'Chrisley Knows Best' on USA Network: Who is Todd's alleged gay lover? Ex-partner reveals shocking details
Todd Chrisley, the patriarch of 'Chrisley Knows Best,' apparently had a covert affair with his male business partner for approximately a year in the early 2000s, and the duo paid a blackmailer $38,000 in cash after the anonymous individual threatened to disclose their affair in court this week. Former Chrisley employee Mark Braddock filed the claim in court on May 25 as part of the reality TV family's three-year-old bank and tax fraud lawsuit.
Mark informed the FBI that he conducted bank fraud on behalf of Todd, his wife Julie Chrisley, and himself, and that he still had affections for Todd after their adulterous affair ended. According to the Chrisley family counsel, Mark was "obsessed" with Todd and was granted protection from prosecution. The men had a falling out in 2012 and Mark allegedly informed the detectives about the fraud, leading to the charges Todd and Julie are now facing.
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Todd Chrisley, a reality TV personality, has built his career by portraying himself as a devout Christian, dedicated parent, and loving spouse to his wife. Recently, however, the picture-perfect façade was shattered after allegations that he had a homosexual romance with a former male business colleague, who also claimed that he assisted him in committing fraud.
Todd has projected himself as a committed father focused on creating a family with immaculate manners and strong values with his wife of 26 years, Julie Chrisley, and his five children Lindsie, Kyle, Chase, Savannah, and Grayson on his USA Network series 'Chrisley Knows Best.' But now that Todd and his wife are on trial for bank fraud and tax evasion of up to $2 million, that idyllic family image is being torn apart.
What is the nature of Todd and his wife's legal problems?
Todd has been condemned for being 'controlling' and creating perfection for the sake of the program throughout the years, but the family appears to have maintained their massive fan following, with their series continuing to air even as they dealt with the complaints concerning his behavior.
Nevertheless, in 2019, Todd and Julie were accused of stealing $2 million, casting new doubt on their wholesome Southern image. After being charged with one crime of conspiracy to conduct bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and one count of tax fraud, he and his spouse may face up to 30 years in prison. According to Business Insider, Mark Braddock testified in the Chrisleys' current federal fraud trial in Atlanta that he and Todd were intimate for approximately a year in the early 2000s.
What did Mark Braddock reveal?
Todd and Mark reportedly committed fraud by filing phony bank reports and dodging $2 million in taxes. According to Business Insider, the duo had a personal feud in 2012, long after their affair ended, when Todd locked Mark out of the workplace and threatened to have him imprisoned. A vindictive Mark tipped off the authorities and press about the fraud, sending them damning material about the Chrisleys. The stars of the USA Network reality show are now on trial for tax evasion and misleading banks by pretending to be wealthier than they were.
Mark, who was granted immunity from prosecution, acknowledged assisting the husband and wife in committing bank fraud, stating that he generated some fraudulent papers and then submitted them to banks in exchange for a large reward. He even admitted to mimicking Todd on phone conversations, ostensibly with Todd's consent.
However, the ruse appeared to be unraveling when Todd and Mark began getting anonymous text messages threatening to expose them for fraud and reveal their secret affair. The texts, according to Mark's evidence, urged them to "pay cash and we'll shut up." That's exactly what they did. Mark said that he took four approximately $10,000 withdrawals from the business account, totaling $38,000. He allegedly subsequently met Todd in a parking garage and handed him the money "in a little bag" to pay off the blackmailer.
Todd Chrisley has dismissed gay rumors in the past
Todd has been married to Julie since 1996, and the couple has three children. Todd and his ex-wife Teresa Terry have two children. Since 2014, the family has been seen on their famous reality program, 'Chrisley Knows Best.' Todd's sexual orientation has been the subject of much debate since he was catapulted into the spotlight. However, the real estate mogul has repeatedly dismissed gay allegations, even calling them "flattering." “In order for it to disappoint me, it would mean that I don’t agree with someone being gay,” he remarked on 'The Domenick Nati Show' in 2017. “I don’t believe that’s a choice that you make. I believe that you are the way that God has made you.”
Todd said, “Flattered that people think I can get laid on both ends” and quipped, “My wife certainly is flattered that as many men want her husband as there are women. With that being said, I’m never going to have a drought.”