Mama June Shannon’s granddaughter Kaitlyn revealed this week that it’s been over a year since she has seen her half-sister Kylee, due to Kylee’s dad, Michael Cardwell, allegedly refusing to allow the sisters to spend time together.
As fans of Mama June: Family Crisis know, Kaitlyn and Kylee are the daughters of June’s eldest child, Anna Cardwell, who died in 2023 at the age of 29. Following Anna’s death, Kylee was sent to live with her father, while June was awarded custody of Kaitlyn in September 2024 following a custody battle with Michael.
In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, 13-year-old Kaitlyn– aka “Katy P”– revealed how hard it’s been to be separated from her sister, whom she lived with her entire life up until their mom’s death.
“ … it was kind of hard ‘cause, like, we both cried and stuff ‘cause we hadn’t seen each other in a long time,” Kaitlyn said of the last time she saw Kylee.
Kaitlyn went on to say that while she’ll call her sister “every now and then,” Michael and his wife London Smith don’t always allow her to visit Kylee. (As you may recall, Michael moved from Georgia to Alabama after marrying London in September 2024. Last year, June argued that the couple’s move had put a further strain between the families.)
“ … sometimes we’ll ask if I can come over there and they’ll change the date randomly,” Kaitlyn said. “… it’s kind of weird, ‘cause like, Michael thinks he’s my dad, but he’s really not, and I don’t see him as a dad no more, but like, I did … .”
Kaitlyn, whose biological father has not been in her life, explained that she no longer looks at Michael as a father figure because she now realizes “all the stuff that he’s done to [her].”
Michael was in Kaitlyn’s life since she was a baby and, after his split with Anna, would take both girls— not just Kylee– during his custodial visits. Court documents stated that at the beginning of the 2023 school term, Kaitlyn stayed with Michael “for up to five weeks.” Anna also considered Michael to be Kaitlyn’s father. Despite this, Michael lost his bid for custody of Kaitlyn, and was not awarded visitation.
June insisted this week in press interviews that she and her family have “allowed [Kaitlyn] to be [Kaitlyn],” aside from setting some boundaries for the teen. As for Kaitlyn’s non-existent relationship with her former stepdad, June said she’s explained to Kaitlyn that she doesn’t want her to be in the same type of “controlling” situation that her mom was once in.
“ … I told her, I said, ‘Look, I don’t want you in a situation that your mother was in for so many years. I’m not gonna hide anything from you, you’re able to see my phone, you got my passwords, you got [my husband] Justin [Stroud]’s passwords … ,’” June said. “We don’t sugarcoat s**t for her. She’s old enough to know.”
June said later in the interview that Kaitlyn has expressed to Michael and London how she feels about their current situation, which June hopes will lead to their dynamic improving over time.
“That was something that she needed to do and I hope one day … London and Michael can be adults and come to me and talk this out so these kids can see each other,” June said. “ … they haven’t tried to see [Kaitlyn] in two-and-a-half years. Michael’s had her blocked since 2024.”
Season 8 of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ premieres March 13 on WeTV.
Watch a clip from Kaitlyn’s interview with ET below.
(Photos: Instagram; WeTV)
6 Responses
June is still a POS. When is she finally going to hell after all she’s done? She’s plain evil
“Kaitlyn, whose biological father has not been in her life, explained that she no longer looks at Michael as a father figure because she now realizes “all the stuff that he’s done to [her].”
When Kaitlyn grows up she will see that she is being manipulated and brainwashed by June. Michael loves her. He was always there for her. He fought in court for her. If June really cared about keeping the girls together and making sure that Katelyn didn’t lose her sister or the only parent Katelyn has ever known she would have relinquished custody of Katelyn to Michael because that would have been the best thing for Katelyn. If I were Michael I would keep Kylee as far away from that dysfunctional family as I could. But I’m not so sure that this is even true that he is keeping the sisters apart.
It pisses me off every time I think about it. June was never a mother to Anna. She sided with Anna’s rapist and picked her rapist up with Alana the day he was released from jail. She stole from Anna. She only got back into Anna’s life when it was profitable for her. Katelyn is money to June. I don’t believe Anna ever wanted Katelyn to be with June. June kept shoving paperwork in Anna’s face when Anna was dying trying to get custody of Katelyn. There is a reason that Anna never signed the papers.
i’m sorry but as much as i don’t like june (and i REALLY dislike her) how are yall solely blaming her for this??? kaitlyn’s the one speaking up about how she feels and she’s had direct communication to her sister and her parents yet still isn’t able to see her sister!! not saying june played no part because she might’ve like she normally does but michael definitely has a role in this as well!!
It’s OBVIOUS that June is manipulating this girl. We are talking about a woman that chose the man who raped her daughter over said daughter. June is a POS
The level of manipulation you can hear in these statements is wild. June is despicable.
What June has done to this child is beyond reprehensible! Kaitlyn ended up losing her mom, dad and sister all for Junes benefit.