The Untold Truth Of Lindsie Chrisley
Chrisley Knows Best alum Lindsie Chrisley is best known as the eldest daughter of real estate developer and master of snark Todd Chrisley. Fans got to witness their funny — and at times tense — dynamic play out on the USA Network series for five seasons before Lindsie left the show on a supposedly negative note.
Although Lindsie has since moved on to other ventures, like co-hosting a podcast with Teen Mom 2 star Kailyn Lowry, she can't seem to shake her family's drama and penchant for controversy. In fact, it seems like every other day one of Lindsie's relatives is dredging up the family's dark past for publicity. From claims that Todd abducted Lindsie as a child, to allegations of family strife, there seem to be many secrets about the Chrisley family waiting to be unearthed.
And to top it all off, Lindsie has had her own fair share of personal drama with her husband, Will Campbell. Not only has the couple struggled to keep their marriage afloat throughout the years, but Todd is still upset about their decision to elope. Yikes. But we're just getting started — This is the untold truth of Lindsie Chrisley.
Did Todd abduct Lindsie?
Most Chrisley Knows Best fans probably aren't aware that Todd Chrisley married his high school girlfriend, Teresa Terry, before he settled down with his current wife, Julie Chrisley. The exes wed in 1990 after a 19-year-old Teresa learned she was pregnant with Lindsie, and the two gave their best shot at married life before everything imploded in November 1994 over Todd's alleged abuse.
But Teresa, who is two years Todd's junior, claims their breakup took an especially dark turn when she tried to retain custody of Lindsie and the couple's young son, Kyle. Although Teresa was able to leave the couple's home with Kyle, she was supposedly barred from picking up a then 5-year-old Lindsie from Todd's parents. "I don't remember why Lindsie was there but when I went to get her he wouldn't let me have her," Teresa told the Daily Mail.
Ultimately, Teresa felt it was best to file a criminal complaint against Todd for "unlawful abduction," and Lindsie was eventually returned to her care. "It was hard but I did get her back," Teresa recalled to the Daily Mail. "She was gone about two months. She's old enough to remember."
As for Todd, he didn't take kindly to her claims, and he addressed them in very pointed tweet. "She can thank me later for that power bill she paid from that story of lies she sold & so can her cohorts," he wrote. Dang, tell us how you really feel Todd.
Her complicated adoption story
One of the most interesting tidbits about Lindsie Chrisley's life is her complicated adoption story. Here's what happened: Following Todd Chrisley's divorce from Lindsie's biological mother, Teresa Terry, in 1996, the exes struggled to agree on a permanent custody arrangement. After years of fighting and Todd's move from South Carolina to Atlanta in 2000, a judge granted the former spouses shared legal custody of Lindsie and her brother Kyle in 2002. The agreement stated Lindsie and Kyle were to go to school in Atlanta, and Teresa was to have the kids "three weekends out of four and for vacations and public holidays in every even year," according to the Daily Mail.
But per Teresa's account, Todd allegedly created loopholes in the agreement, and she didn't see Lindsie and Kyle very often. Subsequently, Lindsie eventually grew to view Julie as a mother. Todd explained to Zap2it (via Screener TV), "Lindsie came to Julie when she was 18 years old and told her she was the only mother that she ever had known, and would she ever consider making it legal? And Julie said, 'A piece of paper will never make me love you more than I l love you right now, but if it makes you feel better, then I will do it.'"
Even though the adoption was finalized, Lindsie admitted during an episode of her podcast Coffee Convos that she felt like an "outcast" in her family. "I always felt like something wasn't whole," Lindsie shared.
Her relationship with her mom is strained
It's always upsetting when family members feud, especially when the drama plays out in the public eye. Sadly, Lindsie Chrisley and Teresa Terry are in this exact situation, and it doesn't seem like their differences will be resolved anytime soon.
As we mentioned earlier, the pair's relationship took a turn for the worse when a then-teenage Lindsie went to live with her dad, Todd Chrisley, in Atlanta. Teresa claims Todd would prohibit Lindsie and Kyle from visiting her on weekends as punishment for bad behavior, a cycle which quickly spiraled out of control. Eventually, Lindsie felt disconnected enough from Teresa that she asked Julie to adopt her at 18 years old. And since then, it doesn't seem like the two have made any progress towards rebuilding their bond. Just ask Teresa, who admitted in a May 2014 interview with the Daily Mail that their relationship is "strained."
Although Teresa claimed at the time she would regularly send texts to Lindsie and gifts to her grandson, Jackson, it looks like those supposed peace offerings have gone unnoticed. As of this writing, it doesn't seem like Lindsie has spoken publicly about about her mother or shared a photo of her in a while.
Her marriage "disappointed" Todd
Although Lindsie Chrisley might seem like a goody two-shoes on the surface, the truth is she hasn't always lived life on the straight and narrow. Case in point: Lindsie married her boyfriend, Will Campbell, behind Todd Chrisley's back. In fact, Campbell didn't even bother to consult Todd before eloping with Lindsie in January 2012. Oops.
As one might expect, the hush-hush nuptials didn't sit well with Todd, who prides himself on his parenting. "I had a problem with the way the marriage started. Not just on Will's side but on my daughter's side as well. I don't' think that the marriage started out the way that it should have, and certainly not the way that a father would like to see a marriage start," Todd explained to E! News. "You know, a father has his dreams when he has a child or a daughter that a young man is going to come and knock on the door one day and say, 'Mr. Chrisley, I love your daughter so much and may I have her hand in marriage?' That never happened."
Todd went on to stress his disappointment in Lindsie's actions, adding: "Lindsie should have never condoned that kind of disrespect. I don't believe that people disrespect you unless you allow it." Hmm.
To play devil's advocate here, Lindsie was a legal adult when she married Campbell, and some might argue Todd's views are a bit outdated. To each their own.
Marriage problems after baby
It's not uncommon for couples to struggle in their relationship following the birth of a child, a phenomenon Lindsie Chrisley is all too familiar with. In a brief essay about parenting for TODAY, Lindsie admitted to "neglecting" her marriage after she and Will Campbell welcomed their son, Jackson, into the world in January 2013. "I feel like for a while your marriage changes — for me at least. I fell so in love with Jackson that I almost neglected my marriage in a way. Not on purpose, but out of the newness in our schedule, and us making Jackson our first priority ... ," Lindsie revealed.
Interestingly enough, the couple also argued a lot about Jackson's eating habits. "One element of our lifestyle that I refuse to budge on at all is diet. Almost everything that Jackson eats is organic," Lindsie shared. "I feel that with all of the additives and preservatives in food, organic is the best option out there for him. I've been in many arguments with his daddy over this."
The good news is these types of dilemma as come from a well-intentioned place — there's nothing wrong with putting your child first. Hopefully, Will and Lindsie have since worked out their parenting differences.
Her on-and-off marriage
In a disappointing turn of events, Lindsie Chrisley filed for divorce from Will Campbell in August 2016 because she had "outgrown the relationship." Lindsie said in an exclusive statement to People at the time: "He was my first love. We got together when we were 19 years old, and over time we grew separately in different directions instead of together. I feel like I've become more independent, I've come more into myself, I'm more confident with myself and I just don't feel that relationship gives me what I need anymore. I've outgrown the relationship. "
Lindsie went on to emphasize the two would remain friends for their son, Jackson, and she vowed to love Will "always and forever." It turns out Lindsie wasn't lying about the last part because she reconciled with Will sometime in January 2018. "When it came time for mediation for their divorce the two of them cancelled it, twice," a friend explained to Radar Online. "That's when they realized that they were still meant to be together and she withdrew the divorce papers this past summer."
The best part? The two are supposedly stronger than ever. "They have worked out their issues and live together with their son outside of Atlanta," an insider said. "They are best friends and love each other very, very much. Anyone who knows them knows this."
The real reason she quit Chrisley Knows Best
When Lindsie Chrisley left Chrisley Knows Best at the end of season 5, there was a lot of speculation about why she bid adieu to big paychecks and free publicity. Although it's fair to assume Lindsie's decision was motivated by filming logistics (she lives in Georgia while the series is filmed in Nashville, Tennessee), a production insider claims the blame lands squarely on Todd. Apparently, Todd was dead set on using Lindsie's divorce as a plot device in the show — something she didn't appreciate. "Todd used Lindsie's heartache for a storyline, and he did not care either way how she felt about it," a supposed source explained to Radar Online. "He did what he wanted to do, and in the end it ruined his relationship with his daughter."
While we're typically not quick to believe gossip, we've got to admit this theory makes sense. Lindsie probably wouldn't want her son to witness her marital strife unfold on national television, and she's a pretty private person overall. But the most compelling piece of evidence might be Lindsie's social media accounts — if you take a peek, you'll notice there isn't a shred of evidence she once starred on Chrisley Knows Best. In fact, as of this writing, Lindsie hasn't mentioned her famous family on the 'gram in a long time. We don't know about you, but we smell some burnt bridges.
She has her priorities straight
Out of all the Chrisley children, Lindsie Chrisley is arguably the most grounded one. Just ask Lindsie's biological mother, Teresa Terry, who doesn't think Todd's money and fame will change her in the long run. "I think Lindsie will always be okay, she's got a good head on her," Teresa explained to the Daily Mail.
But if you want further proof Lindsie isn't easily swayed by her family's recent riches, just take a look at her life post-Chrisley Knows Best. Instead of securing a spin-off show or some other high-profile project, Lindsie opted to start a parenting-centric podcast with Teen Mom 2 star Kailyn Lowry called Coffee Convos. The venture is almost completely behind-the-scenes (Lindsie has made brief cameos alongside Kailyn on Teen Mom 2), and it allows Lindsie to spend plenty of time with her son, Jackson. Lindsie's Instagram account, for instance, is chock full of snaps exclusively featuring Jackson, and it's easy to tell where her priorities lie.
Of course, it's always possible Lindsie will find her way back to the limelight one day. Fame can be tempting, after all.
Her family unit isn't as perfect as it is on TV
In the early seasons of Chrisley Knows Best, Todd made it his mission to present a strong and loving family unit for viewers. But the truth is the Chrisleys are far from perfect, especially where it concerns Julie's relationship with Lindsie.
A perfect example of this is when Julie snubbed Lindsie and her younger brother, Kyle, on Father's Day 2017, a slight that didn't go unnoticed by fans. To sum the drama up, Julie posted a sweet Father's Day message on Instagram featuring pictures of Todd with only her biological children: Chase Chrisley, Grayson Chrisley, and Savannah Chrisley. "Happy Fathers Day to you @toddchrisley From the first day I met you, you made it clear to me that you were a father first and foremost and I respected you then and sooo much more today. Thank you for being an amazing father to our children," Julie penned in a portion of her note.
Although the post might seem innocent and sweet on the surface, it's a bit strange Julie didn't think to include Lindsie or Kyle. Plus, let's not forget Julie adopted Lindsie years before the Father's Day message was shared. An insider dished to Radar Online about the odd situation: "All she ever really wanted was her perfect family with Todd, Savannah, Chase and Grayson. She pushed Lindsie away and she also was a big reason why Kyle left the show in the beginning."
Trouble with estranged brother Kyle
Some fans might remember Kyle — Todd's eldest son — as a bit troubled. In the first season of Chrisley Knows Best, Kyle's drug addiction issues came to light, and he eventually was fired from the show following a big fight with Todd in July 2013. Todd, who claims Kyle is bipolar, said of the blow up in an interview with E! News: "I didn't kick Kyle off the show. He refused to take his medication. He was hostile to the crew. He was hostile to other people on the show and you can't have that." Kyle countered his father's claims by labeling him a "snake" in a sit-down with the Daily Mail. Sheesh, talk about drama.
Unfortunately, it sounds like the fight trickled down to Kyle's other relationships because he doesn't talk to anyone in his family anymore — including Lindsie. "I do not talk to my family but I wish them nothing but the best," Kyle explained to Radar Online. I have moved on with my life I am just going to be the best father and husband that I can be ... "
How sad. Fingers crossed these siblings can reconnect one day, especially since they're both parents now.