Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
The eldest daughter of reality star Todd Chrisley, now known as Lindsie Landsman, has spoken out publicly for the first time since the release of Lifetime’s new documentary The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. According to Landsman, the series misrepresents her and omits what she describes as years of blackmail, emotional manipulation, and threats by members of her own family.
“The Lifetime documentary of my family came out, and a lot of the things that were aired were inaccurate depictions of what has transpired,” Landsman said on her podcast The Southern Tea.
Landsman rose to prominence as part of Chrisley Knows Best, the once-popular USA Network series that showcased Todd Chrisley’s affluent Southern family. Yet behind the picture-perfect image, she says, was turmoil and coercion.
In the days following the Lifetime premiere, Landsman announced a three-part podcast series across The Southern Tea and Coffee Convos (co-hosted with Teen Mom star Kail Lowry). The first episode dropped on October 22, followed by a second on October 23 and a Patreon-exclusive finale on October 24, before the full release on October 29.
She claims that after her father’s indictment on bank-fraud and tax-evasion charges in 2022, she was pressured to defend him and threatened with the release of a private sex tape if she refused to lie to investigators. Landsman says she later contacted both the Georgia Department of Revenue and the FBI, and even sought a restraining order against her father.
Meanwhile, the Chrisley siblings have fired back. On Lifetime’s Back to Reality, Savannah Chrisley said, “The prosecutors read the letter Lindsie wrote to the FBI. We’re no longer family.” Her brother Chase added, “If your blood will screw you over, then a stranger definitely will.”
Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie were convicted in 2022 for bank fraud and tax evasion, accused of using falsified documents to obtain over $30 million in loans. They began serving prison sentences in January 2023 — but both were granted full pardons by former President Donald Trump in May 2025.
For years, the Chrisleys’ TV brand sold a vision of Southern charm and family loyalty. Now, it’s that same family that appears fractured beyond repair. Landsman’s decision to speak publicly marks a striking reversal of the family dynamic once curated for millions of viewers.
Her statements are also a warning about how easily public personas can conceal deeper pain. As Landsman put it, “I will share my truth.”
At the legal heart of this case lies a critical question: can a family member’s threat to expose private sexual material constitute criminal blackmail or coercion?
Under both federal law and Georgia state statutes, threatening to release intimate material to force another person’s cooperation can qualify as extortion or sexual coercion. The Georgia Code (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-39.1 and § 16-8-16) prohibits threats made with intent to compel an action or gain advantage. Even within families, such conduct may trigger criminal liability and civil suits for intentional infliction of emotional distress or invasion of privacy.
Legal experts have noted that coercive control within family relationships can still fall squarely under harassment or blackmail statutes. According to an analysis cited by the American Bar Association Journal, “When intimate images become a weapon for manipulation, the act transcends private conflict — it becomes a matter of law.”
Across the U.S., “revenge porn” or non-consensual image-sharing laws have gained traction, covering both digital and threatened distribution. More than 48 states — including Georgia — criminalize such behavior. Victims can also seek restraining orders, civil damages, and injunctive relief to prevent dissemination.
For the public, Landsman’s allegations highlight a broader reality: coercion and blackmail don’t only occur between strangers or ex-partners. They can exist inside families, workplaces, or any power-imbalanced relationship.
Document everything: Save emails, messages, or recordings of threats.
Report immediately: Contact local law enforcement or your state attorney general’s office.
Seek legal advice: A civil or family-law attorney can file restraining or protective orders.
Know your rights: Even if you once consented to recording or sharing images, you can still claim violation if those images are later weaponized.
Bottom line: Blackmail is illegal — even when it happens under the same roof.
As Landsman’s podcast unfolds, listeners will hear her side of the story — backed, she claims, by emails, legal letters, and court filings. Lifetime, for its part, has stood by its series, calling it a “comprehensive portrait of the family’s journey.”
Todd Chrisley has denied all accusations of blackmail, saying through his lawyer that the claims are “categorically false.” Yet public reaction has been swift: social-media users have rallied behind Landsman, praising her for exposing what they call “toxic family control.”
For observers of media law, this saga underscores a recurring question: when does storytelling cross into defamation or invasion of privacy? If Landsman can prove misrepresentation or false light in Lifetime’s portrayal, civil claims could follow — though reality-TV contracts often contain broad waivers that make defamation suits difficult.
The next few weeks will determine how much of Landsman’s evidence is released and whether her allegations prompt official legal review. What’s clear is that this public reckoning — blending personal trauma, media spectacle, and unresolved criminal history — has turned one of reality TV’s most famous families into a real-life case study in coercion, power, and the limits of forgiveness.
For viewers, it’s a story about more than fame; it’s about control, truth, and the right to speak freely, even against those who once called you family.
If you believe someone is threatening you with exposure or harm — even a family member — contact:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
RAINN (Sexual Assault Hotline): 1-800-656-4673
Your local law enforcement or state attorney general’s office
You have the right to your privacy, your peace, and your story.
Can you sue a family member for blackmail?
Yes. Under Georgia and federal law, threats of exposure or coercion for personal or financial gain can qualify as extortion or blackmail — even between family members.
What is considered coercion under U.S. law?
Coercion involves forcing someone to act against their will through threats, manipulation, or intimidation. It can lead to both criminal charges and civil damages.
Does reality TV affect ongoing legal cases?
It can. Public commentary or edited portrayals may complicate investigations or influence public opinion, which is why lawyers often advise caution when legal proceedings are active.
