Savannah Chrisley pushed back Saturday against intense public criticism following revelations of her pregnancy, engagement and secret wedding to convicted fraudster Jason Galanis.
Posting a statement to her Instagram Stories on Saturday, Oct. 31, the 29-year-old former “Chrisley Knows Best” star reflected on what she described as a “whirlwind” few days. Setting her location at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Chrisley wrote that the “world can be so incredibly cruel” and that observers are often “quick to judge, quick to condemn, and slow to show grace.”
A flurry of personal announcements
The social media response came after a rapid sequence of disclosures during the week. On Tuesday, Chrisley announced through an Instagram video that she was pregnant with her first child and engaged to a man she initially referred to only as “J,” the Daily Mail reported. Outlets quickly identified the partner as Galanis, 56.
Subsequent reports revealed that the couple had already secretly tied the knot months earlier, getting married on July 14 at a Baptist church located in the Cayman Islands, according to Page Six.
Addressing the fallout, Chrisley turned toward her Christian faith in her Saturday message. She wrote that one does not have to answer every accusation or defend matters that have been divinely ordained. “Sometimes the greatest act of faith is simply being still, choosing love when you’re met with hate, extending grace when none is given,” Chrisley stated, adding that her “blessings are immeasurable” and that love will prevail.
Connections and criminal history
Galanis was sentenced in September 2020 to federal prison for taking part in multiple fraudulent enterprises. Reports note that the penalties included more than 14 years behind bars — with the Daily Mail stating more than 15 years — in connection with schemes that defrauded an American Indian tribe and independent investors out of tens of millions of dollars. Authorities also ordered Galanis to surrender roughly $80 million in proceeds and pay matching restitution, Page Six noted.
In March 2024, Galanis testified while incarcerated as part of the congressional impeachment inquiry into former President Joe Biden, citing past business dealings with Hunter Biden. Trump subsequently commuted Galanis’ prison term on March 28, 2025.
Chrisley’s father, Todd Chrisley, was incarcerated at the same Pensacola, Florida, federal facility as Galanis for an overlapping eight-month window in 2023, according to reports. Both Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced to prison terms in 2022 for a $30 million tax fraud scheme before receiving presidential pardons from Trump in May 2025.
Speaking on her “Unlocked” podcast, Chrisley explained that she and Galanis first connected through political circles while she was advocating for executive clemency on behalf of her parents. When the pardons were granted in May 2025, Galanis reached out to offer congratulations, leading to regular contact and a relationship that began that July. Galanis later proposed during a December trip to the Cayman Islands, and he has moved into Chrisley’s $2.2 million Nashville residence, according to TMZ as cited by the Daily Mail.
Looking forward
Addressing the 27-year age gap between the two on her podcast, Chrisley affirmed that she does not care about public commentary regarding their relationship, describing Galanis as her fiercest defender. While critics have scrutinized the pairing in light of his criminal record and past civil disputes, Chrisley has maintained that she intends to focus on her growing family and private life.
