Chase tragically recalls ‘awful dark time’ whilst filming Chrisley Knows Best
'I was either really happy or a monster'
Chase Chrisley has always been the cheeky, lovable chaos agent of the Chrisley universe, but lately, he’s been getting real in a way we don’t always see from reality TV guys.
In a candid conversation with sister Savannah on her Unlocked podcast, Chase opened up about a period when he looked “like garbage,” felt completely shut down emotionally, and genuinely feared he wouldn’t make it out alive.
This isn’t one of those glossy “I’m fine now!” soundbites, either. It’s messy, raw, and honest. Thankfully, now he says he’s rebuilding, one day at a time.
Chase recalls ‘dark time’ filming Chrisley Knows Best
On Savannah’s Unlocked podcast, Chase described a previous stretch of his life as a “really, really dark time,” and his sister didn’t sugarcoat what she saw.
She said he had gotten so thin his clothes were falling off, adding how it was “heartbreaking” to watch.
What hit hardest was how Chase ties it to filming and the pressure-cooker energy around the family at the time. When life felt like too much, he says his coping mechanism was to drink, whereas Savannah’s was basically to shut off emotionally and mentally.
Chase shared that his mind got to a terrifying place where he was preparing for the phone call telling their parents that he’d died.
And if you’ve ever watched Chrisley Knows Best, you know the show is all punchlines, big personalities, and perfectly-timed chaos.
Hearing what was happening underneath that smile is sobering in itself, because the camera can’t always catch what’s really going on.
In the midst of addiction, Chase said he was selfish
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Chase didn’t try to paint himself as a saint during that period. He admitted that while he has a “good heart,” substances made him act like a different person, and he was “very selfish” in the thick of it.
Savannah also talked about the ripple effect. She spoke of how people tend to focus sympathy on the person struggling, but don’t always talk about the family members who live through the chaos and fear.
Chase also described his pattern with alcohol as less “craving” and more “no off switch.” Once he started, he didn’t stop.
He went through a lot of therapy
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One of the most human moments? Chase describing what happened when he finally slowed down enough to face it.
He said that after going away and sitting through “a lot of therapy,” he broke down sobbing, grieving what he’d done and how far he’d drifted from who he actually is.
He also framed it as a brutal but important wake-up call he’s grateful happened in his 20s, not decades later, because, in his words, if he’d kept going, he would’ve been dead.
Chase said he went to rehab at the end of July 2025, and as of early January 2026, he described himself as “right at” nearly six months sober.
He now hits the gym with his dad, Todd Chrisley, and seems to be on an upward trajectory since both his parents were released from prison.
He says he’s got a long way to go, and changed his circle
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The vibe now? Less nightlife, more home-life. Chase said he’s trying to remove the “same people” and patterns that helped keep him stuck, and he’s leaning into family time, routine, and staying busy with healthier supports.
He was clear he’s not pretending everything’s magically fixed. He’s still rebuilding. But the difference is: sobriety isn’t “optional” anymore.
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