorcycle accident.

Amidst her sorrow, Savannah pressed on and remained committed to her goal of reuniting her parents.

“She lost her former fiancé in a motorcycle accident, and who was there for her to lean on? I wasn’t there for her. … How could she be the same person?” Todd reflected.

As Lifetime gears up to provide a rare look into the Chrisley family’s life pre- and post-prison, Todd expresses pride in his children’s resilience.

“Looking at my children, I recognize that Savannah has a caring spirit,” Todd remarked. “When you raise a child, seeing qualities like that makes you realize, out of all the things I may have failed at, I definitely succeeded in that regard.”

The Chrisleys: Back to Reality premieres on Lifetime Monday, September 1, at 8 p.m. ET.