Amid reports that her mother, June “Mama June” Shannon, is dating the man who was convicted of molesting her when she was 8 years old, Anna Cardwell is letting her voice be heard.
The former “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” star, now 20 and married with a 2-year-old daughter, broke her silence last week when she confirmed to RadarOnline that she had been a victim of abuse at the hands of her mother’s alleged boyfriend, Mark McDaniel. Released from Dodge State Prison in Georgia on March 1, 2014, McDaniel served 10 years for aggravated child molestation.
Shannon has denied dating McDaniel, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
“[My mother] never told me she believes me,” Cardwell told “Entertainment Tonight” of the abuse. “She never said, ‘Hey Anna, I’m sorry for not believing you and I still don’t believe you to this day.'”
Cardwell said she feels “betrayed” and “very hurt that Mama let him come around,” adding that she’s pleaded with her mother to stay away from McDaniel for the safety of her underage sisters, Lauryn, 14, and Alana, 9.
The 20-year-old went on to say that her mother seems “happy” around McDaniel.
“She’s smiling and giggling when he’s around,” Cardwell told “ET.” “You know, he’s a child molester, Mama. He did this to me. Why would you let him come around the girls knowing what he did? And reportedly done it to another girl? And Mama was like, ‘Oh, he never done it to another girl.'”
Cardwell maintains that McDaniel’s presence may not be in the best interest of her siblings.
“Mama’s not supposed to be around him!” she said. “She just knows! And she let him get around [Alana] and [Lauryn]!”
According to law enforcement sources contacted by TMZ, McDaniel is only prohibited from associating with Cardwell. Spending time with Shannon and her underage daughters is not illegal.
Allegations that Shannon was involved with McDaniel prompted TLC to cancel “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” last week, and a spokesperson for Georgia’s Division of Family and Child Services warned that the alleged relationship puts the former reality star in danger of losing custody of her two underage daughters.
