Latest news with #IWasHoneyBooBoo
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson reveals reality TV earnings and financial struggles
Alana Thompson, better known as "Honey Boo Boo," recently spoke out about her reality TV earnings and financial difficulties. Despite her long-running presence on shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Toddlers & Tiaras, and Dancing with the Stars Juniors, Alana revealed in an interview with People that she has never seen the money she earned from her initial TV success. Alana stated, "I have never, ever received the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo money. I don't know what happened to it." She also accused her mother, Mama June Shannon, of taking $35,000 of her earnings from Dancing with the Stars Juniors in 2018. Although June reportedly returned the money, Alana claims she never received an apology. The issue of Alana's earnings has been a major storyline on Mama June: Family Crisis, where the family drama surrounding the money continues to unfold. Alana mentioned she considered suing her mother but hesitated because 'by law, she did what was right,' explaining that 20% of her earnings were placed in a Coogan account—a trust designed to protect minors' earnings. Alana is currently working on a Lifetime film, I Was Honey Boo Boo, which she says has helped her pay for college. Since her sister Pumpkin gained custody in 2022, Pumpkin has set up a Coogan account for her, though Alana has yet to access the funds, preferring to save them for future needs. Fans can watch I Was Honey Boo Boo to learn more about her rise to fame and ongoing journey.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Honey Boo Boo Reflects on Mama June's Struggle With Drug Addiction and Where They Stand Today
Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson's upcoming Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo, brought some closure to the period in her life where she watched her mom battle drug addiction. 'That was a really hard time for me and I was trying to transition into high school and there was just so much going on in my life at that time,' Thompson, now 19, tells Us Weekly exclusively. 'Plus, everything my mom was doing on top of that was very hard for me. So that was probably one of the hardest things to just revisit.' 'But in a way I think it kind of brought me closure just because being able to finally just say it out loud, kind of just let it get off my chest a little bit and in a way it was light closure for sure,' she added. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo aired on TLC from 2012 to 2017, following the life of Thompson, then a child beauty pageant contestant, and her family, led by mom, June 'Mama June' Shannon. When the spinoff series, Mama June: From Not to Hot, started on WeTV, Shannon began struggling with drugs. She and then-boyfriend Geno Doak were arrested in 2019 on felony drug possession just days after her family staged an intervention for her. 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' Stars: Where Are They Now? As her mom's addiction worsened, Thompson noticed a change. 'I just noticed her locking her door and when she locked her bedroom door, it threw me off,' she said. 'But when she started locking her bedroom and bathroom door, that threw me off even more. My mom has always had an open door policy and we can come in and talk about anything to her.' And while Thompson said she never went hungry, she was often left fending for herself for dinner. 'When she got really bad in her addiction, there wasn't home cooked meals,' she said. 'I had to figure it out on my own or I was eating a bowl of cereal or noodles or whatever it was that I could cook at that time.' 'Dark Side of Reality TV' 1st Look Explores Honey Boo Boo's 'Toddlers and Tiaras' Rise to Fame Thompson admitted that for the 'first year or two' after her mom got sober, she worried about her relapsing. Now, Shannon has a few years of sobriety under her belt and it's no longer a worry. 'Now it's like I don't think it's even a thought in my mind just because of how anti-drug she is now,' Thompson explained. 'She doesn't like any drugs. She doesn't smoke cigarettes, she doesn't do alcohol, literally nothing. She doesn't do it. She hates it. So I'm very proud of her and I don't even think that's a concern for me anymore.' 'We're in a really good spot right now,' she added. 'I mean, honestly, I can't put into words how good of a spot we are in right now. It is just perfect. I mean, we don't talk every single day, but we do make sure to communicate with each other.' I Was Honey Boo Boo premieres Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
Tom's Guide
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
How to watch 'I Was Honey Boo Boo' - Stream Alana Thompson's story anywhere across the world
Perhaps we should let 19 year old Alana Thompson introduce "I Was Honey Boo Boo", it is the biopic about her life after all. "Beyond the glitter, the pageants, and the catchphrases, there was a lot going on behind the scenes. I'm narrating the film myself because nobody can tell it like I can. From family struggles and hard truths to finding my own voice, 'I Was Honey Boo Boo' shows the side of child stardom the cameras didn't always catch." Here's how to watch 'I Was Honey Boo Boo' from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE. "I Was Honey Boo Boo" premieres in U.S. on Saturday, May 17 at 8.00 p.m. ET on Lifetime.• U.S. — Lifetime via Sling. Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free Fans of reality TV will probably know about her rise to fame as a child pageant contestant on 'Toddlers & Tiaras' and then her huge and sudden moment of fame via the show 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo'. Since then she has had the difficult personal journey navigating the challenges of growing up under intense public scrutiny. You could also add the difficulties of growing up in a family with its own particular set of issues, particularly demanding mother Mama June (played by Chelsea Larkin), before a set of scandals and legal problems led to Alana being placed into the care of Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird (Georgia Small). Now almost 20 and looking to put herself through college, Alana is ready to reclaim her narrative. "America's favorite redneck little girl" to the present day, Thompson says she hopes that the movie "brings some healing, not just for me, but for anyone who's ever felt misunderstood or unheard." Read on to find out how to watch "I Was Honey Boo Boo' online and from anywhere around the world. In the U.S., "I Was Honey Boo Boo" will air in the U.S. on Lifetime with the premiere set for Saturday, May 17 at 8.00 p.m. ET. If you've already cut the cord and don't have cable, you can watch Lifetime on a live TV service, like Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, and DirecTV Stream. Traveling outside the States? You'll need to use a VPN to unblock your usual streaming service when abroad. Sling TV is one of the most affordable live TV services on the market. The Sling Blue package includes more than 50 channels including Fox and NBC (in select cities), TLC, AMC, Bravo, Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime and USA. Right now get 50% off your first month! Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "I Was Honey Boo Boo" on your usual streaming service? You can still watch "I Was Honey Boo Boo" thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best VPN on the market: There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Try the $3.99 per month plan for the best value Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.K. and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Fire up your website or streaming service of choice and tune in to "I Was Honey Boo Boo" just as you would at home. Unfortunately there is no confirmed release date for "I Was Honey Boo Boo" in the U.K. but if that changes you'll read it here first. It is most likely to drop on Discovery Plus. A Discovery Plus subscription starts at £3.99 per month. For sports fans, the £30.99 premium tier will get all things TNT Sports, such as Champions League and Premier League football. If you're outside of the U.K., you can try using a VPN to catch the show on your regular domestic streaming service. Despite Canadian residents having access to Lifetime, their scheduling is different and "I Was Honey Boo Boo" will not be available on the platform. A release date for it is currently unknown, but you can be certain that Lifetime will broadcast it when accessible. Americans on vacation in Canada will need one of the best VPNs to log in back home as you will be geo-blocked when in the Great North. We recommend NordVPN. There is no release date announced yet for "I Was Honey Boo Boo" in Australia but if and when that changes you'll read about that here first. Visiting Australia and don't want to wait? Americans can watch the show from anywhere by using a VPN such as NordVPN. Richard Nicholas Emerson - Geno Doak Alana Thompson (Honey Boo Boo) - Narrator (voice) Vale Cooper - Young Alana Georgia Small - Pumpkin Rebecca Finch - Judgemental Mom Chelsea Larkin - Mama June Bern Collaço - Supermarket shopper Isabelle Ayres - Alana Hainsley Lloyd Bennett - Dr. Ish Daisy Barlow - Pageant Girl Helen Belbin - Watching Woman (Scout) Eoin Lynch - Mark Neil Chinneck - Sugar Bear Freddie Cohen - Josh Efrid Kamara Bacchus - Susie Emily Nevitt - Jessica Shannon Norma Butikofer - Producer Kieran Mortell - Justin Keith Alexander - Dralin Mia Turley - Young Pumpkin Lauren Downie - Shopping Woman Tristan Ianiero - Luke Hanson Dan Burton - Coach Minee Mais - Aisha Pippa Caddick - Nicole Nicholas Joy - Uncle Tia Borley - Milan Lyra Kane - Pageant Girl We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson Recalls Days They Had No Food amid Mom's Addiction to Crack Cocaine (Exclusive)
Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson has been a fixture on reality TV ever since her days on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2011. The rambunctious spitfire won over the hearts of fans and snagged multiple spinoff shows featuring her family over the years. But what was her life really like behind the cameras? Alana, now 19, is finally ready to share her side of the story. The former pageant princess' life is being explored in a new Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo, premiering May 17. Among one of the darkest moments that the film depicts is her mother 'Mama June' Shannon's downward spiral into toxic relationships and drug addiction. 'I did not want this movie to be throwing punches at my mama and making her out to be the bad guy,' Alana tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. 'But I didn't hold back, and if she gets mad, at the end of the day it's the truth.' As Mama June filmed her spinoff series, WeTV's Mama June: From Not to Hot, which first premiered in 2017, she fell into the throes of addiction to crack cocaine. 'I noticed something was off about her,' Alana says. 'She started locking her doors, which really made me think, 'Oh, what is she doing?'" In 2019, Mama June and her then-boyfriend Geno Doak were charged with felony possession of drugs — just days after her family staged an intervention that was captured on Mama June: From Not to then began living with her older sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird after she told her mom during the intervention she had left "not by choice." "I would love to come home and stay with you, tell you about my day, but I can't do that because I'm scared. I'm scared to stay at your house," Alana said in the 2019 episode. Looking back now, Alana remembers "when Pumpkin came to get me [to live with her], there was no food. Basically, the house had been abandoned." When Alana was 16, Pumpkin was granted full custody of her. Alana recalls the period playing out so publicly on TV. 'People were like, 'I saw your mama on the news with a busted tooth, strung out,'' Alana recalls her classmates saying. 'I'm like, 'Great, like I didn't see that too.'" Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. During the time Alana came under fire for pretending to snort cocaine on social media. 'It was really stupid, but I was young, and Mama wasn't really reaching out. I thought if I do this maybe she'll be like, 'I need to stop because Alana's taking after me.' It didn't work.' As the show rebranded to Mama June: Road to Redemption and, later, Mama June: Family Crisis (which returns May 30), Alana recalls a time a producer 'pulled me aside to say, 'Your mama's not going to look like what you think. She's on drugs. You need to prepare yourself.'' Alana and her sisters confronted Mama June about her drug use, and 'she didn't lie,' Alana says. 'But it didn't matter that she fessed up, because she still wanted to do it.' Though critics have accused the show of being exploitative for showing such events, 'I don't think it was,' says Alana. 'But at times I do feel like the camera should have went away.' Now, she and her mom, who says she's five and a half years sober, have mended their relationship, though Alana says it was "hard." "But at the end of the day, she's my mom. When she was bad in her addiction, I just kept thinking about the day she'd recover," she says. "We're going pretty good. Hopefully it lasts. I just no longer have any expectations for her."I Was Honey Boo Boo premieres Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Honey Boo Boo goes to war with Mama June as she slams her over 'transactional' love in shocking biopic trailer
Alana ' Honey Boo Boo ' Thompson comes out swinging in the emotional first trailer for her upcoming Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo. Now 19, the former child pageant queen-turned-reality star is ready to set the record straight about what was really going on behind the scenes of her flashy TV life. In the trailer, released Thursday, Honey Boo Boo slams her mother Mama June Shannon, accusing her of offering only 'transactional' love throughout her childhood. 'It was always the same thing: I wanted Mama, but her love was only transactional,' Thompson says in a voiceover. The trailer offers a behind-the-scenes look at the darker side of her rise to fame, including the pressures placed on her from a young age. In one scene, Mama June — who recently admitted to spending $30,000 of Alana's earnings but denied any wrongdoing — urges her to 'show more skin,' revealing just how much pressure was put on her to perform. According to Lifetime's official synopsis, the film will explore how Alana's trademark confidence 'concealed the harsh reality of constant criticism and family struggles,' particularly with Mama June. 'For the first time,' she declares in the final moments of the clip, 'I feel free.' The trailer comes a month after Mama June was seen goading her daughter over 'stealing' $30,000 of her fortune in the explosive new trailer for their show Family Crisis. She said: 'Where's my money' leading a grinning Shannon to pull out a huge plastic check for $30,000. Shannon responds: 'The check is right here' as a distraught Alana says off-camera: 'This isn't a game!' In April 2024 Mama June admitted she spent $30,000 of daughter Alana's money on 'life expenses' including manicures and household bills - while continuing to shut down criticism for not contributing to her college fund. Alana was particularly upset by the news regarding her finances, and she stated that she was considering legal action against her mother, who had attempted to talk her way out of the confrontation. Also affected by the argument was Shannon's husband, Justin Stroud, who stated that he was 'really hurt' by his wife failure to be truthful about her past actions. In one scene, Mama June — who recently admitted to spending $30,000 of Alana's earnings but denied any wrongdoing — urges her to 'show more skin,' revealing just how much pressure was put on her to perform 'For the first time,' she declares in the final moments of the clip, 'I feel free' Elsewhere in the trailer, Lauryn 'Pumpkin', 25, is heard declaring: 'We're getting a f*****g divorce!' as her tearful husband Josh looks on. She also locks horns with sister Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon over their business. The trailer takes an even more shocking turn when a legal adviser says: 'The judge really could sentence you to prison' before Alana declares the family are in for a 'hot mess summer!' Alana previously threatened to cut off her mother after she refused to pay the money she allegedly stole from her. In a 2024 episode of the family reality show, the teenager and her older sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon confronted their mother over the money intended for Alana's college education. After the matriarch refused to pay her youngest daughter's tuition, which she suggested would be a 'waste' of money, Pumpkin said Mama June was 'not supportive' and 'lost $500,000 to a bag of f***ing crack'. Their intervention quickly becomes a bitter showdown when Mama June denied the 'betrayal' overall and refused to hand over the money — for which the teenager previously said she will sue and take her mother to court Their intervention quickly becomes a bitter showdown when Mama June denied the 'betrayal' overall and refused to hand over the money — for which the teenager previously said she will sue and take her mother to court. This comes after the matriarch told exclusively that she spent Alana's Dancing With The Stars: Juniors earnings on manicures and paying her own bills. The family has had their fair share of heartbreak, as they were rocked by the death of Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell at age 29 from cancer in December 2023.
