Inside Savannah Chrisley's Relationship With Her Niece Chloe
Savannah Chrisley and her biological niece Chloe Chrisley share a unique bond due to an unfortunate family situation. Chloe is the daughter of Todd Chrisley's oldest son, Kyle Chrisley, and Angela Johnson. In a 2018 interview with The Tennessean, Todd recalled how Johnson reached out to him to inform the family that she didn't have the financial means to care for Chloe. "We didn't know Chloe existed until she was 6 months old," he said.
Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, were granted custody of Chloe. In a 2019 appearance on the "Chrisley Confessions" podcast, Kyle admitted that he had placed Chloe in his parents' care himself because he was struggling with drug addiction and mental health issues. But, for years afterward, Kyle's relationship with his father remained strained. He initially fought to keep Chloe off his family's reality series, "Chrisley Knows Best," according to a 2015 Radar report. However, Kyle and Todd eventually made amends, and Chloe resumed filming after a two-season break.
When Chloe joined Todd and Julie's household, her aunt and uncles — Savannah, Chase, and Grayson — became more like older siblings to her. On "Chrisley Knows Best," Savannah and Chloe bonded over a shared love of riding horses and Savannah advocated on her behalf when Chloe wanted to throw a slumber party — something Todd forbade Savannah from doing when she was younger. But, after Todd and Julie's tax fraud trial, Savannah learned that she would be swapping her sisterly role for a parental one.
Savannah Chrisley took custody of her niece Chloe
On social media, Savannah Chrisley has made it clear that she doesn't view herself as Chloe Chrisley's aunt. In 2020, she shared a photo of Chloe on Instagram and wrote, "I will forever fight for my Coco ... So blessed that God chose me to be her 'sister.'" But Savannah had to mentally prepare herself to step up and be something more on November 21, 2022, the date Todd and Julie Chrisley received respective prison sentences of 12 and 7 years in their bank fraud and tax evasion trial, per the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Before her parents learned their fates, Savannah shared an emotional life update on her "Unlocked" podcast. "I come home Tuesday and I have custody of a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old," Savannah said in reference to her brother Grayson and niece Chloe. She later added, "Right now, I'm just at a point of wanting to be better for Grayson and Chloe and to show my parents that I have the strength to guide my younger siblings in the right direction."
Savannah also had to find that strength in 2020 when Todd was hospitalized with COVID-19. She told Life & Style that Chloe has a difficult time coping with change, so she helped her younger sibling adjust to life without Todd's presence. "We definitely had to take some time and sit and talk with her and try to explain things," Savannah recalled.
Savannah Chrisley is protective of her relationship with her 'little sister'
According to Savannah Chrisley, some internet trolls are critical of her relationship with her little sister because Chloe Chrisley is biracial. "I'm tired of seeing comments that say 'oh she's white trying to rescue a Black baby,'" Savannah wrote on Facebook. "When I look at Coco ... I don't see a color! I see a child of God who is so innocent and beautiful." Savannah also told People she's noticed the judgmental stares she and Chloe get during their fun sisterly outings. "It's just devastating," she said. "It's my duty to stand up for Chloe."
While Savannah may be protective of Chloe, she does think her younger sibling gets coddled a bit too much at home. In a 2019 episode of "Chrisley Knows Best," Savannah accused Todd of not disciplining Chloe enough. "You were so tough on us, and with Chloe, she can do no wrong," she said to her father. Todd didn't want to hear it when Savannah helpfully advised him to find a happy medium between being fun and stern. "You're a little bit jealous of her," he retorted. But when Savannah revealed she was taking custody of Chloe on "Unlocked," she had nothing but love for her little sis. "It's hard, but I know that my motivation is anytime I see a smile on Chloe's face or Grayson's face, or I get a hug from one of them," she said.