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
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox News
32 minutes ago
- Fox News
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has been acting for almost 40 years and has portrayed many characters on the screen, but among the long list of films he has been in, most know him as Jack Sparrow from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on June 9, 1963, to parents John and Betty Sue. He moved to Florida and spent a lot of his childhood there. Before starring in movies, primarily as the dark and chilling character, young Depp was in a band called "the Kids." His music career extended later in his career as well, as he was in another band called the "Hollywood Vampires." Depp's past relationships were complicated to say the least, but his first known relationship was with Lori Anne Allison, a makeup artist. The couple moved to Los Angeles, where he got connected with Nicholas Cage, and his decades-long acting career began. His movie debut was in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" in 1984. Although he has been in a lot of popular movies like "Sleepy Hollow," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Sweeney Todd," he is most known for the character that he played for over 10 years, Captain Jack Sparrow. Johnny Depp played Jack Sparrow in five "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies from 2003 to 2017. His "Pirates" costars include Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. Depp has a net worth of $100 million (per Celebrity Net Worth), a long list of movies behind him and a long list of celebrity girlfriends, wives and proposals. After his divorce from Lori Anne Allison, he had relationships with many big Hollywood names, including Sherilyn Fenn, Jennifer Gray, Winona Ryder, Ellen Barkin and Kate Moss. After Moss, he had a 14-year relationship with with Vanessa Paradis. The former couple share two children together, a daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, and a son Jack Depp. In 2015, Depp and Amber Heard got married, but divorced in 2016. Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, implying that she was abused by Depp in 2018, and the two have been suing back and fourth since. The two took part in a very public defamation lawsuit in March and April 2022.


Fox News
33 minutes ago
- Fox News
Amber Heard
Amber Heard has acted in many television shows and movies including 'Aquaman,' and 'Criminal Minds.' Heard also had a lot of press around her very public relationship with now ex-husband, Johnny Depp. She was born on April 22, 1986, in Austin, Texas to parents Paige and David Heard. Heard, whose net worth is now $-6 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth losing the defamation trial to Depp, got her film debut in the movie, 'Friday Night Lights' in 2004. After that movie, she went on to work in many other films like 'North Country,' 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane,' 'Pineapple Express' and 'Zombieland.' She also had various television appearances in shows like 'The O.C,' 'Criminal Minds,' 'Californication' and 'Hidden Palms.' Some other films Heard was in during the earlier stages of her career were 'The Stepfather,' 'The Ward,' 'Drive Angry,' 'Syrup,' and '3 Days to Kill.' In 2011, Heard played Chenault in 'The Rum Diary.' She and Depp met during the filming of the movie. They were both in relationships at the time, but eventually started dating in 2012. The pair got married in 2015, but got divorced two years later. They have been in a huge legal battle since Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, implying that she was abused by Depp. After a six week trial in Fairfax, Virginia that millions tuned in to watch, the jury found that Heard had defamed Depp and awarded the actor $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive, which were reduced to $350,000 due to Virginia's law. Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages due to the statements made by Depp's attorney Adam Waldman. Heard owes $10.35 million to Depp, an amount that her lawyers have said she cannot afford to pay. Heard and her team have tried to appeal, but have been unsuccessful in their endeavors. One big role that the actress is known for is playing Mera, in 'Aquaman' with Jason Mamoa. She also plays the character in the 2017 'Justice League' and in 'Zack Snyder's Justice League.' She is in the 'Aquaman' sequel, 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' that is set to come out in 2023, even though her appearance in the "Aquaman" sequel has became controversial after the legal situation with her and Depp. Even though Depp was Heard's most public relationship, she has also been connected with painter and photographer Tasya van Ree in 2008, model Cara Delevingne, Tesla founder and billionaire Elon musk on and off from 2016-2018 and art dealer Vito Schnabel. She does however have a a daughter Oonagh Paige Heard, who was born via surrogate April 8, 2021.


Forbes
35 minutes ago
- Forbes
7 Contests For Free Summer Trips To Orlando, Hawaii And The Caribbean
Win a free travel getaway this summer for you and your family. Summer trips don't have to be expensive if you win one of these free travel contests and sweepstakes. From family vacations to Florida to couples-only, all-inclusive getaways, these offers could be your ticket to a much-needed vacation. They are all free to enter, and many include airfare and food and beverage credits. The resort is celebrating its 35th anniversary with three special vacation giveaways. Three separate Instagram contests are taking place this year to celebrate Grand Hyatt Kauai's 35th anniversary. Entering is simple: like the giveaway post on Instagram, follow the property's Instagram account @grandhyattkauai and comment on the post using the promotion hashtag #35YearsofAloha. Three lucky winners will receive a three-night vacation for two, complete with free breakfast, spa access, and waived parking and resort fees. Sandals Dunn's River opened in 2023. Between now and June 30, enter to win an all-inclusive getaway for two to the Sandals or Beaches Resort of your choice. All tips, taxes, gratuities and airport transfers are also part of the prize although airfare is not included. Among the resorts on the list are the newly opened Sandals St. Vincent and the Sandals Dunn's River, Jamaica, which opened in 2023. A roller coaster ride at Sea World Orlando Visit Orlando is offering four $250 flight vouchers on Frontier Airlines for the winner of this sweepstakes. The prize also includes a rental car and four nights at Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld with free admission to the park. A $100 food and beverage credit and free parking are also part of the deal. Be sure to enter before July 9 for your chance to win. The family pool at the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club Between now and the end of July, win a stay at the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club in Miami. The property is part of Marriott Bonvoy's Autograph Collection hotels. It's easy to enter the sweepstakes to win a two-night stay in an Ocean Tower Suite, a $200 food and beverage credit, and a beachfront cabana. An RV drives along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Through June 8, adventurous travelers have the chance to win the 'ultimate 2025 RV vacation getaway,' via a $2,500 Outdoorsy gift card. Entering the contest is free, and the winner can use the gift card to pay for the ideal RV to drive around the country. Also part of the prize: $2,000 in travel funds and a swag bag with goodies like water bottles and a travel hammock. Dubbed the 'Just Beyond Your Door Go RVing Adventure Giveaway,' the winner joins the 44 million other Americans that plan to take an RV adventure this summer, say experts at GoRVing. The winner will be announced on National Go RVing Day, June 14. Win the getaway of your dreams with this free contest. Win an all-expenses paid vacation from Tanteo Tequila to the destination of your dreams (yes, Tanteo is letting you pick where you go). Just in time for summer barbecue season, this giveaway has a free trip to Mexico as its grand prize, including airfare, hotel accommodations, spending money and free Tanteo-branded merchandise. The free-to-enter margharita-season contest lasts through the end of July. Animal cheetah wildlife safari drive in South Africa Author Simon Mustoe is celebrating his new book launch with a safari giveaway that is free to enter. Safari adventures are a bucket list vacation dream for many, but can be quite pricey. The prize includes roundtrip flights to Cape Town, a three-night stay in a Marriott Bonvoy family hotel, local tours, a two-night stay at the Inverdoorn Private Safari Lodge and cheetah educational tours.