Chumlee became a celebrity after a reality tv show became an unlikely hit. In 2009, the show ‘The Pawn Stars’, premiered and has gathered an ever-growing following of fans ever since. Chumlee has always been a fan favorite. However, not all is as it seems…
Chumlee’s Scandal; Exclusive Behind The Scenes Of Pawn Stars
Despite being one of the most loved characters of the show, Chumlee has suffered ups and downs over the years, and with his fame these all became a bit more public, making it even more difficult to deal with at times…
Chumlee
While there were plenty of interesting historical tidbits and dramatic bargaining battles to be enjoyed in Pawn Stars, this show brought a new kind of entertainment to The History Channel. The main drawcard for viewers of this Las Vegas-based show is the comedic cast, which includes Austin Lee Russell, otherwise known as Chumlee. Entertaining, amusing, and lively, it seems Chumlee may be putting more of an effort to appear this way for the enjoyment of his fans.
Chumlee
Not A Top Student In School
Chumlee may have found fame in reality TV although things were not always as easy for the star. During his younger years, he had a difficult time in school as he was not particularly an academic overachiever. In fact, Chumlee found it so difficult to make it through the challenges of the classroom that he often reverted to more unsavory practices to get through Math class. Not all of us are academically gifted, but that doesn’t mean that we should revert to dirty tactics.
Not A Top Student In School
High School Drop Out
It may come as quite a surprise to learn that the now well-known Chumlee would pay other students to get his homework done for him. It seems like Chumlee’s talent for making deals began at a young age, even if they were not the most savory arrangements. But the poor student’s strategy would not end up being sustainable. Considering this was the case, it may not be as surprising to learn that he eventually decided to drop out of high school.
High School Drop Out
Unflattering Nickname
Other than academic issues, many fans may have been wondering where the nickname “Chumlee” actually comes from. Despite the seemingly innocent and adorable sounding name, there is unfortunately not such a delightful story behind it. Only fans of historical cartoons would know what Chumless is referring to, and if you do know, then it is quite an unflattering nickname. While most of us will have endearing nicknames, the kind that Chumlee was unfortunate enough to land with was not charming, to say the least.
Unflattering Nickname
Character Reference
Chumlee just so happens to be a walrus character from a cartoon that was aired during the ‘60s called Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales about a penguin called Tennessee Tuxedo and his friends, one of which was called Chumlee, the walrus. As you can see from the picture below, Chumlee wasn’t just sizeable, but also rather slow. With more knowledge of where the name originated from, the intentions now seem undeniably cruel. Although Russel seems to have taken it on with good humor.
Character Reference
A Lasting Friendship
Humor is one of the best coping mechanisms available to make a difficult life more bearable, but we feel sorry for Chumlee that he had to continually laugh what was probably a lot of negativity off. Luckily, Russel had a friend in Corey Harrison. The pair’s friendship can be dated back to childhood, co-staring on the reality show together must have been great considering. The two made it through a lot of difficult spots together, and we are sure that they have plenty of crazy childhood stories!
A Lasting Friendship
Gold And Silver
There was one spot where the two buddies could get away from it all and see all manner of fascinating and novel things. It was, of course, the venue for what would later become such a massive pop culture sensation. They used to hang out at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop owned by Rick, Corey’s father. There were certain benefits that came with their friendship. Among other things, Chumlee began working there full-time when he was 21 years old.
Gold And Silver
Unexpected
Even though being employed in a pawn shop may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the position does require very particular traits. A pawn shop clerk needs to be a shrewd haggler and needs to have a keen and discerning eye. Chumlee had to quickly learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff when it came to customer’s offers. However, the position would still only require minimal effort and is often not one’s most desired job.
Unexpected
Half A Decade Later
Regardless, Chumlee still managed to become a reality TV star. Just five years after he started his position at Gold and Silver, Chumlee’s life took an incredibly charming turn. When History Channel producers discovered this hidden gem of a reality TV show, they realized that they had an incredibly lucrative and watchable cast of characters with the pawnshop boys. They were a colorable bunch, but Chumlee stood out for his hilarious antics and silly personality.
Half A Decade Later
Positively Humorous
While the reality show was steadily gaining the attention of the world, Chumlee somehow always found himself as the comical character. He was always lightening the mood of viewers and his co-stars. Not that the show was particularly severe with its content, revolving around various successful and failed pawnshop ventures, but Chumlee’s many gags were a big draw for watchers. It could be said that his humor made the show, and he began gaining something of a following.
Positively Humorou
Targeting Bad Buys
Chumlee seemed to target certain interests of his own, such as video games and pinball machines that he found particularly fascinating. However, these buys were essentially not the best for business. Beyond Chumlee’s eccentric preferences, he was not regarded as one of the top buyers within the staff; not by any means. Chumlee was continually handed lucrative deals, which he would often fumble. Viewers often wondered why Chumlee was even employed by the shop, given how seemingly irresponsibly he often behaved.
Targeting Bad Buys
Ongoing Faults
Despite his uncanny ability to lighten everyone’s mood, Chumlee also had a knack for making mistakes. Long before the show was aired, he decided to store a client’s stand-up bass by leaning it against a shelf. The terrible decision resulted in roughly a $20,000 estimated loss as the item broke when it fell. Why anyone would prop up such an expensive item so foolishly only Chumlee will ever know, but it is one of many examples of his absent-minded approach to work life.
Ongoing Faults
A Reputation For Mistakes
While his co-stars find it quite amusing to mock him for his mistakes, the show seems to exhibit a constant for this uncanny trait of his. However, this is likely the reason so many fans adore him. As well as something that makes good television. You then see the reason why, despite Chumlee’s costly habit of breaking things or fumbling deals, he was kept on as such a central character on the show and in the pawnshop.
A Reputation For Mistakes
Popularity Strikes
It is believed that Chumlee needed to bring along a bodyguard during public appearances as a result of his incredible popularity. You can imagine that given his enormous following and distinctive appearance, that he would often be swarmed by overzealous fans. He was a pop culture icon within a thriving show. We are sure that Chumlee is asked for hugs on a regular basis! It seems after dropping out of high school, he made it after all!
Popularity Strikes
Lime Light
Initially, Chumlee thrived in all the attention from the public. He even went on to launch his very own line of personalized merchandise. His co-stars seemed to catch on to the brilliant idea and soon followed suit. Would you buy a Chumlee bobblehead? Do you think that it looks like him? We wonder whether Chumlee merchandise will be worth much in the future, and if there are intrepid Chumlee collectors out there! We would love to see what else is in the line.
Lime Light
Brand Success
Chumlee made a massive success selling his merchandise, more so than his co-stars. Perhaps this is just one of the many benefits of being the most popular in the group! As if building a personalized merchandise brand was not enough, he also decided to take things a step further and opened a charming candy store, located on the Vegas Strip. Who doesn’t love candy? You can be sure that this was an excellent venture for the pawn shop icon.
Brand Success
Keeping His Success Private
Chumlee is not the kind to boast about his success, which is another trait fans love about him. Although he has become one of the most recognizable faces in the United States, he still keeps his childlike sweetness and down-to-earth modesty. Regardless, the public still became aware that he cashed in a total of $155,000 after selling his Gold and Silver shares to Rick Harrison in 2010. Many people questioned the logic of severing his financial ties with the pawnshop.
Keeping His Success Private
Entrepreneur At Heart
Selling the shares was by no means a mistake as his plan was to focus his attention on selling his personalized merchandise. It seems his consistent mishaps may only be part of the show! As it turned out, Chumlee matured financially over the years and his time with the pawnshop fostered a keen moneyspinning side to him. The man had come a long way from dropping expensive items and allowing customers to get the better of him.
Entrepreneur At Heart
Focused On Success
Other than selling merchandise, Chumlee was also focused on bettering himself in other ways. Just two weeks prior to the airing of the reality show, his life would change forever after something happened to his father. Sometimes, it takes a tragic event to kickstart a person’s personal betterment journey, and Chumlee would face a personal challenge that would revolutionize how he treated himself and hold himself. There were many good things to be found in a tough situation.
Focused On Success
Death In The Family
Unfortunately, his father lost an ongoing fight with pancreatic cancer at age 54. While it may have been quite clear that Chumlee was by no means a notably fit and healthy individual, the death of his beloved father encouraged him to change his ways. He started eating healthier and exercising regularly. While many people fall into depressions or states of little activity during their morning, Chumlee found the inspiration needed to take his health seriously.
Death In The Family
Meditation And Mindfulness
In addition to visiting the gym, Chumlee is also focused on routine meditation and practicing mindfulness. These decisions are all incredibly inspirational and prove that anyone can transform their lifestyle simply with a decision and dedication. As you can see from the picture, the Nevada desert is a fantastic place to exercise, meditate, and get in touch with nature, all things that Chumlee loves doing in his free time. He has freed his mind and is on the path to true happiness.
Meditation And Mindfulness
Drastic Changes
Visiting the gym six times each week, enjoying nutritional fruit smoothies in the morning, and also completely cutting red meat out of his diet has made a remarkable difference. The results are beyond impressive. This picture shows Chumlee in a particularly impressive light, and if you compare this one to his earlier photographs and videos, one can see that he has undeniably made an incredible amount of progress. He looks so happy and confident, and we love seeing him shine.
Drastic Changes
Dramatic Results
Chumlee’s dedication to a healthier lifestyle has dramatically transformed him into a healthier and happier person. There’s truly no denying just how inspiring this lovable star is! Chumlee would become so confident with his new body that he would even end up posing for a sultry beach photoshoot in Hawaii! We are not sure whether Chumlee was joking or not when he said that this was the beginning of his modeling career, but the photos were mysteriously taken down.
Dramatic Results
A New Zest For Life
The complete transformation he managed to make has essentially improved his quality of life and while the results are almost unbelievable, he was able to shed so much weight in just one year. He did get some help with the process, however, as in 2018, he underwent gastric sleeve surgery which greatly sped up the dieting and exercise process. It seems Chumlee is no longer an appropriate nickname, but we cannot imagine calling him anything else.
A New Zest For Life
Staggering Weight Loss
To be precise, Chumlee managed to shed a staggering total of 75 pounds! Countless fans around the world are both impressed and inspired by his transformation and his decision to turn his life around. Even with the gastric sleeve surgery, Chumlee had to put an incredible amount of effort to realize his fitness and health dreams. There is no medical procedure that can change a person’s mindset, and Chumlee had to look within for the motivation and discipline needed.
Staggering Weight Loss
New Adventures
Fitting into old clothes is not the only benefit that came from his decision and dedication as he is now able to fit comfortably on a hovercraft, while he was previously too large. It could be assumed that the reality show star will now be enjoying a ton of new and exciting adventures that were simply not possible before. Those that have lost an incredible amount of weight can empathize with the incredible feeling that is being able to do things they weren’t previously able to.
New Adventures
Tanya Hyjazi
Tanya Hyjazi is Chumlee’s long-term girlfriend who is also a successful chef, working at Las Vegas’ Stack Restaurant. She is incredibly supportive of her man, and you can be sure that her incredible and healthy cooking went a long way toward aiding Chumlee in shedding the many pounds. The couple became an item all the way back in 2013 and he adores spoiling her. While working on himself, he has also made a positive effort to strengthen his relationship.
Tanya Hyjazi
Engaged
Recently, the charming couple got engaged. Chumlee and his gorgeous fiance celebrated their engagement at The Royal Hawaiian Resort in Waikiki and had another celebration back home with their friends in Las Vegas. They also headed off to Las Vegas’ Andiamo Italian Steakhouse to celebrate this phenomenal development. It seemed like everything was going incredibly well for Chumlee, and that all his life dreams were coming to be. We wish the happy couple all the best for the future!
Engaged
Friends And Family Gather
The couple found themselves surrounded by all the important people in their lives, including Chumlee’s co-stars in the reality show. It is amazing that they are all still so supportive of each other and their personal milestones, even though some of them have gone on to work on different ventures. So much has changed since the Pawn Stars cast first appeared on camera, but they are all thriving and doing exceptionally well after all these years.
Friends And Family Gather
Troubles On The Horizon
Considering just how good things were going for Chumlee, it’s hard to imagine that anything could possibly go wrong. Chumlee seemed to be walking an honest and virtuous path, and he appeared to have everything under control. But people can run into dramatic challenges at any point in their lives. Even though Chumlee appeared to be living the good life, the first hint of disaster struck in March 2016. What had Chumlee gotten up to?
Troubles On The Horizon
Concerning Charges
During this time, Chumlee was listed as a suspect in a sexual assault investigation. Even though the charges that were made by another shop employee were dropped, the situation was understandably concerning for Chumlee and his countless fans. Few people could expect that the sweet-faced and lovable Chumlee would be capable of such a horrible act, but as we have learned in recent times, many famous people in the spotlight take advantage of their powerful positions to abuse those around them.
Concerning Charges
The Beginning Of A Troublesome Path
Despite this case ending well for the reality show star, it seemed to be only the start of several troubles to come. It wasn’t long before he found himself back in hot water as he was charged again. After years of positive changes in his personal life and finding love and healthiness, Chumlee’s darker side was starting to be revealed. Although he had put forward a clean and responsible persona, Chumlee would turn out to be quite the bad boy.
The Beginning Of A Troublesome Path
A Police Raid
However, this time the police conducted a home raid and even though nothing was found concerning the case, authorities did come across other concerning things. Ironically, this sudden investigation would be a fatally revealing experience for the public figure, who had been entertaining all manner of troubling ‘hobbies’. Working in a pawn shop means that a person will come across all manner of interesting objects, and it often cannot be helped if a person will entertain shadier pursuits.
A Police Raid
In Possession Of Illegal Substances
So, what was Chumlee hoarding that was so concerning for the authorities? They had come searching for details regarding his sexual assault accusation, but they would end up opening Pandora’s box. Shockingly, authorities got their hands on crystal meth, a firearm, and marijuana that was hidden in Chumlee’s home. Regrettably, this was enough for the authorities to keep a close eye on the star. The police were concerned that Chumlee was a drug dealer and was not just consuming the drugs for his personal recreation.
In Possession Of Illegal Substances
A Second Raid
Police decided to conduct a second raid and came across another collection of worrying findings. This time around, police found a total of 11 firearms and this may not have been such an issue if they were all registered, however only 4 of the firearms had been registered. Chumlee had enough guns to arm a small army, but he also possessed more bizarre items, such as a “Chum Chum Room” which had a dance pole fitted!
A Second Raid
Arrested
In addition to this, more illegal substances were found including cocaine. The result was that Chumlee was taken into police custody. In total, Chumlee would be slapped with 19 drug possession charges and a single weapon charge, with an additional $62,000 bail. Bizarrely, the former Pawn Stars icon did not seem to have a lawyer, or at least that is how it came across in the ensuing reports on the scandalous moment. As you can imagine, the History Channel was not impressed with his behavior!
Arrested
Shocking Felony Counts
Months passed and the celebrated star found himself confronted with a shocking total of 20 separate felony counts. However, luckily for him, the court was unable to piece together adequate evidence. While many ordinary people would have been imprisoned for being in possession of all this contraband, Chumlee was lucky to be a powerful and wealthy individual. It was a close call for Chumlee, but he seemed to be walking free following his dramatic arrest.
Shocking Felony Counts
Concerns Set To Rest
Luckily, Chumlee was not doing anything illegal with the firearms in his possession. Although Chumlee had no criminal intent for storing the guns, you can be sure that not attaining the correct licenses for such dangerous objects would lead to many concerns for the authorities. Things would not have ended well for the star otherwise. This was an incredibly stressful experience for Chumlee, and for some time he was convinced that he would be facing jail time.
Concerns Set To Rest
Pleading Guilty
Chumlee eventually pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of weapons, drug possession, and attempted misdemeanor. This was ultimately a decision that would help him avoid prison time. However, he was placed on probation for a year. You could be sure that Chumlee cleaned up his act during this period, staying well away from all illicit substances and keeping his firearm usage as legal and acceptable as possible. It was hoped that Chumlee had learned his lesson, and realized that he could not do as he pleased.
Pleading Guilty
Over The Worst
Chumlee is required to behave properly during this time and he will also be required to attend counseling. Regardless, the misdemeanor charge will still show on his record. While he did not face jail time for his small crimes, he would still have that undesirable stain on his record. This was still a happy trade-off for Chumlee, who could have easily found himself behind bars if things had not gone his way, or if he did not have such excellent lawyers on his side.
Over The Worst
A Scandal
While it could be said that Chumlee has learned his lesson and is leaving the rough patch behind, there is a chance that the scandal may be enough to end his successful career. It was clear that his reputation had been damaged, and beyond the embarrassment and trouble that he had faced, the large following that he had been curating for years took a big hit. Even though this seems unlikely for now, who knows what the future may hold…
A Scandal
An End To A Rough Year
During a follow-up interview with Chumlee at the end of 2016, he opened up to fans and explained what he was actually going through. A YouTuber called ‘Wayne D’ sat down with Chumlee and spoke about the situation. Many people in the comments flew to his defense, saying that he was perfectly entitled to his personal recreation and that it was legal for people in Nevada to hold a small amount of marijuana for personal usage.
An End To A Rough Year
Gratitude For Supportive Fans
In addition to this, he also took the time to thank his fans for their support. Chumlee explained that kind words from supportive fans helped him through the trying time. Although a lot of people went off Chumlee after his controversial encounter with the authorities, Chumlee was amazed to find that there were so many people that still loved him and wanted to see him happy and thriving. But there was more wholesome support for the Pawn Stars hero.
Gratitude For Supportive Fans
Showing Appreciation
Chumlee decided to post on Instagram to show more appreciation for his fans and their efforts. the caption on this photo read: “I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to all my amazing fans that come and see me daily at @chums_candy – Thank you all for all the amazing love you show me”. You might think it strange that a man that had been arrested for holding drugs and unregistered firearms would continue to sell candy to children.
Showing Appreciation
Pawn Stars
During the scandal, many fans were speculating the fate of the reality show. Would the show be canceled as a result or would it be renewed? Pawn Stars was a phenomenally popular show, and its millions of followers would have reacted furiously and protested if their beloved Paw Stars was taken off the air. It was difficult to predict whether the History Channel would cancel the show, given how silent its representatives had been throughout the entire ordeal.
Pawn Stars
The Show Goes On
Much to the delight of loyal fans, the show went on and Chumlee is still a star. He might have taken a few hits along the way, but it seems that nothing can diminish his cheerful and playful demeanor and childlike energy. We do worry about whether Chumlee is forcing the act, however, and whether he sometimes just wants to be himself. We can only hope that this means the end of Chumlee’s trying times as his probation is soon due to end.
The Show Goes On
Focusing On Himself
During the scandal, Chumlee took a break from the reality show to direct his focus on himself. The 36-year-old star dedicated his time to self-improvement, which was clearly a wise decision! As you can see from the picture, he purchased a Louis Vuitton boxing glove! Chumlee might not be the most traditional character, but he gives everything he does 100%. While many people may regard Chumlee as a lazy and clumsy character, he certainly knows how to be successful.
Focusing On Himself
Celebrating 500 Episodes
However, Pawn Stars has been doing incredibly well as the show recently celebrated a total of 500 episodes. Chumlee took to Instagram once again to post about the joyous occasion. His post read: “Come celebrate our 500th episode Monday night on History [channel]. This is something we could not have done without you!!!! Thank you!!!”. 500 episodes is a phenomenal milestone for any television production, and few reach even half the amount that Pawn Stars did.
Celebrating 500 Episodes
The Star Of The Show
There’s truly no denying that the enormous success of Pawn Stars is in large part thanks to Chumlee and his incredibly entertaining personality. His kind heart and humorous nature are what made the show so relatable for fans. Ironically, Chumlee had been very grateful to be given a position at the pawnshop all those years ago, well before it became the televised sensation that it is today. Without Chumlee, you can be sure that the Harrisons would not have enjoyed much of their current success.
The Star Of The Show
Exciting Spin-Offs
After the extreme success of Pawn Stars, the History channel considered a few spin-offs to keep fans indulging. Up to date, a total of 9 spin-offs have been capturing fans from Cajun Pawn Stars to Counting Cars. It could be said that Chumlee and his co-stars started the craze for this niche of reality TV. Regarding Cajun Pawn Stars, the show would come to a dramatic conclusion when a devastating lawsuit would fleece the DeRamus pawnshop family.
Exciting Spin-Offs
Success At Its Best
Despite a difficult year and plenty of ups and downs, Chumlee has managed to maintain success. One look at his $1.5 million mansion in Las Vegas is more than enough to prove just how hard he has worked at bettering himself and his career! This is an excellent place to throw grand parties in, which is what Chumlee envisioned when he purchased the place. It is 2 acres in total size and is only 5 a five-mile drive to the Strip.
Success At Its Best
Learning From Mistakes
It could be agreed that while Chumlee may have made a name for himself with his tendency to make mistakes, he always manages to bounce back. The same could be said for his personal life. Despite his mistakes, he has managed to overcome them with his pride intact. It is this kind of resilience and determination that has made him all the more popular with fans, who love to see an underdog shine and succeed.
Learning From Mistakes
Stable And Content
Chumlee may still be working on bettering himself, although, such a decision should be an ongoing one. Regardless of everything he may have finally found stable ground in life. He is now happily married too! It was in August 2019 that a secret wedding ceremony was held in private. But not long after he and Olivia tied the knot, he would end up missing his new wife dearly as she went off to study at USCB.
Stable And Content
A New Chapter
The Pawn Stars celebrity is still involved in the reality show while also focusing on new business ventures. Chumlee is clearly after success and fans should stay tuned as great things are surely on their way! After all is said and done, Chumlee’s spirits will always be high and his growing confidence will allow him to go from strength to strength. Let’s just hope that he and his wife can spend more time together soon.
A New Chapter