Fans may soon have to say goodbye to the show that made Honey Boo Boo famous, as the controversial hit TLC series "Toddlers & Tiaras" has reportedly been cancelled, according to sources from Radar Online.
"After six series, the show has been officially taken out of production," a Radar insider revealed. "Was it pressure from distractors? No-one is saying, at least, not yet. They aren't using the word 'cancelled,' but I can tell you that the show is over."
Now a household name and a wacky fixture in popular culture, "Toddlers & Tiaras" popularized the freakshow that is the world of little girl beauty pageants, where girls are covered in spray paint, their hair perfectly coiffed and their faces polished with make-up as their stage parents push them to win a number of fierce competitions.
The show, with its bizarre humor and knack for creating buzz, "Tiaras" has long been a source of controversy, criticized for allegedly sexualizing young girls, putting them in innapropriate outfits and pressuring them to be in the spotlight. Sherri Shephard of "The View" is among the reality show's many critics.
"When are we going to stop sexualizing our children?" Shepherd lamented in 2011. "Your job is to protect your child...if you don't think pedophiles are watching this show, I have a bridge I want to sell you."
After mother Wendy Dickey put her three-year-old daughter in a prostitute costume back in '11, her choice of dress infuriated many viewers such as Shepherd and members the Parent's Television Council, though the mother earnestly defended her decision, according to ABC News. Most recently, participant Maddy Jackson's parents went to court over her participation on the show in a bitter custody battle, creating even more backlash for the reality series.
Now, mothers like Dickey may no longer have an outlet to show off their multi-talented daughters, as the last episode of the show "History of America Pageant" will air on Oct. 16.
When Radar Online requested a comment from TLC, the network responded, "Nothing has been decided at this time, we are just not currently casting at the moment."
Even though "Television Loves Controversy" (TLC's nickname), it may not be enough to keep it on the air.
