The Hard Truth About Chase Chrisley’s Struggle While His Parents Were Behind Bars.
Chase Chrisley Opens Up About Turning to Alcohol During Parents’ Prison Time: “I Didn’t Know How to Process My Emotions”
After two years of heartache and public scrutiny, Chase Chrisley reveals how he spiraled — and ultimately found his way back — while his parents, Todd and Julie, served time behind bars.
A Family Torn Apart
For the Chrisleys, family has always been everything. But when the backbone of that family was taken away, 29-year-old Chase Chrisley found himself struggling to stay grounded.
Appearing on The Tamron Hall Show alongside his parents, Todd (56) and Julie (52), the Chrisley Knows Best star reflected on one of the darkest periods of his life — the two years his parents spent in federal prison for financial crimes.
“Our family’s really close,” Todd shared during the emotional interview. “When you lose the backbone of your family, there’s nothing that can prepare you for that.”
Chase admitted that while his family leaned on faith, forgiveness, and each other, he personally turned to something else. “Did I handle it the best way? No,” he confessed. “I learned a very valuable lesson — I really did.”
“I Just Didn’t Know How to Process My Emotions”
When Todd and Julie were indicted on federal charges of tax evasion, fraud, and conspiracy in 2022, Chase’s world began to unravel.
The couple was sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison — a devastating blow to a family that had built its life in the public eye. Todd and Julie would later be pardoned by President Donald Trump in May 2025, but by then, the damage had already been done.
“I just didn’t know how to process my emotions and how I was feeling,” Chase revealed to Tamron Hall. “I just turned to drinking.”
He described the loneliness and confusion that came with watching his parents face a very public downfall. “When everything you know gets taken away overnight, you either face it or you run from it. I ran — straight to the bottle.”
Todd’s Candid Reaction: “It Took a Mugshot”
Todd Chrisley, never one to shy away from honesty, admitted he wasn’t surprised his son struggled with alcohol.
“Well, I’ve never had alcohol,” Todd said. “So it’s never been around us.” He revealed that Chase had experimented with drinking as a teenager, and despite his warnings, the problem persisted.
“I told him, ‘You need to stop with this drinking. There’s no good to come from it.’ But it took a mugshot for him to realize that maybe daddy was right.”
Todd was referring to Chase’s arrest earlier this year for simple battery after an alleged bar altercation. The incident, Todd says, became a wake-up call.
Chase agreed. “I’ve always had to learn the hard way — and this was no exception,” he said, his voice steady but reflective.
Finding Redemption and Recovery
Now, Chase says he’s sober and healing, choosing to face his emotions rather than bury them. The audience on Tamron Hall applauded as he shared that he’s committed to personal growth and staying on the right path.
“It’s been a process,” he admitted. “But I know who I am now. I know what matters.”
In a recent episode of the Chrisley Confessions podcast, Todd vowed to stand by his son no matter what.
“I’m not going to ever walk away from one of my kids,” Todd said. “When Chase is down or struggling, I’ll be there. I’m not losing my child to anything.”
A Hard Lesson, A Stronger Family
For the Chrisleys, the last few years have tested everything — faith, loyalty, and love. Yet, sitting together again as a family, there’s a shared sense of gratitude for a second chance.
Todd and Julie’s pardon may have closed one painful chapter, but Chase’s journey reminds fans that healing is ongoing. His openness about addiction and emotional struggle offers a powerful message of accountability and hope.
“Sometimes,” Chase said softly, “you have to fall apart before you can put yourself back together.”
