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In a People exclusive published on May 30, 2025, Mama June star June Shannon shared that Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird’s divorce from Josh Efird had been a long time coming.
“We all knew behind the scenes it was in the works for long for many years,” June admitted.
Lauryn, 25, has been married to Josh for six years and shares four children with him. Their divorce was finalized in September 2024, though fans of Mama June: Family Crisis were not fully aware of the issues until Lauryn began to open up about the situation.
June said that after her daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell passed away in December 2023, it made the family rethink life and focus on living fully instead of staying stuck in routines.
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Lauryn shared that she was hesitant at first to talk about her divorce on the show, but eventually felt ready to open up about her struggles. She’s now happy in a new relationship with Darrin Kitchens and feels supported.
Mama June star Shannon says family knew Pumpkin’s marriage was in trouble for years
In the interview, June Shannon spoke about how the family had known for a long time that Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird’s marriage to Josh Efird was not in a good place. June admitted that the family had known for a long time that Lauryn’s marriage had been struggling behind the scenes.
She reflected on how the family’s perspective changed after the passing of her daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell in December 2023, sharing that it made them realise how important it was to focus on what really matters in life.
“Life is very, very short,” June said, adding, “Don’t keep living life and make it just be like, ‘Okay, I get up, I’m going to do this.’ You need to start out there and really live your life for yourself,” June shared.
June also mentioned that she had tried to stop Lauryn from marrying Josh, but she ultimately supported her daughter’s decision. “I tried to stop her, but I had to let her make her own choices,” she shared. June’s comments give insight into the family’s journey, showing how they dealt with the challenges together while respecting Lauryn’s decisions.
Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird shares how her new relationship makes her feel supported
Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird spoke about her relationship with Darrin Kitchens, explaining that it has brought her happiness and a sense of balance. She mentioned feeling much happier and more secure in her current relationship, adding that with Darrin, she no longer has to ask for basic things—everything feels naturally in place.
Lauryn also shared that Darrin fits well into her family’s life and gets along with her children, saying that he attends many family events and connects well with her kids in Mama June.
Lauryn reflected that it was not easy for her to share the details of her divorce from Josh on Mama June: Family Crisis. She explained that many viewers thought they were a picture-perfect family, but she had chosen not to show the problems in her marriage on the show.
Lauryn admitted that she had spent years putting others’ needs ahead of her own and often felt like she was left feeling empty. Now, she feels like she is prioritising herself and is back in a better place emotionally.
Mama June: Family Crisis returns on May 30, 2025, at 8 pm ET on We TV.
