Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson is revisiting her past in the new Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo. Narrated by Alana herself, the film aims to reveal the reality behind her childhood fame, which began on Toddlers & Tiaras.
Here’s the Lowdown: Premiering Saturday, May 17 at 8/7c, I Was Honey Boo Boo features Alana Thompson recounting her experiences. The film contrasts her famous on-screen confidence with the off-screen difficulties she faced, including public criticism and family problems, especially concerning her mother, Mama June. Vale Cooper plays young Alana, Chelsea Larkin portrays Mama June, Isabelle Ayres takes on the role of older Alana, Georgia Small plays older Pumpkin, Mia Turley is young Pumpkin, and Neil Chinneck stars as Sugar Bear.
What This Means Now: This movie gives Alana a platform to share her perspective on growing up in the spotlight. It’s presented as an inside look at the pressures of child stardom and the family turmoil that followed her rise to fame. As part of Lifetime’s “I Am/I Was” biopic series, it seeks to provide a deeper understanding of a well-known pop culture figure now navigating adulthood and college.
The Bigger Picture: The film examines the journey from child pageant star to reality TV phenomenon and the subsequent fallout. It covers the family’s legal troubles, Mama June’s struggles, Alana being placed in her sister Pumpkin’s care, and her current efforts to define herself beyond the “Honey Boo Boo” persona while addressing generational challenges. Produced by Cineflix Productions and Thinkfactory Media, the movie is directed by Katie Boland from a script by Emily Silver.
