NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality TV fame did not grant them any special privileges behind bars. Instead, they claim they were targets of hostility and discrimination.

Just over a month after receiving a full pardon from President Donald Trump, the couple sat down with their daughter Savannah on the July 1 episode of her podcast Unlocked to break their silence about their time in federal prison, revealing harsh experiences and stark disparities in living conditions.

The Dining Hall “Lock-In” Incident

During the conversation, Savannah, 27, recalled a particularly disturbing incident involving her mother at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. According to Savannah, a former prison food service worker intentionally “locked” Julie in the dining hall.

“I will never forget the first moment, when she called me, she was completely broken down because of that miserable warden,” Savannah shared. She explicitly alleged that the worker acted out of personal “anger” towards her mother and did it on purpose.

Julie confirmed the incident, adding that the employee is now retired. Meanwhile, Todd Chrisley did not hesitate to call the worker “a miserable person,” noting that he had planned to file a “BP-8” administrative grievance at the time. “They are all like that,” Todd said harshly regarding the prison staff.

In response to these claims, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at the Lexington facility issued an official statement to PEOPLE, emphasizing its mission to “operate safe, secure, and humane facilities.”

The BOP stated: “We take seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintain the safety of correctional employees and the community. The humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority. We are committed to maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for all individuals in our facilities.”

Psychological Warfare Behind Bars

Todd’s experience at the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola in Florida was equally grim. He described daily life as a loop of intense psychological confrontation between inmates and the staff.

“I was surrounded by miserable people,” Todd claimed. “And every day, I woke up with the sole purpose of making their lives even more miserable because they are there to make our lives miserable.”

Both Todd and Julie dismissed the notion that inmates could become close with prison guards. While acknowledging that a “handful” of inmates attempt to befriend prison staff, Julie coldly noted: “They are certainly not your friends.”

Gender Inequality in the Prison System

One of the most significant issues raised by the Chrisley family was the stark disparity in facility conditions between male and female prisons.

Comparing her parents’ overall experiences, Savannah suggested she noticed her mother had to endure much “harsher” treatment than her father. Todd fully agreed, calling it the “general reality for women” in the penal system.

The clearest evidence of this was the issue of air conditioning. When Todd complained about the sweltering heat at the Florida facility, management had a new AC unit installed for him within a week. Conversely, the facility where Julie was housed had no cooling system at all. “We didn’t even have the option to fix [it], because we never had it to begin with,” Julie pointed out.

Maintaining Their Innocence

The Chrisleys began serving their sentences in federal prison in January 2023 after being convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud, facing a combined initial sentence of 19 years (which was later reduced by about two years for each). On May 27 of this year, President Donald Trump granted them a full pardon. They returned home the following day.

However, the pardon does not mean the famous family admits to any wrongdoing. They have staunchly maintained their innocence throughout the entire process.

Speaking at a press conference on May 30, Todd delivered a powerful message to the public and others in similar situations:

“Despite being pardoned, I am still convicted of something I did not do. That could be you, that could be you, that could be any of you, and somewhere in this room, there is undoubtedly a loved one who has been affected by this system. So I understand the shame surrounding this, but I refuse to play into it, because shame is like a cancer that just spreads, and I am not ashamed.”