Redneck matriarch June “Mama June” Shannon recently made headlines by accusing the baby daddy of 9-year-old daughter Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson of cheating.
But now 35-year-old June may have a new shoulder to cry on.
The National ENQUIRER has discovered that the rumor mill in their hometown of McIntyre, Ga., is buzzing that Mama June is getting close to one of Honey Boo Boo’s hunky bodyguards.
The Enquirer has identified the man as 44-year-old Mike Batenga.
When asked by an ENQUIRER reporter on Sept. 24 what was going on between him and June, Batenga replied: “No comment.”
The strapping bodyguard also thwarted The ENQUIRER’s attempts to speak directly with Mama June.
But family friend “Crazy” Tony Lindsey – who was banned from TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” – claims the two are close.
“I’ve seen him (Batenga) put his arm around June and she liked that!” Lindsey told The ENQUIRER. “plus she’s got money now. Everywhere they go, he’s with ’em.”
YouTube video showed Batenga accompanying June and Alana to New York City last year.
Meanwhile, Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson, 42, who had been accused by June of looking for women on an online dating site, is apparently aware of the rumor, according to a source.
But Thompson told The ENQUIRER he couldn’t answer any questions.
According to Lindsey, Mama June was the one who pulled the plug on her 10-year relationship with Sugar Bear despite their “redneck wedding” in May 2013. The ceremony was not legally binding.
“Sugar Bear came over here two weeks ago, and said, ‘June and I are through!’” Lindsey told The ENQUIRER.
“He said, ‘She kicked me out, but I’m still sleeping on the couch.’”Since then, sources say Sugar Bear has moved out and Mama June – who has three other daughters, “Chubbs,” “Chickadee” and “Pumpkin” – has been looking for new digs.
On Sept. 23, The ENQUIRER watched as Mama June and several pals, accompanied by bodyguard Batenga, went house hunting.
