Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon revealed this week that her coparenting relationship with ex-husband Josh Efird has been “a bit of a challenge” as of late, due (almost entirely) to the fact that Josh recently welcomed a daughter with his current girlfriend.
As The Ashley previously told you, the Mama June: Family Crisis couple split in August 2024 after six years of marriage and four children together. While Josh and Pumpkin’s divorce wasn’t finalized until the following month, both were quick to move on, with Pumpkin beginning a relationship Josh’s cousin Darrin Kitchens– whom she’s still dating– and Josh dating a woman named Keely, who at the time was pregnant with Darrin’s child (allegedly). Josh and Keely eventually split, and he began dating a woman named Breanna Godwin, who gave birth to Josh’s fifth child, daughter Sadie Mae, earlier this month.
The Ashley will give you a moment to reconcile all of that in your brain.
While promoting the upcoming season of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis,’ Pumpkin gave an update on her coparenting relationship with Josh, telling Entertainment Tonight that, “it has been a little bit of a challenge” since Josh became a father of five.
“We coparent cordially, I’ll say that,” Pumpkin added. “It depends on the day.”
Pumpkin went on to explain that while ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ fans will see her and Josh “navigating” a different living situation at the beginning of the new season, she currently lives in her and Josh’s home, while Josh is living with his girlfriend/latest baby mama.
While some ‘Family Crisis’ fans were shocked to hear the news of her and Josh’s split last year, Pumpkin revealed that their divorce was actually a long time coming, as the two were already “having issues” in their marriage when they welcomed their first child Ella in late 2017.
Pumpkin also revealed that the death of her sister Anna Cardwell– who passed away in December 2023 at the age of 25 following a nearly year-long battle with cancer– had also played a part in her deciding to end things with Josh.
“ … I’ve told a lot of people this, I think that Anna passing at such a young age for me was such an eyeopener and I really don’t want to live in a world or [be] in a relationship where I continuously have to beg just even for the bare minimum,” she explained.
Pumpkin also admitted that, prior to her and Josh calling it quits, she would make an effort to hide their marital issues by painting “this very pretty picture” on-camera, as well as on social media and in front of friends and family.
“I was always talking him up and stuff, but then in the background of that, we were probably arguing for three [or] four months,” she said.
Despite the issues they allegedly had behind closed doors, Pumpkin acknowledged that there was some authenticity to the version of her and Josh’s relationship that she presented publicly; however, she ultimately decided it wasn’t fair to either one of them to remain married.
During the interview, Pumpkin’s mom, Mama June Shannon, claimed that she and others in the family “knew for many years” that Pumpkin and Josh needed to part ways, though June said she didn’t reveal her feelings to Pumpkin until Anna died.
“ … I think when Anna passed away it opened up a lot of eyes,” June said.
The new season of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ premieres Friday, May 30, on WeTV.
Watch a clip from Pumpkin’s interview below.
RELATED STORY: Mama June Shannon Says Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson Hasn’t Spoken to Their Daughter Alana “in Years” But Wants Back on Family’s Show
(Photos: WeTV; YouTube)
14 Responses
The people on this show like other reality shows are more likely to separate and their relationships end . Since Lauryn and Josh married young,took on too much,it is obvious they did not stand a chance. Simply put this docudrama lifestyle has destroyed their marriage.Unfortunately the family suffers. Now we see Alana a new mom,struggling with school and her relationship.Lauryn and Josh suffered from this invasion of privacy and fame along with their children. I am sad for the children. Some people want to have fame,this should wake up the viewers and participants to the reality of life
Whhhyyy do they have to have so many children. With everyone they date! 😫
I bet they hardly fit any of the ride seats at Universal 😂
It’s very ridiculous to me that he already has another child. You have four kids dude, they’re young and you just got divorced. Wtf is the point in having one more right away? I agree it’s trash behavior.
That’s what you get for have kids with a man whore
Having*
Humans make mistakes. How many other people go through this? We know Pumpkin had another man Josh should have used protection if he didn’t want a child. This is not rocket science. To say he is a man whore is wrong
Y’all remember back in the old days when people like this went on one or two episodes of Jerry Springer or Maury and then faded into oblivion?
Mama June was on several shows ie Jerry Springer
He and pumpkin split in Aug 2024 then he dated Keely, then this other woman just recently gave birth? The math ain’t mathing.
I clicked the link to the article about them having the baby and it said se was 5 weeks early. But that math is still……0.o
Pumpkin hooked up with Darrin in April. Josh found out & moved out. Soon after. They filled for divorce in August. Josh started dating in Breanan in September. Keely had baby in October. Darrin is the father. No Josh didn’t date Keely they are friends. Josh started dating Breanna in September baby was due in June but born premature in May. All involved have reached out to clear up info. Follow on TikTok Mamajunefamilyteapage backup Mamajunefamilyteapage2 New Facebook Mama June family tea page ☕🍩🎃🥧🍰
Well to be fair they filed for divorce in August 2024 and that’s when it was announced publicly, but they likely separated before that.
So you were having marital issues since before you had your first daughter and then went on to have 3 more? And the first thing Josh does after splitting from Pumpkin is getting some random chick pregnant?
Trash behavior, all of them.