Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird's Shocking Divorce Fallout: Family Reactions and Personal Toll

Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird has revealed how her divorce from ex-husband Josh Efird inadvertently led to significant weight loss, clarifying that it was not a result of weight loss shots, surgery, or any specific procedure. In an exclusive interview with In Touch while promoting season 7 of Mama June: Family Crisis, Lauryn, 25, stated that the only medical procedure she had undergone was a gallbladder removal, which left incisions similar to those from lipo, but was unrelated to weight loss.
Instead, Lauryn attributes her transformation to the immense stress she experienced during her marriage. She explained that she felt pressured to “paint such a pretty picture” and pretend to be someone she wasn't, which caused her significant stress and led to overeating and becoming overweight. Once she filed for divorce, she felt a profound weight lifted off her shoulders, and consequently, the physical weight “literally just fell off,” without any conscious effort to lose it.
Lauryn and Josh, 28, tied the knot in April 2018. Before their marriage, they welcomed their daughter Ella in 2017, followed by son Bentley in 2021, and twins Sylus Ray and Stella Renae in 2022. Despite initially appearing to be a solid couple, Lauryn filed for divorce in August 2024 in Wilkinson County, Georgia, citing that their union was “irretrievably broken.” They had separated one month prior, and their divorce was finalized in September 2024.
The impact of their split also resonated with Lauryn’s family. Her sister, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, 19, shared her reaction with In Touch, admitting she was not completely surprised. Having lived with the couple, Alana “knew what was going on” and witnessed their struggles firsthand. While she had hoped they would resolve their issues as they had in the past, she noted that this time, things “got worse than it normally does,” ultimately concluding that “Pumpkin wasn’t happy.”
June “Mama June” Shannon, 45, echoed Alana's sentiments, stating that she “knew for many years” that Lauryn and Josh were destined to separate. June further explained that the passing of her eldest daughter, Anna Cardwell, in December 2023 after a battle with cancer, served as an “eye-opener for all of us,” prompting them to acknowledge many underlying issues they had previously put on the “back burner.” Anna Cardwell died at just 29 years old.
Their marital issues had often been publicly shared, frequently centering around June’s legal woes stemming from substance abuse and addiction. Lauryn herself told In Touch in April 2021 that she believed “our main issue is just everything that’s going on with my mom,” noting the transition from being childhood sweethearts to adults facing complex challenges.
One month after their divorce was finalized, both Lauryn and Josh began seeing other people. TMZ reported at the time that Lauryn was dating Darrin Kitchens, while Josh was involved with a woman named Keely. More recently, on Wednesday, May 28, Lauryn confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that she is still going strong with her current boyfriend, though she did not mention him by name. She also shared that Josh is living with his girlfriend, while she continues to reside in their former family home, remarking, “The person that I’m with now, compared to what I was getting and what I was perceiving as a happy marriage or happy relationship. Now, I really see that definition.”
The unfolding events and family reactions surrounding Lauryn and Josh’s divorce will be a focal point on season 7 of Mama June: Family Crisis. The show airs on WeTV Fridays at 8pm ET/PT and is also available for streaming on ALLBLK and AMC+.
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