Several celebrities found themselves spending Christmas Day in prison this year, with institutions across the United States and internationally providing special holiday meals and activities for their high-profile inmates.
R. Kelly, the Grammy-winning R&B singer, currently incarcerated at MCC Chicago, Illinois, awaiting sentencing, was served a special holiday meal including Cornish hen. Additionally, he had the opportunity to participate in board games and holiday tournaments.
Joe Exotic, known from the Netflix series “Tiger King,” incarcerated at FMC Fort Worth, Texas, received baked Cornish hen and tofu fried rice for lunch, along with a mystery “holiday bag.”
Josh Duggar, known for his appearance on the reality TV show “19 Kids and Counting,” is serving time at FCI Seagoville, Texas, for child pornography charges. Duggar had the opportunity to engage in activities such as cornhole, basketball free throws, and putt-putt golf. His Christmas meal included herbed Cornish hen.
At FCI Dublin, California, Allison Mack, known for her role in the TV series “Smallville” and her involvement in the NXIVM scandal, watched a holiday movie and received popcorn, along with a snack bag.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the murder of George Floyd, is incarcerated in Arizona. Chauvin’s Christmas meal included traditional holiday fare such as turkey and ham.
Reality TV personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley, known from the show “Chrisley Knows Best,” were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. Todd Chrisley is serving a 10-year sentence in Florida, while Julie Chrisley is serving a 5-year sentence in Kentucky. They reportedly find conditions in prison depressing, especially missing their first Christmas without family.
Jen Shah from “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” serving a 6.5-year sentence in Texas for fraud, reportedly finds the conditions difficult and is frustrated at missing Christmas with her family as well.
The Christmas Day meals served to these celebrities typically included traditional holiday fare like Cornish hens, turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, and pie. These meals aimed to provide a sense of tradition despite the inmates being away from their families.
Harvey Weinstein, the former film producer convicted of sexual assault and rape, is serving a 23-year sentence in New York. Weinstein also received a traditional Christmas meal while in prison.
Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny, known for his anti-corruption campaigns against the Russian government, is currently located in a penal colony called IK-3 in the remote Arctic settlement of Kharp, within the Yamal-Nenets region of Russia. Navalny, serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges, spent Christmas in one of Russia’s toughest prisons, known as the “Polar Wolf” colony.
These instances of celebrities spending Christmas in prison highlight the varied circumstances under which these individuals are serving their sentences. From traditional holiday meals to special activities, prisons across the world attempt to provide some form of festive spirit to their inmates, including those with high profiles.
