The divorce of Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon and Josh Efird will play out on the current season of Mama June: Family Crisis; however, Pumpkin’s sister Alana Thompson has revealed that off-camera, other relationships have been affected by the couple’s split– including her once-close bond with Josh.
As The Ashley previously told you, Pumpkin and Josh split in August after six years of marriage and welcoming four children together; their divorce was finalized in September.
In a new interview with Us Weekly, Alana shared that, at some point after Pumpkin and Josh parted ways, Josh– who recently welcomed a daughter with girlfriend Breanna Godwin– stopped speaking to her, though she claims she was never given an explanation why.
“ … I mean, if we’re being completely honest … we don’t really [converse] anymore,” Alana revealed. “I don’t too much know why, he kind of just stopped talking to me and everything like that.
“I don’t wanna go too much into detail because I don’t wanna talk badly [about] anybody, but he just doesn’t talk [to me] anymore,” she added.
As fans know, Josh wasn’t just Alana’s brother-in-law, he also played a major part in caring for her when she was a teen, following Mama June Shannon’s 2019 arrest for possession of crack cocaine. Alana began living with the couple that same year and in 2022, Pumpkin and Josh were awarded full custody of Alana, who is now 19 years old and living on her own while attending college.
While Alana (and fans of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’) may be surprised by Josh’s decision to cease communication with someone he helped raise for years, June claims to be less shocked by her former son-in-law’s recent actions.
“It’s Josh,” June said, when asked about Josh no longer speaking to Alana. “ … and that’s all I’m gonna say. It’s Josh.”
Last month, during an interview with ABC4 News, Alana said that Josh will always be special to her because he was there for her when she needed him.
“I don’t have any ill will towards him,” she said. “I don’t think I ever will, just because he did raise me, and he was a very good father figure for me.”
While promoting the new season of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis,’ Alana and June were also asked to share their opinion on the new man in Pumpkin’s life, Darrin Kitchens, whom Pumpkin began dating last year, shortly after splitting from Josh. As you may remember, Darrin also happens to be Josh’s cousin.
Despite the family ties, June– who publicly threw her full support behind Pumpkin’s new man back in December– said this week that she’s still getting to know Darrin, and avoided giving her official stamp of approval on the couple’s relationship.
“ … I don’t know Darrin like that. I mean, I know him just being around, like, he’s very good to the children … the kids do like him,” she said, adding that Darrin is also “very much involved” in his own daughter’s life. (June made this comment despite the fact that Darrin reportedly has multiple children.)
While June didn’t have much to say about Pumpkin’s boyfriend this week, Alana confirmed that she’s a fan of Darrin, because he makes her sister happy.
“I like him, he makes Pumpkin happy and at the end of the day, that’s really all that matters to me,” Alana said. “As long as [Pumpkin’s] happy.”
New episodes of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ air Fridays on We TV. Episodes are also available to stream on ALLBLK and AMC+.
Watch a clip from Alana and June’s interview below.
@fromnottohotsaga Alana is hurt that Josh doesn’t talk to her Anymore but they Like Her New Boyfriend Aka Josh’s Cousin. #mamajuneroadtoredemption #mamajuneshannon #mamajune #mamajunefromnottohotfamilycrsis #georgia #southern #country #mamajunemonday #mamajuneandpumpkin #mamajune_wetv #mamajunedaughter #pumpkin @@officialJoshEfird @lanaaaa in the houseeee 🥳 @the sister’s closet 💕 @Mama June Shannon
(Photos: We TV; Instagram; TikTok)
8 Responses
I loved Pumpkin and Josh together, they made the show. So sad for everyone involved especially Alana. He really came through for all of them and the two of them had to grow up very fast. I really hope he is Happy. He is my favorite of the entire show.
Abandoned by yet another father figure & we’re surprised she keeps some bum around who seemingly won’t leave her side? Sadly her choice in men makes perfect sense
I’m still a fan of Josh.
As trashy as the whole situation is, I will say that I always felt bad for Josh having to deal with the drama June brought. He was fine with raising Alana, he just wanted June to stay away and stop disturbing their peace, but Pumpkin kept letting her back in.
I 100 percent agree with this statement. And June always kept coming back like nothing happened and she was just supposed to be forgiven because she’s the mama!! It was ridiculous
He’s probably not talking to Alana cause she tells pumpkin everything and he don’t want his business out there. He’s away from the cameras now and can have a life without June’s drama.
June was the biggest problem in pumpkin and Josh’s marriage and the way pumpkin’s been treating him just before their split was disgusting.
I bet Josh’s new gf is behind this. That’s usually how it goes in these situations.
Josh needs his own show!!!!! He was a big part of what made it a success