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June "Mama June" Shannon rose to fame on the controversial 2014 reality TV show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and later starred in Mama June: From Not to Hot in 2017 and Mama June: Road to Redemption in 2021. Over the years, she has made headlines for facing a number of financial and legal problems, including substance addiction and narrowly legal trouble for possession of illegal substances.
Mama June: Road To Redemption was a powerful and emotional look at Mama June's journey to recovery, the show followed the lives Mama June and her then boyfriend Geno Doak. Throughout the show, Mama June and her family worked with therapists and addiction specialists to address the underlying issues that led to her substance addiction. They also worked to repair her relationship with her daughters and other family members, which had been strained as a result of Mama June's past behavior.
Despite her appearance on the show, some viewers were skeptical that she had truly turned her life around and was able to manage her finances responsibly. Here's Mama June's progress in connection to her spending habits...
Mama June Spent Close To $1 Million On Illegal Substances
Mama June's problematic drug use became known to the public in March 2019 when TMZ reported that she narrowly avoided being arrested for possession of illegal substances. At the time, Mama June and her ex-boyfriend Geno Doak were both caught outside a gas station and charged with felony substance possession and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. The drug paraphernalia charge was dismissed as part of the deal.
Afterward, her downward spiral was well documented by the media. At one point, it was reported that June told her daughter Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon that her and Geno were spending $2,500 a day on illegal substances. June later acknowledged that at the height of her addiction, she would even text family to simply let them know that she was still alive.
In 2021, June Shannon revealed to Access Hollywood that she spent close to $1 million on substances throughout the height of her addiction, saying: “I would say the last year of our addiction, probably a good $900,000 (was spent). So much money was sent to our dope man.” She recalled an instance where she sent her dealer $80,000 in a single transaction, and claimed that she was waiting on $15,000 to get her “last high,” but later decided to enter rehab when her payment arrived late.
Shannon spoke candidly about her addiction problems throughout the interview, she said: "I went into rehab with $1.75 to my name, and I came out with nothing. I don’t want to go back to that. I don’t want to have my bank accounts overdrawn."
The TLC star also provided a rare insight to her childhood and explained that having an "addictive personality" is an issue that runs in her family, saying: "I was around drugs my whole life, addiction does run in my family. In this industry, it’s kind of crazy that until you get busted it’s okay, and I think that is the wrong way to be, but it is — it’s true."
Mama June's Daughters Were Deeply Affected By Her Addiction Issues
Mama June Shannon's family members, including her daughters, Alana (aka Honey Boo Boo), Lauryn (aka Pumpkin), Jessica (aka Chubbs) and Anna (aka Chickadee), were deeply affected by her addiction issues. In appearances through their 2020 reality show Mama June Family Crisis, the sisters opened up about the impact their mother's addiction had on their family.
They were particularly affected by her substance use and the amount of money she had spent on it. They publicly expressed their disappointment and frustration, with some even cutting off contact with their mother. Her daughter, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, who had taken on a parental role for her 17-year-old sister Alana, was especially vocal and expressed concern that Mama June's addiction had caused her to neglect her responsibilities as a mother.
Pumpkin has spoken out about how she had to take on a parental role for her younger sister despite being in her early twenties, she expressed her disappointment and frustration with her mother's choices, saying: "What more can we physically do for her? I mean, we tried to send her to rehab. The network even gave her the opportunity that anybody in their right f---ing mind would take. She checked out within less than 24 hours."
During a confessional on Mama June: Road To Redemption, Pumpkin notably said: "The fact that you would rather me adopt Alana and her physically mine, never yours again, you never have no responsibility over her, that gives me some type of money? Make it make sense, because you literally blow money 24-7."
June Shannon's youngest daughter, Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Shannon has also spoken publicly about her mother's addiction and the toll it took on their family, she expressed her sadness and disappointment in her mother's behavior. During an episode of Family Crisis, she said: "I don’t even know who she is anymore."
The public response to June Shannon's admission was largely negative, many criticized her for wasting such a large amount of money on illegal substances instead of using it to support her family and improve her life. Some viewers expressed sympathy and emphasized the importance of seeking help for addiction.
Has Mama June Finally Got Her Life Back On Track?
Mama June Shannon has openly been remorseful for her past behavior and is trying to rebuild her relationship with her daughters. In an interview with Access Hollywood, she said: "You miss so much, my kids stopped talking to me, so now our thing is that we’re trying to redeem our kids, and it’s been a process. Addiction is selfish, but my recovery is selfish also."
In a 2022 interview with Distractify. June Shannon revealed that she has now been sober for 29 months, she also declared that her relationship with her daughters is "on the mend" at this time.
More recently, People reported that Mama June married her boyfriend Justin Stroud for a second time in an intimate ceremony on February 18, 2023. June Shannon's four daughters were all in attendance for the special occasion.
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