Newly Uncovered Details About Honey Boo Boo's Family Are Exposing A Side The Public Hasn't Seen

 

You can’t look away from a car wreck, and that’s the hidden secret of TLC’s notorious show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo: It’s so bad, and so confusing, that you can’t help but wonder, “how much of this is real?” There’s no way that a family like this really exists...right? 

Reality TV is all about exaggeration, and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was no exception. But just because some of the details were taken out of context doesn’t mean it wasn’t real, and if you do some digging, you’ll find out some truly horrifying secrets about the family that they tried to hide from the public for years…

Mama June is notorious for her bad boyfriends, and it’s widely believed that all four of her daughters have different fathers. In addition to that, three of these men have spent time in prison, and fourth’s identity is unknown.

None of June’s ex-flames seem to be good guys, but her eldest daughter Anna’s father, Mark McDaniel, seems to be the worst of the bunch: He was indicted on charges of rape, child molestation, and other distressing crimes. 

McDaniel spent a full decade in prison and was released in 2014. When he and Mama June were spotted together after his release, TLC immediately cancelled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. June denied dating McDaniel, but the damage was done.

Loyal viewers of the show may have noticed Anna’s strained relationship with her mother, but the reason for the tension wasn’t broadcast on TV. Apparently, June's pregnancy with Anna didn't stop her from carrying on with her partying ways...

In fact, Anna never even lived with June until 2012, when Mama June bribed her with $500 to move back in with her to film Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Anna’s ex-boyfriend confirmed that June “was a lousy mother to Anna.”

A fan favorite was always Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson, Alana’s (Honey Boo Boo) father, but he wasn’t always the endearing redneck we saw on TV. He was actually in prison for five years for robbery and arson.

What's more, Mama June and Sugar Bear’s relationship wasn’t as lovey-dovey as it seemed. A source claimed that the pair broke up but were forced to move back in together when CPS got uncomfortable with June parenting the kids 

Child Protective Services was no stranger to the Boo Boo clan. After footage was leaked of a young Alana dancing in a bar for money, Mama June received a visit from CPS. No charges were filed, and June apologized for the incident. 

The whole “Alana dancing in bar” fiasco was not the only reason CPS paid the family a visit. After the show aired, the organization was appalled by the kids’ diets, which included Mountain Dew, “go-go” juice (Red Bull,) and even roadkill. 

There’s a reason Mama June never married any of her boyfriends, and it’s a definite eyebrow raiser: Tying the knot would mean losing out on child support and welfare payments. Daughter Jessica’s father claimed that the kids are even being “exploited.”

Pacific Coast News

One of the biggest storylines in Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was Anna’s teen pregnancy with then-boyfriend Caleb Clark, but there’s a chance baby Kaitlyn isn’t even his. June reportedly “blocked” him from getting a DNA test, prompting rumors.

These rumors aren't surprising, since Anna and Caleb initially broke up because she admitted to cheating on him. Still, Caleb is adamant that he is Kaitlyn’s real father. “All I want is...to do what is right for my baby,” he claimed.

We know that Sugar Bear isn’t as sweet as he seems, and in 2016 he admitted that he cheated on Mama June multiple times. That alone would break up a relationship, but more evidence came out that he had serious anger issues…

Lauryn, another of June’s daughters, was seen with an injured eye in an episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which June later claimed was caused by Sugar Bear in a fit of anger. She claimed he left “emotional and physical scars."

If it looks like Mama June is squinting, it’s because she is! She’s legally blind as a result of untreated childhood cataracts, and she isn’t allowed to drive. In 2018, she underwent surgery for a detached retina, and the recovery hasn’t been easy.

In fact, the recovery after her eye surgery was apparently why she gained 25 pounds of the weight she lost after having gastric sleeve surgery. “I can’t do anything and have to lay down most of the time,” she claimed. 

Life & Style Magazine

Sadly, things haven’t improved for Mama June despite losing about 90 pounds. In 2019, she was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. She even admitted to cops that she was carrying crack cocaine.

Noel Vasquez

Many believe that her drug use began (or perhaps escalated) when she started dating Geno Doak, who is also facing drug felony charges. Instead of trying to turn things around, she was spotted at a casino mere days after her arrest.

Macon County Sheriff

The family staged an intervention for June on TV, and though she went to a treatment center, she checked herself out hours later. Since then, she’s sold her home and all her possessions in order to move into Doak’s mobile home. 

During this troubling time for the family, Lauryn, 19, obtained legal guardianship of Alana, and referred to herself as Alana’s “sister mom.” The family's TLC show ended because of controversy, which apparently isn't uncommon for the network.