Mama June is pushing back against claims made by her daughter Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, who suggests in her upcoming Lifetime biopic that her mother’s love was always tied to money.
In the newly released trailer for I Was Honey Boo Boo, the real Alana appears alongside dramatized scenes from her childhood, reflecting on her experiences growing up in the spotlight. At one point, she heartbreakingly states, “I wanted Mama, but her love was only transactional.”
Mama June Speaks Out
In an exclusive with TMZ, Mama June — real name June Shannon — says she never viewed her children “as a paycheck” or treated their relationship as a business transaction. However, she admits that her upbringing shaped how she expressed love.
“The way I was brought up, showing love meant giving gifts or money,” Mama June explains. “That’s just the way it had always been. So my love language became buying people things or giving my kids money to get their attention.”
Interestingly, June also flipped the narrative, claiming that for years she felt like an ATM — not just at home, but in her romantic and professional relationships. She says she’s since broken free from that mindset, telling TMZ that she’s cut ties with many people over the years who only saw her as a “personal wallet.”
A Mother-Daughter Rift
Mama June also touched on her strained relationship with Alana, who has previously accused her mother of mismanaging and taking money Alana earned as a child star. June admits that they are unlikely to ever be as close as they once were.
“We will never be close like we were 10 years ago because of everything that has happened,” she says. “But I’ll always be there if she needs me.”
June emphasized that she’s been working hard on herself, particularly by addressing her past struggles with cocaine addiction, and she’s committed to healthier boundaries going forward.
Lifetime Biopic Set to Stir More Drama
I Was Honey Boo Boo premieres Saturday, May 17 on Lifetime. While fans are eager to see Alana’s side of the story, Mama June cautions viewers not to believe everything they see, hinting that the dramatized version may not fully capture the complexities of their real relationship.
