Why Isn‘t Honey Boo Boo With Mama June?
Honey Boo Boo is not currently living with her mother Mama June because June lost custody of the now 16-year-old in April 2022. After years of drug abuse and related legal troubles, June‘s custody rights were awarded to her eldest daughter Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird in a court ruling. Pumpkin has been Honey Boo Boo‘s primary caregiver since 2019 when June‘s substance abuse peaked.
Mama June‘s Downward Spiral Into Drug Addiction
Mama June gained fame as the outrageous matriarch of a child pageant contestant on reality shows like Toddlers & Tiaras. But behind the scenes, June was harboring a dangerous drug habit.
In a 2019 episode of Family Crisis, June admitted she was spending approximately $2,500 per day on meth at the height of her usage. Text messages from friends shown on the show revealed June had pawned family possessions to fund her habit.
This drug abuse led to Mama June‘s arrest in March 2019 along with her boyfriend Geno Doak on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine) and drug paraphernalia. Police records indicate they were in possession of crack pipes and needles.
Mama June avoided significant jail time by completing community service and mandated sober living classes. However, June continued to display concerning behavior, prompting Pumpkin to file for emergency custody of Honey Boo Boo in August 2019.
| Mama June | Pumpkin | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 43 years old | 22 years old |
| Marital Status | Married to Justin Stroud in 2022 | Married to Joshua Efird since 2015 |
| Occupation | Reality TV personality | Reality TV personality, full-time caregiver |
| Income | Estimated $24k/month including child support | Husband works as mechanic |
| Home | Hampton, Georgia | Hampton, Georgia |
| Other Children | 3 daughters ages 16 to 25 | 2 daughters, ages 3 and 6 |
"I want to make sure at the end of the day that my sister is raised and is loved," Pumpkin stated in an interview regarding her custody petition in 2019.
Custody Battle Between Mama June and Pumpkin
Pumpkin was initially granted temporary custody of Alana in August 2019. But the official court battle dragged on for years as Mama June stalled the proceedings. According to court records obtained by The Sun, June also attempted to have the case moved from Georgia to California where she was living at times.
A judge finally ruled to award sole custody to Pumpkin in April 2022 shortly after Honey Boo Boo‘s 16th birthday. June was ordered to pay $800 per month in child support to Pumpkin, a number based on her estimated earning from appearances on Mama June: Road to Redemption.
However, June insisted on an episode of her show that aired in May 2022 that she would rather terminate all custody rights than pay Pumpkin child support.
June‘s monthly income from disability and reality show pay is estimated at $3,015. Meanwhile, Pumpkin‘s husband Joshua earns enough through his job as a mechanic to provide stable housing and care for Honey Boo Boo and her own two young daughters.
Honey Boo Boo‘s Life and Relationship with Pumpkin
According to Honey Boo Boo, she no longer knows who Mama June is as a parental figure. Instead, she relies on sister Pumpkin, who has been her primary caregiver since 2019.
Now 16, Honey Boo Boo goes to public school where she is an honor roll student and cheerleader. She has a boyfriend who has been featured on the family‘s reality show.
"Pumpkin stepped up and really took over the mother role," Mama June commented in an interview regarding the custody loss.
Honey Boo Boo has acknowledged that she still feels the urge to care for her mother June at times. But overall, she is thriving under Pumpkin‘s care. The teen has even redecorated her bedroom in Pumpkin‘s home to better reflect her tastes.
"Alana had her own condo at my house," Pumpkin said proudly in a May 2022 interview. She went on to say that their 3-bedroom home allows ample space and that her mother Jessica also lives with them.
Can Mama June Repair Her Relationship with Honey Boo Boo?
While Mama June has reportedly remained sober following a 2021 rehab stint, significant trust issues linger between her and Honey Boo Boo. June will likely have to demonstrate long-term consistency to re-establish a real parenting role.
In a hopeful sign, June married her boyfriend Justin Stroud earlier this year. She credits him with helping stabilize her life. If June can continue on this upward trajectory, she may be able to convince Pumpkin and the court to grant her increased visitation rights.
Repairing the emotional damage will be an ongoing process, especially since Honey Boo Boo has bonded so tightly with Pumpkin as her de facto mom. But for the sake of the sisters‘ future relationship, hopefully Mama June will put in the difficult work needed to regain some place in her youngest daughter‘s life.