Mama June Dating Mark McDaniel, As reports swirl that the future of TLC's surprise hit reality series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo hangs in the balance after it was revealed that 'Mama June' Shannon is dating a child sex offender, her daughter Pumpkin has come out swinging in her defence.
Hoping to set the record straight, 14-year-old Lauryn Shannon - otherwise known as Pumpkin - has spoken toRadarOnline about her mom's prior relationship with Mark McDaniel in a bid to douse the flames.
'The story is not true. My mom left Mark 10 years ago,' the teenager insists, adding: 'They haven’t seen nor talked [to each other] in 10 years.'
While TMZ has obtained a photo allegedly taken a month ago of the 34-year-old reality star snuggling up to the 53-year-old in a hotel bed, Pumpkin has slammed the evidence as simply 'Photoshopped'.
With Mama June having separated from long-time partner Mike 'Sugar Bear' Thompson just last month after she allegedly discovered the 42-year-old actively trolling for women on various dating websites, her daughter says the mom-of-four is enjoying the single life.
She is all about the kids. She only needs us girls, no-one else,' Pumpkin states. 'We are all sticking together as one happy family with us four girls.'
The matriarch is also mom to Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson, nine, Jessica 'Chubs' Shannon, 17, and Anna 'Chickadee' Shannon Cardwell, 20.
The three youngest girls still live at home in MacIntyre, Georgia, while Anna - who has a two-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn - has since moved to Alabama after marrying baby daddy Michael Cardwell.
According to reports confirmed by the MailOnline, Mark McDaniel is a registered sex offender in the reality show's home state of Georgia.
The registry details that Mark only got out of prison in March after he was convicted in 2004 of aggravated child molestation, which is 'when such person commits an offense of child molestation which act physically injures the child or involves an act of sodomy'.
TMZ reports that Mama June has been dating her ex for the last few months, citing the aforementioned photo as proof of their liaisons.
The pair were also said to be romantically involved at the time of his arrest.
Horrifyingly, TMZ claims that McDaniel was convicted of assault one of June's own relatives. The website reports: 'Prosecutors say he molested an eight-year-old child - forcing oral sex.
'We're told Honey Boo Boo's mom has been seeing McDaniel for the last few months ... sneaking away from production of the show and meeting up with him. We're told she's also been setting him up by buying him various gifts.'
In light of the revelations, TLC said it is now examining whether the show will continue.
