Why Julie Chrisley Had To Work In Prison While Husband Todd 'Refused': 'I Did Hard Time'

Todd and Julie Chrisley continue to share more insights into their 28 months behind bars. 

The couple was granted clemency by Donald Trump in May following their 2019 conviction for bank and wire fraud and tax evasion. 

For the matriarch, the period behind bars entailed fending for her wants and changing her physical appearance. However, it was not the same for Todd. 

On the August 13 episode of “Chrisley Confessions 2.0 Podcast,” the couple, who were formerly convicted, revealed their contrasting experiences to their guest and longtime friend, Kandi Burruss. 

When “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum expressed that she couldn’t imagine the patriarch living in the detention facility, Todd cleared her doubts, stating he adapted to the situation well. 

"I ran my block," the businessman claimed as he described his facility as "a busted inner-city school camp." 

Julie, on the other hand, shared that it wasn’t a smooth sail for her. "I did hard time," Julie explained. "I adhered to the rules. Keep in mind, I was in a place where there was no air conditioning."

Burruss further questioned the pair about whether they engaged in labor like “picking up trash on the side of the road.” Todd clarified that he never participated in any, pointing out that he was only there to serve his sentence and not do chores. However, it was different for his wife.

“I did work, he didn't,” Julie recalled as Todd countered her, stating that he “refused.”

The mother of four then disclosed why she had to take a job, explaining it was to purchase her “body wash, shampoo, and makeup.” 

Julie worked at the commissary department, where inmates could buy items that the detention center didn’t provide. 

According to the TV star, the products were not from high brands, but were from other brands. She recalled the lifestyle she witnessed there, saying, "You would walk down the hall and somebody would have on fake lashes, fake hair, there was more weave in there.” 

While the 52-year-old reality star managed to tend to her body care, she was unable to cater to her hair adequately.

She explained that at the start of her sentence, she rocked blonde tresses with low-lights. Luckily, on getting to the facility, she met a fellow inmate who worked in the salon to help her.

Julie gushed about the lady’s work, saying her curls looked so good that they could be passed as though it was done outside. However, the lady was released, leaving Julie to take care of her curls herself using box dyes. 

The media personality admitted that she eventually gave up on taking care of her tresses, resulting in the gray roots and brunette locks fans spotted in her after-release photos. 

"You know what? I'm not going [to] color my hair anymore, Julie recalled her decision. I'm just going to let it grow."

After the couple was let out, and they were reunited for the first time, Todd was turned off by his wife’s appearance. As The Blast previously reported, Todd got candid about his first reaction after seeing his long-time partner was to run away. 

"I'm not going to lie, when I first saw you when I got out of that car, I started thinking about going back," the real estate investor candidly told his spouse during their conversation. 

Instead of acting on his first thought, the dad of five chose to “embrace” Julie as he believed it to be a temporary style. 

While Todd and Julie tell their prison stories, Todd has said that the phase of his life was not his worst fear.

Per The Blast, the investor revealed in a past episode of their podcast that the most frightening moment of his life was hearing of his spouse’s medical condition.

He said, "The darkest day of my life was when Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not the death of my father. It was that day."

Todd added that he would prefer life in the penitentiary over dealing with Julie’s diagnosis. According to him, jail opened him up to meeting amazing men.