Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson starred alongside his family on the TLC reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo for four seasons, drawing in some of the network’s biggest ratings for most of them. In January 2013, it was estimated that the family was making between $15,000-$20,000 per episode for their “work” on ‘Honey Boo Boo;’ however, a friend of Sugar Bear’s recently told Mail Online that Sugar Bear “has got no money” and is currently living in a trailer with no electricity or running water. He split with June Thompson, the mother of his daughter, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, earlier this summer.
His friend, Tony Lindsay, told the site that Sugar Bear’s trailer was rented for him by TLC because he has no money.
“June has all the money, and he has not seen any of it,” he told Mail Online. Another source told the site that Sugar Bear, “hasn’t seen any of the money that TLC paid the family.”
Anyway, Sugar Bear’s dire financial situation may cause additional problems for him: His friend claims that he is too broke to fight for custody of his daughter, Honey Boo Boo. Sugar Bear is understandably worried that his daughter is being exposed to June’s rumored beau, who just happens to be a convicted child molester whose victim was reportedly Honey Boo Boo’s older sister, Anna! The scandal eventually caused TLC to cancel the family’s popular reality show last week.
It’s no surprise that Sugar Bear is broke. Back in 2013, June said in an interview that all of the money that the family made from filming the reality show was divided evenly between trust accounts for Honey Boo Boo, and June’s other three daughters, as well as June’s granddaughter, all of whom appear on the show. She told TMZ at the time that she and Sugar Bear live off the wage he earns as a contractor. However, Mail Online confirmed that he no longer holds that job.
“He is not doing very well. He took the split hard, and now this comes along,” Sugar Bear’s pal Tony told Mail Online. “[He] is distraught that his daughter has had contact with a sex offender. [He] wants [Honey Boo Boo] out of that environment and knows the only way to do that is to get custody.”
According to Mail Online, the reporters the site sent over to Sugar Bear’s trailer were not met with a warm welcome. The site reports that a “burly man with a shotgun” was standing guard at the door and told them to leave the property immediately unless they wanted to be shot.
Oh, and, of course, Sugar Bear’s trailer was quite the sight, according to Mail Online, whose reporter claimed that “wild turkeys and goats wandered around the unkempt front garden while rusting cars and piles of trash could be seen strewn across the back yard.”
As.You.Do.
Hopefully TLC throws ol’ Sugar Bear a bonus check so he can fight to get his daughter away from Mama June’s dangerous boyfriend. It’s better for her to be living amongst wild turkeys than a convicted sex offender!
According to a press release issued by E! News, Mama June will be giving her first interview regarding her relationship and all of the family’s drama. The interview will air tonight on E! at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
“The whole truth will come out on my side…” June said.
The Ashley has reached out to TLC for comment on Sugar Bear’s living situation, but has not yet heard back from the network.
(Photo: Kris Connor/ Getty Images)
6 Responses
Sugar Bear needs to man up. Get his daughter away from that child molester who is already preying on her because if he doesn’t she will be his next victim.
I’m not sure SB is quite living it up with no job, no money from TLC and living in a trailer rented by TLC with no running water.. But yes, I do agree with certain aspects of your post. Also, many variables come into play here such as the conditions of that man’s parole/release,the fact they need to build a case including evidence that the children have been harmed and that June cannot keep them safe, the fact that the initial investigation takes time (usually at least 45 days), etc.. It’s just more complex than people seem to understand. I don’t agree with it, mind you. The system is tragically flawed.
*probably
There is no excuse. This is not an impossible situation, although difficult. It took me 2 seconds to find GeorgiaLegalAid.org which offers free or low cost services to people struggling with various family related issues such as divorce and custody battles. Trouble accessing internet or making calls? Sugar Bear should go to the nearest social service agency and seek help in getting the ball rolling.
I honestly think that Sugar Bear is pobably still trying to live it up now that he is single.
There is no excuse for him to say he can’t afford fighting for custody.
I think maybe Alana needs to go to a dependable adult somewhere in her family, because her parents don’t seen to be it.