The Chrisleys spun a tale of unjust witch hunts. Reality TV fans know the truth.
Donald Trump has been called a 'reality television president' so many times by his detractors (or the detractors of reality television), it no longer feels clever. Or even much of an insult. Still he appears to be doubling down on that reputation after pardoning Todd and Julie Chrisley, the stars of the long-running and shockingly popular USA Network reality show 'Chrisley Knows Best.' (USA Network is owned by NBCUniversal, MSNBC's parent company.)
The couple's lawyer, Alex Little, in material he prepared for the Justice Department asking for a pardon, said their conviction 'exemplifies the weaponization of justice against conservatives and public figures, eroding basic constitutional protections.'
While Little would disagree, I don't think we're looking at a witch hunt here. Indeed, as any scholar of the reality television arts and sciences will tell you, the Chrisleys are actually late to a well-established trend.
'Chrisley Knows Best' centered around Todd Chrisley, a 'flamboyant' Southern real-estate mogul who was always hounding his children and freaking out when things didn't go his way. The producers were clearly working to create a sitcomlike vibe, but less in the mold of 'Friends' and more like the old three-camera series starring men such as Jim Belushi or Kevin James as underappreciated, breadwinning heroes with inexplicably hot wives.
The show ran from 2014 to 2023 and also included a separate spinoff on E! (E! is also owned by NBCUniversal.) It only ceased production because the principal characters became indisposed, and by 'indisposed' I mean that they were sent to prison.
The Chrisleys, unlike their sitcom counterparts, were conspicuously wealthy rather than working class. The proud owner of a very American McMansion, they made most of their money buying, selling and flipping similar homes in suburban environments in Southern states. The lavish lifestyle, however, was not entirely legitimate. In 2022, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to seven for their involvement in a tax and mortgage fraud scheme that predates the premiere of their show in 2014. The show itself made them plenty of money, and the couple was also convicted of trying to hide that income from the IRS and skipping out on nearly $500,000 in back taxes. (Julie's conviction was vacated on appeal in 2024 after a judge decided prosecutors did not tie her specifically to the very first year of the bank-fraud scheme.)
Prosecutors proved the couple had bilked Atlanta-area banks out of $36 million by applying for mortgages with fake documents, not repaying loans, and taking out false loans just to repay the old false loans. They used that money on a classic reality TV smorgasbord — designer clothes, exotic cars and flashy trips. But the self-made element of their wealth was always an important part of their brand.
The other part of Todd's brand is flamboyance. His love of fashion and Botox has long made him the subject of rumors about his sexual orientation — rumors that he always shut down. His affect is sort of like if Snagglepuss and Charles Nelson Riley had a gay child through surrogacy.
It was always a weird conceit that seemed to contrast with the show's more traditional 'family values' themes and fan base. Indeed, leveraging that conservative base and deploying the Trumpian language of victimhood that may have helped secure the Chrisleys their pardon. It's no coincidence that Savannah Chrisley, the couple's daughter who is featured prominently in the show, argued in prime time last summer at the Republican National Convention that her family was targeted by 'rogue prosecutors.'
In reality TV fashion, the truth is less exciting. Reality television attracts extreme personalities because that is what pops on camera and connects with fans. Extreme personalities do extreme things — and that sometimes means breaking the law.
The television age we're currently experiencing was arguably ushered in by the runaway success of 'Survivor' in the summer of 2000. Richard Hatch, who is gay, took home the inaugural $1 million prize. In 2006, Hatch was sentenced to 51 months in prison for not declaring his winnings to the IRS. Post prison, he appeared on 'Celebrity Apprentice.'
'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Teresa Giudice was also on 'Celebrity Apprentice' in 2012 — only to be fired by Trump himself. Like the Chrisleys, she and her husband, Joe, were known for spending money freely, including dropping $120,000 on furniture in the show's pilot episode. Teresa paid in cash. In 2013, she and Joe pled guilty to mail, wire and bank fraud for taking out loans with fraudulent documents, also much like the Chrisleys. Teresa got 15 months in prison (but only served 11) and Joe served 41 months.
Since the Italian-born Joe never became a naturalized citizen, he was scheduled to be deported in 2019 during Trump's first term. Teresa and Joe said they never formally asked for a pardon from the then-president, the couple's eldest daughter, Gia Giudice, set up a Change.org petition to 'request that our President, Donald J Trump review our petition and pardon my father.' The pardon never came. While Trump might have some sympathy for people who commit loan fraud, after all, a New York judge did find Trump and the Trump Organization had committed civil fraud. But he shows very little leniency for illegal immigrants.
In 2022, 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Jen Shah pleaded guilty to wire fraud and is serving out a 6½ year sentence, though it's been repeatedly shortened. The estranged husband of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Erika Jayne was convicted of fraud last summer. (She has not been accused of any involvement in the fraud and denies all wrongdoing.) Peter Thomas, who was on 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' when he was married to star Cynthia Bailey, just pleaded guilty to not paying his taxes.
But Trump likely guessed he could use the Chrisleys and their story unlike, say, Jen Shah's tale of woe. This pardon sends a message to MAGA world: Yes, the deep state is out to get you and other hard-working, God-fearing Americans. Or at least it was under President Joe Biden. And the only person who can stop the injustice is President Donald J. Trump. With a swipe of his overworked pen, Trump not only freed Todd and Julie — he might have also gotten their show back on the air.
This narrative, like so many of the canned storylines on 'Chrisley Knows Best' is an illusion. Not that it matters to Trump's fans. There's no nefarious plot here; that would be more interesting. Law enforcement agents aren't targeting reality TV stars, they're just following the evidence. And sometimes that evidence is beamed directly into millions of homes across America.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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Yahoo
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- Yahoo
Todd Chrisley admits he got special treatment in prison over Black inmates: 'We know why I wasn't denied that'
Todd Chrisley is speaking out about the injustices he says he witnessed while incarcerated. The former Chrisley Knows Best star, who was released from prison on Wednesday following a pardon from President Trump, discussed his experience at Pensacola Federal Prison Camp during a press conference on Friday. "I have met some wonderful men. I have listened to some horrific stories about things that have gone on in our system," Chrisley said. "I will continue to fight for all of the guys that I dealt with and that I was blessed to be with at FPC Pensacola. I will continue to expose the injustices that go on there and throughout the Bureau of Prisons." Chrisley went on to claim that the alleged injustices he witnessed were racially motivated. "Being in the prison system, anyone that says that it's a fair shake — it's not," he said. "Because I dealt with young African-American males in the prison that I was in that were not treated the same." The reality star implied that he was afforded better treatment than Black inmates due to white privilege. "They were denied programming. They were denied access to certain things," he said. "I was not denied that, but we know why I wasn't denied that. And so I think that that is a much bigger picture that we all as a society as a whole need to look at: that we are one." A representative for Pensacola Federal Prison Camp did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment. Chrisley's daughter, Savannah, also appeared at the press conference and said that her family members would dedicate themselves to fighting for prison reform. "We're gonna be in D.C., and Mom and Dad are now along for the ride, because we're not leaving those men and women behind," she said. "There's too much work that needs to be done. There's too much reform that needs to be done." Todd Chrisley and his wife, Julie, were indicted in 2019 for bank fraud and tax evasion, and were eventually convicted in 2022 and sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison. They have maintained their innocence during and after their conviction. At the press conference, Chrisley suggested that his conviction was an example of the flaws in the justice system. "Even though this pardon has happened, I still was convicted of something that I did not do," he claimed. "It could be you. It could be any of you. And somewhere in this room, someone has had a family member who has been affected by this system. I understand the shame that's around it, but I refuse to feed into that because shame is like a cancer that just spreads, and I have no shame."The Chrisleys are set to return to the small screen in an untitled Lifetime reality series, which Savannah said had wrapped filming prior to the pardon but resumed once her parents were freed. While Todd's son, Chase Chrisley, said that he wasn't sure if his parents would want to be involved in future TV endeavors, the family's patriarch implied that he and Julie would appear on a new show in some capacity at the press conference. "We're blessed to have our family back, and we're blessed to be coming back to television, because we do have a much bigger story to tell than we ever have," Todd Chrisley said. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Buzz Feed
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an hour ago
Hegseth reassures allies that US will support them against Chinese aggression
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed in a speech in Singapore on Saturday that the United States will continue to support U.S allies in the Indo-Pacific region against Chinese aggression as he warned that Chinese military action against Taiwan could be "imminent." Hegseth made his remarks in a speech at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, which is organized by the International Institute for Security Studies and is a high-profile gathering of regional and international security leaders. His remarks laid out how the Trump administration sees the Indo-Pacific region as a "priority theater" and how the U.S. is prepared to stand by allies in a region where China continues to carry out aggressive military actions, particularly against Taiwan and the Philippines. "We do not seek conflict with Communist China. We will not instigate nor seek to subjugate or humiliate," Hegseth said. "President Trump and the American people have immense respect for the Chinese people and their civilization, but we will not be pushed out of this critical region. And we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated." In recent years China has invested heavily in building up its military and increased its naval and air presence around Taiwan, engaging in almost daily harassment of Taiwan's borders -- raising concerns that it is preparing to retake by force the island nation it considers a breakaway province. "Nobody knows what China will ultimately do," said Hegseth. "But they are preparing and we must, therefore, be ready as well. Urgency and vigilance is our only option." "We are preparing for war, to deter war — to achieve peace through strength," Hegseth added. "And we look to you — our allies and partners — to join us in this important work. Our time is now. The threats we face will not wait. Nor can we." "To be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world," said Hegseth who stressed that China may be ready to act sooner than the 2027 deadline that China's President Xi Jinping had set for China's military to be prepared for possible action against Taiwan. "There is no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent -- we hope not, but it certainly could be," said Hegseth. China has also increased tensions with the Philippines where Chinese military vessels regularly harass Philippine ships operating in the international waters of the South China Sea as it continues to assert its territorial claims in the region. Relations between the U.S. and China have also soured following Trump's announcement of steep tariffs on Chinese imports that led China to announce reciprocal tariffs. Both sides have since entered into a shaky temporary agreement to lower their tariffs. In his remarks, Hegseth said the Trump administration was pursuing a "common sense" approach to reestablishing deterrence that includes increasing the U.S. military presence in the western Pacific, "helping allies and partners strengthen their defense capabilities, and by rebuilding our defense industrial bases." Hegseth encouraged Asian countries to follow the example of NATO nations that have made commitments to increase their military spending to 5% of their gross domestic product as the Trump administration has stated that it wants them to take more ownership of their security commitments in Europe. "President Trump and I will be counting on you in this room -- our allies and partners -- to be force multipliers of peace alongside the United States," Hegseth said. "We ask — and indeed, we insist — that our allies and partners do their part on defense." He added, "Sometimes, this means having uncomfortable and tough conversations. Partners owe to it to each other to be honest and realistic. This is the essence of a pragmatic, common-sense foreign policy." Hegseth emphasized that the administration's approach does not mean that America's allies will have to go it alone in potential military actions. "You will also see that we are -- and will remain -- loyal to our allies and partners. In fact, the only way to ensure lasting alliances and partnerships is to make sure each side does its part," he said. Hegseth added, "We will stand with you and beside you to deter Chinese aggression," said Hegseth. The forum is sometimes an opportunity for high-level meetings between top U.S. and Chinese defense leaders during times of rising tension. But in an apparent snub, China's defense minister did not attend this year's forum and instead China was represented by a delegation from its National Defense University. "We can't account for whether or not China is here or not, but we're glad we are, and we think it makes the region more stable and more peaceful," Hegseth told reporters when asked to comment on China's decision. China's rising aggression in the region has been a major topic of the conference that included an opening address by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been touring of Southeast Asian nations to stress France's role in the region. On Friday night, Hegseth sat in the audience as Macron stressed the importance of a new alliance between European and Asian nations to avoid becoming "collateral victims of decisions made by superpowers" -- a reference to the United States and China. Macron cautioned against a loss of credibility for the international-rules based order if it is applied differently by the U.S. with regard to China while it attempts to resolve the war in Ukraine by allowing Russia to keep seized Ukrainian territory as the Trump administration has proposed. "If we consider that Russia could be allowed to take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any constraint, without any reaction of the global order, how would you phrase what could happen in Taiwan?" Macron said. "What would you do the day something happens in the Philippines?"
