Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon’s boyfriend of more than a year, Darrin Kitchens, is opening up about the ups and downs he and his cousin Josh Efird have experienced since Darrin started dating Josh’s ex-wife in 2024.
During a recent interview, Darrin described the dynamic between himself and Josh as “a lot at times,” telling Entertainment Tonight that there are good days and bad days.
“Me personally, I’ve never had a problem with Josh, ya know, before Pumpkin [or] after me and Pumpkin,” Darrin told the outlet. “Like, this wasn’t never, ya know, anything on me. He feels the way he feels and I 100 percent get how he feels and why he feels that way. It’s been a juggling act for everybody, but I definitely think that … you can see the light at the [end of the] tunnel. It’s all starting to come together now, two years later. One hundred percent.”
As fans of Mama June: From Not to Hot know, Pumpkin and Josh quietly split in August 2024 after six years of marriage, during which the couple welcomed four children together.
Despite the pair’s divorce not being finalized until September of that year, both were quick to move on to new relationships, with Pumpkin dating Darrin and Josh getting into a relationship with a woman named Keely, who at the time, was pregnant with Darrin’s child (allegedly). After Josh and Keely split, Josh began dating Breanna Godwin, who gave birth to Josh’s fifth child, daughter Sadie, in May.
When asked this week about the criticism she’s received from some of the show’s fans in the wake of her divorce, Pumpkin claimed that while a lot of viewers “took Josh’s side” in Season 7, she’s eager to see if opinions will change as things unfold in Season 8.
“ … because you’ll find out a lot of things,” Pumpkin said of the upcoming season, before going on to send a message to her critics.
“When y’all watch the end of this season, please, please, please don’t come back saying, ‘Team Pumpkin,’” she warned. “Please, I don’t want you on my team. I don’t need that type of negativity.”
Pumpkin’s mom, Mama June Shannon, chimed in to add that fans can expect to get a “more clearer picture” of Pumpkin and Josh’s situation in Season 8, while insisting that both parties were to blame for the demise of their marriage.
While Pumpkin claimed that she isn’t out to convince fans to join “Team Pumpkin,” she admitted that the backlash she’s received regarding the timeline of her relationship with Darrin has gotten to her at times, particularly because Josh moved on from their marriage just as quickly as she did.
“Josh, I mean, he’s moved on,” Pumpkin reminded fans. “Ya know, he has a kid– which granted, ya know, he didn’t plan for that … but he still moved on, too– and no one says anything about that.”
Pumpkin confirmed this week that she remains undecided on whether a second shot at marriage is in her future, though she claims to be really happy with where her and Darrin’s relationship is at the moment.
“I’m not gonna say that I would ever say no to getting married, but I like where we are now and I don’t want to rush that, because I’ve done that before,” she said. “ … I mean, we’ve been together, August will be two years this year, so I mean, if he wants to get married five years from now, cool. I’m fine with that. But right now, I think we’re in such a good spot that I like it.”
Pumpkin also clarified that Josh and Darrin technically aren’t cousins.
“So they’re not cousins at all,” she explained. “Like, literally. No blood, no nothing. Josh’s stepdad is kin to Darrin, but that is it.”
Season 8 of ‘Mama June: From Not to Hot’ premieres March 13 on WeTV.
RELATED STORY: Mother-of-the-Bride Drama, a Family Fallout & More: ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ Returns Next Month: Watch the Season 8 Trailer
(Photos: We TV; Instagram)
18 Responses
I find it interesting that no one mentions how Pumpkin is just like her mother. Why the need to attach herself to a man so quickly? The ink wasn’t even dry on the divorce papers. Alana, as well, she’s only ever dated one man. And she instantly believes ifs a forver thing. Taste others from the dating tree, geez! Pumpkin’s need to be with a man, verusus giving herself some breathing room after divorce, is so Mama June. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And just like Mama June marrying a Sugar Bear clone, and someone with a criminal record……seems a pattern. Pumpkin follows her mother’s path. Find someone not from a white collar professional world. But pick someone that adds drama to the family. Unbelievable.
Jasmine is so angry maybe you should talk to Jesus sweetheart 🤣🤣🤣 the internet isn’t for you babe
i was one of the few people who were on pumpkin’s side last season until i saw how mean and nasty she was towards jessica when she was put in an uncomfortable position
They’re not cousins anymore, Darrin was married to Josh’s sister. Once the marriage was dissolved they stopped being cousins
@jasmine ~ if he was married to josh’s sister, darrin would have been josh’s brother-in-law, not his cousin.
**disclaimer that i know nothing about this particular weird, incest-adjacent hillbilly hodgepodge. am just stating a general family relation fact.
(of course i know what i read here on theashley 😎 ~ but otherwise don’t keep track of these rubes)
And no one keeps track of you because no one of any importance gives a damn about you.
And I have another reply for you but unfortunately Jasmine wouldn’t type in so J is all that’s there.
It’ll be visible once Ashley views it.
@jasmine ~ tsk tsk. why so surly? i simply stated a basic fact abt family relationships. like, i wasn’t being combative. 🤷🏼♀️
and you still didn’t clarify how these yokels are (or aren’t) related.
I’m “surly” because it’s a free damn country and it’s my reason a red blooded American.
And you want to talk about Pumpkin’s relationship with Josh’s “cousin” (even though they are no longer cousins) AFTER THE MARRIAGE but what people are conveniently ignoring is that Josh impregnated Doe Doe’s (June’s sister) Breonna DURING THE MARRIAGE.
So, while Pumpkin is somewhat in the wrong…at least she didn’t cheat like Josh
Right not reason
@jasmine ~ i never indicated that i ‘wanted to talk about’ the relationship(s) of any of these yokels. nor did i talk about it.
i simply tried to clarify what you said about these creatures being cousins vs brothers-in-law.
all you needed to do is correct your stmt (which you finally did below). there was no need to be so weirdly aggressive and jump immediately 🏃🏼♀️💨 to crude name-calling.
hope you have the evening you deserve! ♾️👍🏻
I hope don’t wake up tomorrow Gary
Oh I said sister instead of cousin…you know what that makes me dont…a NORMAL…IMPERFECT…HUMAN…BEING just like every other person on earth. God will forgive me, he knows that no one but Him has ever or will ever be perfect.
Still doesn’t change THE FACT that once the marriage to the blood related cousin was dissolved it meant that Darrin and Josh were no longer cousins
you could have just corrected ‘sister’ to ‘cousin’. no need to go 0-100 🏎️⏩💨 with the aggression. also no need to bring religion into it. 🤷🏼♀️
#relax
#calmdown
Go f yourself because God knows no one else wants to
Hodgepodge-that’s funny AF. Thanks for the laugh.
Josh’s stepdad has a son it’s Darren kitchens they’re not blood related so they’re technically not related blood or other
The real question is, what the f dead animal is he wearing on his head. I can smell the Pabst and stale cigarettes in this pic.