Hit reality TV show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” has been axed after the family matriarch was romantically linked to a convicted child molester.
The show was a spin-off of another TLC reality show, Toddlers & Tiaras, which featured child beauty pageants. Honey Boo Boo had become a popular character on Toddlers & Tiaras, and TLC decided to give her and her family their own show.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was a ratings success for TLC, but it was also controversial. The show was criticized for its portrayal of the Thompson family’s lifestyle, which some viewers felt was unhealthy and unsophisticated. The show was also criticized for its focus on child beauty pageants, which some viewers felt were exploitative.
Despite the controversy, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo remained popular for four seasons. The show was cancelled in 2014 after it was revealed that Mama June, Honey Boo Boo’s mother, was dating a registered sex offender.
The future of the programme, about titular child beauty pageant contestant Honey Boo Boo, was thrown into doubt on Thursday Oct 23rd after Mama June Shannon reportedly reconnected with former lover Mark McDaniel, who was imprisoned for child sex crimes in 2004.
Shannon dismissed the claims in a post on Facebook.com, insisting, “It isn’t true I promise. My kids r #1 priority over anything else (sic)”, but her denial wasn’t enough for network bosses at TLC – they announced on Friday Oct 24th that the popular reality show, which debuted in 2012, had been cancelled.
A statement released to People.com reads: “TLC has cancelled the series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and ended all activities around the series, effective immediately.
“Supporting the health and welfare of these remarkable children is our only priority. TLC is faithfully committed to the children’s ongoing comfort and well being.”
