Jim Townsend, Marjorie Harvey’s ex-husband, shared part of his memoir, “Snakes in the Garden,” last year. In it, he talked about his past as a former drug kingpin in Memphis and also revealed details about Marjorie’s past.
This fall, he released the second part of his three-part series, bringing renewed attention to his life with Marjorie and her current marriage to Steve Harvey, which has lasted 18 years.
Townsend and Marjorie share two children, Morgan and Jason. After they divorced while Townsend was serving a life sentence for drug crimes, Marjorie married Donnell Woods, with whom she had her daughter Lori Harvey. Townsend was granted clemency in 2017 after spending 27 years in prison.
Since being released from prison, Jim Townsend has accused Marjorie Harvey of causing issues in their family and straining his relationships with their grandchildren.
In a 2023 YouTube chat with his followers, Townsend claimed that the blended family image Marjorie and Steve Harvey present is fake. Steve Harvey has children from previous marriages, including twin daughters Karli and Brandy, a son Broderick, and another son, Wynton.
Townsend said that he believes Marjorie “sold her soul to the devil” and called both Marjorie and Steve Harvey hypocrites. He explained that Steve’s actions, especially, motivated him to write his story.
He also expressed frustration over Steve allegedly calling him a “punk” to his son Jason when Jason was 13. Although Townsend was in prison, he claimed he was always present as a father and not a “deadbeat.” However, things between him and Marjorie worsened after he was released.
“He kicked me while I was down, when I was in prison,” Townsend said. “Now, it’s no more holding back. They hurt me by trying to stop me from having a close relationship with my grandchild. I don’t even have a relationship with my son Jason, the son Marjorie and I share, because she ruined it.”
Marjorie and Steve’s daughter Morgan has one daughter named Elle, and Jason has three kids. Marjorie rarely posts about Elle but often shares photos with her other grandchildren on social media. She has never publicly commented on the family drama or responded to Townsend’s accusations.
Townsend, however, has spoken about rumors of problems in Marjorie and Steve’s marriage, saying the couple deserves the criticism they’re receiving.
