Todd & Julie Chrisley's Son Claims Parents' Imprisonment Is 'Worse Than Them Dying'

Grayson Chrisley, the youngest son of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, has opened up about the pain and emotional toll caused by having his parents behind bars.

Grayson, who has spent most of his adolescence in the spotlight due to his family's reality show, "Chrisley Knows Best," recently spoke candidly about his challenges as his parents serve their prison sentences.

Read on for more details.

In a candid interview on his sister's "Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley" podcast, Grayson expressed his deep anguish, stating that having his parents incarcerated is "worse than them dying," per Page Six. The impact of their absence has left a profound void in his life, tearing at the fabric of his familial relationships.

While the legal proceedings have been highly publicized, little attention has been given to the emotional toll this has taken on Grayson and his older siblings, Savannah and Chase. In the interview, he talked about the struggle to cope with the reality of having his parents locked away, noting that the experience has made him "bitter."

"It's worse than them dying," he shared. "Because they're here, but they're not here. So it's just time that's being wasted. I'm saying, like, if they died, you cannot get any more time with them. So it's over."

He added, "There is always going to be a bitter part of you. There's no way around it. It's going to suck for as long as they're there."

Grayson also shared the emotional toll he experienced when visiting his jailed parents. Speaking candidly about his visits with Savannah, he described the weight he felt in his heart during the problematic encounters.

While Savannah shared that she feels "renewed" visiting them both in their respective cells, he shared the heaviness he experiences when stepping inside the prison walls. The reality of seeing his parents confined, separated from their family and the life they once knew, takes an immense toll on him. Grayson admitted that the visits leave him emotionally drained, feeling a weight on his heart that is difficult to put into words.

"Do you not try to see it from a perspective of like at least they're still here for you to hug and say I love you?" Savannah quizzed.

"Yes," he replied, adding that it was the "time limit" that he struggled with and felt like he had to do the visits every weekend.

The Chrisley family has been embroiled in legal troubles for several years, with Todd and Julie facing tax evasion, bank fraud, and wire fraud charges. In 2022, the couple was indicted on multiple counts and sentenced to 19 years in prison.

In January, Todd began serving his 12-year sentence at Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, while Julie started her 7-year sentence at Federal Correctional Institution and Federal Prison Camp Marianna in Florida. She will also serve a 16-month probation period upon her release from prison.

Last month, Grayson's sister, Savannah, divulged that Julie was having a "harder" time in prison than Todd and was "scared," although she noted that Julie might not be telling her the whole story.

"I think she's trying to shield us from many things. Because that's my mom," she said. "That's who she is."

On the "Unlocked With Savannah Chrisley" podcast, Grayson opened up about his romantic pursuit of Alabama Barker, the teenage daughter of musician Travis Barker.

Grayson left a flirty comment on Alabama's Instagram post: "We married she jus [sic] don't know it yet." His statement ended up being "the most liked comment under her post," spurring her to view his Instagram story "right after."

"I thought it was pretty funny," Grayson told Savannah. She was surprised, saying, "What a plot twist no one ever expected."

"That's what the comments said!" he retorted. "This is the crossover I never expected, but I'm here for it. I think it would be interesting."