Why Grayson Chrisley Says Parents Todd and Julie's Time in Prison Is "Worse Than Them Dying"

Todd and Julie Chrisley's prison time is the worst outcome imaginable for Grayson Chrisley.
 
Nearly five months after the two began their sentences in their tax fraud case, the Growing Up Chrisley star, 17, is sharing his outlook on his parents' absence.

"To me, it's worse than them dying," Grayson told sister Savannah Chrisley during the June 6 episode of her Unlocked podcast. "Because they're here, but they're not here. So, it's just time that's being wasted. I'm saying, like, if they died, there's no possibility of you getting any more time with them. So, it's over."

The teen went on to agree with Savannah's sentiment of being "forced to have closure" in that instance. 

"You know that no time is being wasted," he continued. "But now, they're here but they're not here."

During their conversation, Savannah—who currently serves as guardian of Grayson and her niece, Chloe, 10—also asked her brother if he sees the situation from a different perspective, considering that "they're still here for you to hug and say, 'I love you.'"

To this, Grayson responded, "I mean, yeah, but I get to do all that within a time limit."

The two siblings also reflected on attempting to visit their parents as often as they can—Todd is serving his 12-year sentence in Florida while Julie is serving seven years in Kentucky—but noted that isn't without its challenges.

"It's not that I don't want to go," Grayson shared. "But I'm also 17." And though he said his parents have told him to "live your life" amid their sentences, he shared his sense of guilt.

"You know they understand,' he continued. "But it's like, you still feel bad."

Todd and Julie were sentenced in November after a jury found them guilty of bank and fraud offenses earlier that year. The couple had pleaded not guilty to their charges. Their attorney previously told E! News that "an appeal is planned."

In the months since Todd and Julie reported to prison in January, Savannah has opened up about the circumstances of adjusting to her new family dynamic, with the 25-year-old recently penning a post on the state of her parents' marriage.

"To clear up NASTY rumors from people who would love nothing more than to see my family torn apart," Savannah wrote, in part, in a May 14 Instagram post. "My parents are MADLY in love with each other and will come out of this trial even stronger and more in love than before."