Mama June Shannon has been a controversial figure in reality TV for a long time, and that’s putting it lightly. She’s been attracting headlines ever since she appeared on Toddlers and Tiaras with her daughter, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson. Since then, Mama June has appeared in shows of her own, including her upcoming Mama June: Family Crisis.
June has had it pretty rough over the years, and not always by fault of her own. She’s faced plenty of criticism over the example she’s set for her daughters, as well as the various legal disputes regarding issues of family, which her new show will dip into further.
It’s fairly common knowledge that June had a cocaine addiction. She was arrested in 2019 for drug possession along with her ex, Geno Doak. The two went to rehab and parted ways, and June is now three years sober, with her life seemingly on an incline to better things, including her loving husband, Justin Stroud.
Mama June Shannon has candidly laid bare her bitter regret at ‘blowing’ a staggering $1 million on cocaine – while opening up about her devastation at the ‘stupid’ things she did while in the grip of her crack cocaine addiction.
The reality star has endured her fair share of controversy ever since her family became households names following her daughter Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson’s star-making turn on Toddlers and Tiaras more than a decade ago.
During the time, the world witnessed the 43-year-old embark on a televised weight loss journey, before she then became addicted to drugs during her relationship with ex-boyfriend Geno Doak.
Speaking to DailyMail.com to promote her new series, Mama June: Family Crisis, the now-sober star reflected on the many ways her carelessness during addiction impacted her financially and physically as well as the fracture it created within her family.
Big regret: Mama June Shannon says her biggest mistake in life was spending over $1 million on drugs during the height of her crack cocaine addiction
Dark times: In March 2019, Shannon was arrested for felony drug possession and eventually went to rehab
When reflecting on what she would say to herself while she had been at her lowest point with her substance abuse, Mama June stated: ‘Girl, what the hell are you doing spending all that d**n money?’
She continued: I say that a lot to my husband [Justin Stroud]. I would be like, “Man, why in the hell did I blow all that money?” I am always thinking about that.
‘I think about a lot of things I could do with that money. My husband tells me all the time that I can’t dwell on it.’
The reality star explained that she often has moments where she hates herself over things she did during her darkest days.
‘I don’t remember like a lot of that time frame. Just bits and pieces and stuff,’ she stated. ‘But the biggest, stupidest thing I’ve done is spend that much money on drugs.’
The TV star proudly stated she has ensured she is much better with her earning now as she added: ‘Now I’ve gone back to being like penny pinching, and Justin tells me I’m a money hoarder.’
During her addiction, Mama June was spending up to $3,000 a day on drugs.
According to the star, she mostly snorted cocaine until it damaged her vision, at which point she switched to smoking crack cocaine.
Mama June, who is currently over three years sober, has since been suffering from a still unidentified health issues – with the star hospitalized over severe headaches and dizziness in 2022.
Her physician had been concerned enough to have her admitted to get the condition checked out. However, after running multiple tests and scans on her in the following months, no medical professionals have been able to offer her a diagnosis.
The Road to Redemption star claimed part of the reason why doctors were yet to discover the root of the issue was down to the fact she was seemingly being judged for her previous substance abuse issues.
‘We still don’t have any answers,’ June stated. ‘I’m still getting judgment from the doctors because when they look at me and I feel like I’m getting judged because of my prior issues.
Bad influence: Mama June’s ex Geno Doak was arrested with the star in Alabama
‘I hate that the doctors will look at someone who has been through something in their life, like an addiction, and they think that someone can’t change.’
She continued: ‘I’m over three years straight and clean. But when I’m honest and tell people that, the doctor just looks at you like you’ve got some major disease and I don’t.
‘I just want the answers and I’m not getting them. I’m trying to get into to see the best doctors that I know back in Georgia, but it is taking some time.’
In fact, the star is adamant that those expecting her to relapse will be left thoroughly disappointed as she said: ‘If you’re waiting on me to fail, baby. You better stop holding that breathe baby or else you gone die.’
In March 2019, Mama June and Geno were arrested for felony drug possession in Alabama.
The pair pleaded not guilty to possessing crack cocaine in October that year. The two later attended rehab before eventually splitting.
Mama June told DailyMail.com that the family will been seen working through arguments and undergoing counseling as she worked to repair her fractured relationship with her daughters.
Her husband Justin admitted it was hard to see the girls keeping their mother at a distance.
‘I see the change that she’s making every day, but they wasn’t around to see it,’ he explained. ‘But I understand where they’re coming from too, you know, because I was an addict myself and people get tired of being told that you’re going to do something and yet that it never comes.’
