Are Honey Boo Boo and Pumpkin quitting 'Mama June'? Sister reveals shocking reason why they don't want to do TV
Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird had to grow up quickly when her drug-addled mother June Edith 'Mama June' Shannon abandoned the family to live with boyfriend Geno Doak. She was left to care for her teenage sister Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson, daughter Ella Grace, and husband Joshua Efird.
Today, Pumpkin is neck-deep in responsibilities and it wouldn't be far-fetched to assume that she bit off more than she could chew. Although she's managing the stress for now, from what she told Entertainment Tonight it looks like the enthusiasm may not last long.
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"It is hard... because I'm also trying to deal with it personally, and then I'm also having to film it," Lauryn told the outlet and added: "Even on this season, it's kind of hard because going back to the past kind of puts wear and tear, not only for me, physically, but mentally. I don't want to go back into that mental place that I was when my mom was into her addiction and me having to step up and do all the things that I was doing and not really taking care of myself."
Pumpkin has had to do enough and more for herself and those that surround her. Naturally, she has reached her tipping point. One cannot fault her for wanting to quit reality TV, a job she's been working for almost a decade now. Even though she is grateful for the money and fame the gig brought her, at the same time, she missed out on family gatherings, Christmases, and simple birthday parties.
"Honestly, I want to go ahead and say goodbye if I'm being completely honest. Only because Alana grew up doing this and you don't really have a normal life during production," she shared and added: "We have two days off a week and I can't get my life together in two days. I enjoy doing the show. I enjoy the income that it brings. I enjoy the lives that we impact."
Pumpkin wants to be a nurse at a hospital and wishes Alana pursues a simple life as well, one in which she'd go to college. "TV is not something that I think any of us really want to do anymore, but we just keep pushing ourselves."
Catch all the new episodes of 'Mama June: Road to Redemption' on WE tv every Friday at 9/8c. For more information, check your local listings.