Honey Boo Boo's mom, Mama June, is slamming reports that she rekindled a romance with a man who was charged for molesting a minor. TMZ broke the story that Mama June was allegedly dating 53-year-old Mark McDaniel, who was released from prison in March after serving 10 years for forcing an 8-year-old to have oral sex with him.
TMZ also reported that the victim was a relative of Mama June's. In the wake of the scandal, TLC announced on Friday that they were immediately cancelling "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" and would not be airing the already taped new season.
In a "Truth Video" posted on Facebook, Mama June commented on the show cancellation and denied that she was dating McDaniel.
"I have not seen that person in 10 years, and do not seem to want to see that person," she said in the video. "We just want to thank from the bottom of our hearts the support that we've had from our fans since May 2012... The experience has been awesome to us. The girls have been able to do things that they would not normally have had to do."
She also said despite the show being cancelled, the family will still have their annual Christmas display and encouraged fans to stop by and visit.
"Things happen for a reason in life, and you live and learn," she said. "We greatly, greatly, greatly appreciate every one of y'all."
Mama June's 14-year-old daughter Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon spoke to Radar Online and also denied that romance between her mother and McDaniel.
"The story is not true. My mom left Mark 10 years ago," she said. "They haven't seen nor talked [to each other] in 10 years."
When TMZ broke the news, the site also released a photo of Mama June lying in a bed with McDaniel. Supposedly the photo was taken earlier this week at a hotel.
Pumpkin told Radar that the picture was fake and had been "photoshopped."
"She is all about the kids. She only needs us girls, no one else," she said. "We are all sticking together as one happy family with us four girls."
