Kyle Chrisley’s Tumultuous Journey: Addiction, Arrests & Life After ‘Chrisley Knows Best’
For more than a decade, fans have been keeping up with the Chrisleys through their hit reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best—but what about the drama happening off-screen? Todd and Julie Chrisley’s eldest son, Kyle Chrisley, has lived a far rockier life than what viewers saw on TV.
From battles with addiction and family estrangement to a string of arrests—including a recent 2024 aggravated assault charge that he insists was a false arrest—Kyle’s story is one of the most dramatic in the Chrisley clan. Here’s everything you need to know about Kyle’s past struggles, legal troubles, and what he’s been up to lately.
Who is Kyle Chrisley?
The world first met Kyle Chrisley during the first season of Chrisley Knows Best, which premiered over a decade ago in 2014. Kyle is the son of Todd Chrisley and his first wife, Teresa Terry, and was born in 1991. Todd remarried to Julie in 1996, when Kyle was about 5 years old.
Though he rose to fame, along with his family, he wasn’t often present in the series, having had a fallout with his father. Over the years, Kyle faced many hardships, including a drug addiction, multiple arrests and rehab, which may have led to his eventual estrangement from his father.
Kyle Chrisley’s hardships
In 2012, Chrisley and his ex, Angela Johnson, welcomed a daughter, Chloe. But due to Kyle’s first arrest in 2013, Todd and Julie were granted joint custody of Chloe, along with her mother. There isn’t any other information available about his arrest. In 2016, Todd and Julie received full custody of Chloe when Johnson was arrested “allegedly defrauding Medicaid and food stamps.” When Todd and Julie were arrested, their daughter, Savannah, received custody.
Kyle wed Alexus Whilby in 2014, though the couple was only together for about four years before their split. He was arrested for a second time, not long after, for possession of methamphetamine. A few months later, Kyle was hospitalized for an attempted suicide, which he explained later as a side effect of his bipolar medication.
It seemed Kyle was back on a good path when he met his current wife, Ashleigh Nelson, whom he married in 2021. But in 2023, he was arrested a third time for aggravated assault against his boss at the time.
Kyle’s aggravated assault charges
In 2024, Kyle was arrested once more on an aggravated assault charge; however, the TV personality is claiming he was unfairly charged. Kyle and his wife, Ashleigh, are suing the Tennessee Sheriff Deputies for $1.7 million for “excessive force… causing physical injury, emotional distress, and deprivation of liberty,” according to the lawsuit.
The incident in question was described in the documents as “a disgruntled mechanic, angry over a payment dispute, showed up uninvited, kicked at their doors, threatened violence, and used his car as a weapon by ramming their SUV and nearly running Kyle over in front of multiple neighbors.”
Kyle and his wife are claiming this was a false arrest and that the police officers overlooked clear evidence and arrested the wrong man. Kyle and Ashleigh are trying to put the incident behind them while also getting his name cleared for an arrest he allegedly didn’t deserve.
Are Kyle and Todd on speaking terms?
While Kyle and his father have had a rollercoaster of a relationship, it seems it may not be the end just yet. In 2024, Kyle confirmed that he and his father were not on speaking terms. However, when Todd and Julie were pardoned just a few months ago, Kyle shared his appreciation.
“I’m ecstatic,” Kyle said. “Truly. I just found out a little bit ago and I still just can’t believe it…I know they can’t wait to get home and just be with family,” he added, “and I’m going to remain hopeful that another reconciliation is possible.”
