Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird's Ex Josh Leaves Scathing Note, Moves Out After Learning She's Dating His Cousin (Exclusive)
Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon's ex Josh Efird left her a scathing note as he moved out of the home they shared.
"I called my mom and asked her to come get the kids because I don't want the kids to see me packing," he tells the cameras in an exclusive first look shared with PEOPLE from the July 25 episode of Mama June: Family Crisis.
An emotional Josh walks through the house collecting his things in a black trash bag.
"I've never felt this sick to my stomach," he says. "But through all the anger and hurt, I look around the house and just flashes of some of the best moments of my life."
Before leaving the house, Josh grabbed a pen and paper to leave his ex-wife a note.
"I can't believe you've been lying to me. All the years wasted just for you to go see someone," he writes. "I'm packing my s--- and I'm gone."
The message follows the news that Pumpkin is dating Josh's cousin Darrin Kitchens.
Pumpkin and Josh share four children together: Ella, 7; Bently, 4; and 2-year-old twins Sylus and Stella.
In August 2024, Pumpkin filed for divorce after six years of marriage. In the season 7 premiere of Mama June: Family Crisis on May 30, it was revealed the couple had been quietly struggling in their marriage and attended counseling sessions behind closed doors.
The divorce was finalized in September 2024 and the parents now share a '50/50 custody,' Pumpkin told PEOPLE in June.
'I think you're going to obviously see us navigating the difference of we were married...and now we have to go to a co-parenting relationship," Pumpkin told PEOPLE of filming her family's reality show with her ex. "So I definitely think you'll see the struggles of that and us trying to figure that out and what co-parenting is going to look like for us moving forward."
On the July 11 episode, Pumpkin reveals the 'awkward' news to her friend Paisley that she is dating Josh's cousin Darin.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
'But they're not blood cousins,' Pumpkin clarifies, saying Darin 'is related to Josh's stepfather, which Josh's stepdad is like a father to him, but there's no blood rushing.'
In the July 18 episode, Pumpkin revealed her new boyfriend to her mom, Mama June Shannon.
'The divorce ain't even dried on the ink yet,' Mama June responds.
Then Jessica asked if Josh knew, to which Pumpkin replied that he doesn't but she wants to be the one to tell him.
Mama June: Family Crisis airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on WEtv.
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12 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Ginny & Georgia' star Sara Waisglass on Season 4 fan theories, being a 'Canadian girlie' and navigating fame
Yahoo Canada Eh Listers: Sara Waisglass (Richard Bernardin) One of the most beloved and exciting new TV releases in recent years was Ginny & Georgia on Netflix, and with that came international love for the fantastic and electric Canadian star Sara Waisglass, who plays Maxine "Max" Baker on the show. She started acting at an early age, with roles on shows like the Family Channel series Overruled!, and both Degrassi: The Next Generation and Degrassi: Next Class. But Waisglass continues to grow as an artist into adulthood — including her own screenwriting — making her one of Canada's most impressive stars. The Toronto-based talent had an interesting start to her acting career as a child. The first step was when her mom, a producer, needed a young girl for a Dove campaign, and Waisglass fit the role. But her desire to have a career in film and TV came much later, even taking a break at a young age to ensure it's really what she wanted to do. "I feel like the reason my parents kind of put me into it was because they knew that I was kind of a ham, and I really liked making people laugh, and I really liked entertaining, but there was no way for me to know what it actually entailed," Waisglass told Yahoo Canada. "The fact that it is a job. And even as a six-year-old, you're working eight-hour days, and it's a lot for a little kid." Advertisement "So I actually ended up quitting acting when I was around 10, and I went back to it when I was 14, and that was nice, because then my parents didn't feel guilty anymore, because they were like, 'It was her decision. She wanted to go back.' And then I got Degrassi and that's when I kind of started to see that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, which is amazing, because I feel like my career was chosen before I even knew what I wanted. And I feel very lucky for that, especially when high school rolled around and people were confused about their futures." Waisglass went to an arts high school, where she was in a film program. She was curious about what happens behind the camera and in Grade 11 she starting writing, which eventually led to her studying screenwriting in university. "It gave me a control that I don't think you have when you're acting, just because you're kind of ... up to someone else's disposal," she said. "Whereas when you're writing your own stuff, you get full control, and you can really make anything happen." Waisglass also stressed that she loved being able to stay in Toronto and study screenwriting, knowing that she wasn't ready to leave home yet. But she has definitely felt the pressure to move to the U.S. to succeed in her career. Advertisement "Pretty much one of the main conversations that used to happen at Degrassi was, when are you moving to [Los Angeles]? And that conversation terrified me, because I knew in my bones I was not ready to move," she said. "I knew I didn't want to move, and I knew I probably wouldn't ever want to move." "I'm not the biggest L.A. fan, ... it's just not really my vibe, although I will say the last two times I went, I was like, 'Oh, I get it. I get why people come here.' But it really still is just not very me. I'm a Canadian girlie through and through. I always felt the pressure, but I never put too much weight on it, because I knew the way that the world was moving, I felt like I could do my work from anywhere, especially now. I mean, after COVID, there's no in-room auditions anymore. It really is all on self-tape, so you can kind of do it from anywhere." Yahoo Canada's Eh Listers is an interview series with women and non-binary Canadians in film and television, looking back on their careers with unfiltered stories about their greatest projects. Overruled! — 2009 to 2011 Going back to the late 2000s and early 2010s, we watched an adorable young Waisglass play Jordy Cooper, sister to Jacob Kraemer's character, in Overruled! Advertisement "They were all so great to me, because I was the little sister, so I didn't have anyone my own age, even the older kids were like in their 20s," Waisglass said. "And I remember we would do our read-throughs, and they would always be like, 'OK whoever reads the best at the table gets this chocolate.' Which obviously they didn't do for the 20-year-olds, they did it for me, which was always the sweetest thing ever." "And I love them. I'm still in contact with Jacob, who played my brother, and one of the writers who's helped me with my writing. So it was a great experience, and I couldn't have asked for a better real first project to be a part of, because they were amazing to me." Degrassi: The Next Generation & Degrassi: Next Class — 2013 to 2017 Then Waisglass moved on to one of the most notable and identifying Canadian franchises, starring in Degrassi: The Next Generation and Degrassi: Next Class as Frankie Hollingsworth. Unlike several projects younger actors star in, the world of Degrassi is centred around its young ensemble, with much of the cast around the same age, which Waisglass says made a huge impact on young performers. Advertisement "I think that made the biggest difference, to be honest, because ... I feel like I was forced to grow up a little early, just because I was with adults 24/7 when most of my friends were just going on field trips and going to class. Whereas I was really just involved with adults and taking their direction, and working with them day to day," she said. "So when I was on Degrassi, that made the world of a difference, because it was the first time that I had met people who had the same experience as me. ... There definitely were some Degrassi kids who had been doing it since they were six, and so it was kind of the first time I got to speak to anyone who had the experience that I'd had, which means a lot, and makes a really big difference. And it kind of all felt worth it in that moment, because I was like, I found my people, which was really special." One element that's a particularly unique stamp of Degrassi storytelling is tackling quite serious topics through its characters, from pregnancy to racism to mental health, and much more. "My initial thought was, it's fun, because what a great way to test your skills and what a great way to push yourself. But it also felt very heavy and it felt like a big responsibility," Waisglass said. "And a lot of the actors on Degrassi, when I was there, they took it very seriously." Advertisement "One actress in particular, I remember, she was very inspiring to me, because she really took the time to isolate herself, do her work, put herself in that headspace and get some amazing work done, which made me see like, oh this isn't game time anymore. This is some serious work. ... I just felt constantly inspired by these people who were able to channel some dark stuff at the ripe age of 15." TORONTO, ON - MARCH 09: (L-R) Actors Richard Walters, Amanda Arcuri, Ana Golja, Sara Waisglass, Spencer Macpherson and Ricardo Hoyos of Degrassi: The Next Generation attend the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards at Westin Harbour Castle Hotel on March 9, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic) With any actors who work professionally at a young age, there's always that question of how they'll sustain and evolve in their career. In the history of Degrassi casts some, like Waisglass, have continued to have successful careers into adulthood, while others haven't stayed in the industry. Waisglass' departure from Degrassi was a difficult transition, especially because her fate was up in their air as there were doubts about the franchise's future. "That was hard. Never even getting a call being like, hey I don't think the show's coming back. I think we all just got an email being like, your contract's done, which is not a very fun way to end a four-year journey," she said. "Degrassi happened at the same four years that my high school experience happened, ... and so after that, after we wrapped the last season of Degrassi, I went into university, which was its own beast." We all just got an email being like, your contract's done, which is not a very fun way to end a four-year journey. "And it was good, because I had something. I feel like if I had just gone into nothingness, into the abyss, and been hoping that Degrassi would come back, it would do a lot of harm to my mental health. So I was really, really grateful that I had something else to focus on. But that was a really harsh end, and then it kind of like threw me into the future. I feel like, you feel you're very important when you're on a show like that. ... It was my first experience being recognized for a show. It gave me a little following. It gave me so much. And then to go from feeling important to feeling like you're back at square one, was very hard. And so the next few years were just spent taking whatever parts you were given, and not really feeling like you had the capacity to say no to certain jobs, and it just felt a little more scarce when four years had been so comfortable. So that was a little hard. ... But I was very, very lucky to have school, and I don't regret going to school for a second." Cascade — 2023 Shifting gears, compared to much of her work, Waisglass starred in the thriller film Cascade, a project she credits for allowing her to "grow." Waisglass added that Cascade helped her push past her fear that she couldn't play a character that was different than her Ginny & Georgia character Max. Advertisement "I've always played wacky, and I've always played silly and funny," she said. "Still to this day, I feel like I was the wrong choice for Cascade, and I still don't know why they went with me, but it felt like a huge challenge." "Also, at that point in my life, I was toying around with the idea of moving out and kind of spreading my wings that way, and Cascade gave me the opportunity to live away from home for four or five weeks, and be the lead in something. That was the first time that I was the lead in anything. So that felt like it came at the right time. ... It gave me some of my very best friends. And I love when people bring it up, because it just brings back that summer and all the memories I made, and that ultimately gave me the confidence to eventually move out. So I feel like I owe a lot of my growing to that movie." Suze — 2023 One of the most underrated movies in recent years is the dramedy Suze, with Waisglass playing the daughter of Michaela Watkins' character. They're a comedy duo we'd love to see more of together. "Michaela Watkins is an absolute star. I followed her career for a while, before I booked that role, even to the point where when I was 13 I was impersonating some of her skits from [Saturday Night Live]," Waisglass said. "So getting to do Suze with her was magic. ... She was an absolute powerhouse. ... If I can be half the performer she is, I will die a happy woman." Advertisement "She's really big on improv, which scares me. So that was cool. And I had to push myself to keep up with her, which is amazing. And just watching her interact with people and watching her choices, I just was constantly fascinated. ... I think that movie did not get the love it deserves. I hope that it's a sleeper [hit], and I hope that people find it and it becomes a cult classic, because I really do love the story, and I think the cast was outstanding. ... Also a completely different character, and something I had never done before, and my mom always told me I couldn't play mean, so I got to try to play mean, which was very fun." Ginny & Georgia — 2021 to 2025 But among all of the accomplishments in Waisglass' career, Ginny & Georgia is special. The Netflix hit is an international success, and has accumulated loyal fans who are incredibly invested in the show's story and characters. "Sometimes it hits me and I'm just like, this was just a job, and now this worldwide phenomenon, and so many people know it, and I can't go anywhere without being stopped or someone saying that they love the show and it's meant so much to them, which is very meaningful," she said. "It's incredible, especially because ... the show premiered in 2021, so we had already been in COVID for a year, and the way that it took off was so immediate, it almost was frightening." "It really has been the most incredible experience and couldn't have been with a better group of people. I really, really love our cast, every single one of them. And I've always worried, being part of a series, that ... you watch shows and you watch them deteriorate, ... but I really do feel like our cast and our crew constantly were bringing it for every season. ... I think that's what our audience really connects to, and it's everyone's passion, and playing their roles and knowing their roles so well, and I think that's why so many people connect to it." Advertisement Ginny & Georgia also really allows its characters to grow and evolve throughout the seasons. For Waisglass' character Max, that means this teen, who we initially met as quite a popular girl at school, is now isolated as her friends and brother Marcus (Felix Mallard) have started pulling away. "I think Max has always been someone who thrives in groups and she feeds off of the energy of the people around her, and I think she's always been confident for that reason. ... And now she is entirely alone, not only with her friends, but her best friend, Marcus, is at odds with her," she said. "And so I do worry about her. ... I don't have any scripts, this is just from me and what I know about my girl Max, I feel like she is going to turn inwards and be like, what did I do wrong? And why am I not enough? And she already does have those thoughts. Why do I love people more than they love me? What's wrong with me? Why am I always the problem? And so I worry for her in that context." But with the Ginny & Georgia fandom, some fans have presented some pretty extreme theories for what will happen to Max in the upcoming Season 4. Advertisement "My algorithm on TikTok, so many edits come up, and I read the comments. ... And so many people are like, 'Max is probably going to kill herself.' And I'm like, don't put that energy out there, please!" Waisglass stressed. "I hope to God that doesn't get to [creator] Sarah Lampert's phone, because I really hope that doesn't happen!" "I love my girl Max. I think she can heal. I believe in her. She's growing so much. I think it'll be a very interesting arc for her, whatever happens next." INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Sara Waisglass attends NETFLIX TUDUM 2025: THE LIVE EVENT at The Kia Forum on May 31, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo byfor Netflix) In terms of fans being vocal about their thoughts on the show, there's been quite a significant evolution in the audience response to Max, seemingly becoming more positive as the show has gone on. But Waisglass highlighted that being on Degrassi gave her the "foundation" necessary to deal with a wide range of comments, and some particularly nasty responses. "Degrassi people spoke about my character all the time, and a lot of people called me annoying, and a lot of people made fun of me a lot," she shared. "There were some great people who were very complimentary, but you never remember those. You only remember the people who called you an idiot, which is unfortunate." "So I feel like that kind of gave me a good foundation to be like, it doesn't really affect me, because it really doesn't. And people will even direct message me and tell me how much they hate me, which is such an interesting thing for people to do, because it's like, why are you taking energy out of your day to make me feel bad? That sucks. And also, it doesn't make me feel bad. I'm just like, that's weird. I don't know why someone would do that, and I would not want to be that person's friend." How to Lose a Popularity Contest — 2026 Looking ahead to next year, Waisglass recently filmed the Tubi movie How to Lose a Popularity Contest, starring alongside Chase Hudson (also known as Huddy), Lillian Doucet-Roche, Graham Verchere, Ecstasia Sanders and Kyra Leroux, set to be in released in 2026. Waisglass plays 'Ellie,' described as an "organized perfectionist," but an unpopular high schooler, anxiously waiting to start her future at a prestigious college where no one will call her "Max," the nickname she received from Nate (Hudson) years ago. It's a high school rom-com where the "underachiever and a type-A overachiever" team up to win student body president, maybe getting closer than expected. "It was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I'm not even joking about that. I would say my top three projects for sure have been Ginny & Georgia, Cascade and now How to Lose a Popularity Contest," Waisglass said. "They told me I had the role five days before we started filming, so I had zero time to even breathe, and I was terrified. ... It shot in Vancouver. I didn't know anyone in Vancouver, except for my best friend, who happened to be in Toronto for the whole month, which is so annoying. But it was the most extraordinary experience of my life, I had so much fun." "The whole crew was fantastic. The cast was extraordinary. ... Our director, [Stephen S. Campanelli], he would leave the camera running at the end of scenes and just let us do whatever we wanted. And so we were having so much fun just doing improv and just playing around, and really stretching ourselves. It was life changing, it was so fun, I've never laughed harder, and I've made such good friendships now." That friendship spilled outside of filming the movie, with the cast all going to a recent concert Hudson had in Seattle together. But Waisglass was also excited to work with director Stephen S. Campanelli, particularly given his experience working on projects like Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. "People would come up to me and be like, ... he's Clint Eastwood's number one camera operator," she recalled. "This man is so humble, ... all the crew [would come out] to be like, you know how lucky you are to be directed by this man?" As Waisglass has developed in her career, one thing she's be able to navigate is how to have a voice on set. "I know that every person on a set has their job and does it well, and so you never want to infringe on that, but I also can recognize that as an actor, I should have a voice, and I should have a say in my character, and I shouldn't just be a puppet," she said. "So especially with this to be film I was very concerned that my character was not going to be likeable enough for people to want to be on the journey with her. And so I was very honest with Steve, and was like, here are my concerns. There are just certain lines that I think are too aggressive or too harsh, and I don't think people will root for her. ... He was super receptive to that. And I think it's all about how you go about these things. ... It just comes down to respect and relating to each other on a level of, this is a story that we all want to tell together, and we want to do it right. .. I think my voice has definitely gotten stronger, but not in a way that's overbearing. I think I just care about my characters a lot, and I want to do whatever I can to make them come across on screen in a way that resonates with people."
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sydney Sweeney Is Facing A Backlash Over Her New American Eagle Campaign. Here's What People Are Saying
Sydney Sweeney's new collaboration with the fashion brand American Eagle has become the centre of a whole lot of debate. The Euphoria star unveiled a new campaign with the American clothing brand last week, to promote their line of denim last week. However, it didn't take long before social media clips to promote the deal sparked a wave of discomfort among many critics, largely due to some of the language that's used in the campaign. This is the story so far… What is Sydney Sweeney's new ad campaign for American Eagle all about? For American Eagle's autumn 2025 campaign, Sydney Sweeney can be seen sporting items from the brand's denim range, including a new pair of jeans inspired by her. The campaign also makes use of the slogan 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans', a pun on the term 'great genes'. In another, she explains: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour.' 'My jeans are blue,' she then quips, at which point a narrator delivers the line: 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.' Why are some people upset about Sydney Sweeney's new ads for American Eagle? Unfortunately this repeated use of the slogan 'great jeans', a pun on 'great genes', has put some viewers in mind of the language used by white supremacists and eugenicists. By centring a blonde, white star in a campaign referencing 'genes', some critics are accusing the brand of tone-deafness at best – particularly in the current political climate – and deliberately pushing a white supremacist agenda at worst. HuffPost UK has contacted representatives for both Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle for comment. Others are pointing out that Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle campaign doesn't mention one other important aspect of the product American Eagle's new 'Sydney Jean' features a butterfly detail on its back pocket, in a nod to domestic violence awareness, a cause which the White Lotus star has championed throughout her career. In fact, an American Eagle press release confirmed that '100% of the purchase price from 'The Sydney Jean' will be donated to Crisis Text Line', a charity in the US which aims to help those affected by domestic violence. However, the ads are also being criticised for not highlighting this key part of the campaign, with some saying its accompanying slogan is even more jarring as a result. Has Sydney Sweeney or American Eagle said anything about the controversy? Not yet, but we'll be sure to keep you updated if and when they do… READ MORE: Glen Powell's Ex Makes Veiled Comments About How Sydney Sweeney Rumours Affected Relationship Sydney Sweeney Fires Back After Producer's Takedown Of Her Looks And Talent Sydney Sweeney Makes Blunt Comment On Women's Empowerment In Hollywood
CNET
20 hours ago
- CNET
Access More Than 30,000 Movies and TV Shows With This One Free Item
When I was an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I added a concentration in film studies as part of my English and Comparative Literature degree. This choice exposed me to the marvelous world of film scholarship, adding to my already fervent love for movies. The decision also meant I was screening anywhere from four to seven movies each week for assignments and my honors thesis. The one platform that saved me throughout my semesters of frantic screenings was the streaming service Kanopy. Kanopy is an on-demand video platform that boasts a catalog of 30,000-plus titles, including classics, film noirs and award nominees. And unlike other streaming services like Netflix that are consistently raising their prices, Kanopy is still free. As a college student, I had free access to the platform with my university email address. The best part -- besides Kanopy being ad-free -- is that I didn't have to give up my account after I graduated; I'm still streaming its robust offerings for free thanks to my public library card. Below, I'll show you how you can sign up with Kanopy, and why it's worth it. Read more: 9 of the Best Netflix Alternatives to Entertain You How to create a Kanopy account With Kanopy, you can stream for free — without ads — movies, TV shows and documentaries. To create a Kanopy account, you can do the following: Go to and click Get Started . . The next window will ask if you're signing up with a university credential or a public library card. Select which option applies to you. You'll need to select your library system or university from the dropdown list. To find a library near you, share your location when prompted or search for your library by name, city or ZIP code. You can do the same when searching for your university. Hit Continue. Create your Kanopy account by filling out the requested fields (name, email address and password). Click Sign Up . . You will receive a verification email from kanopy@ Open the message, and click Verify My Email . . Start streaming. You'll need to select your library system or university from the dropdown list when creating a Kanopy account. Kanopy/Screenshot by CNET Are there limits to the number of films I can watch per month? Yes, Kanopy does not offer unlimited streaming. After signing up, you can stream up to 10 titles per month. Your 10 play credits will renew at the beginning of every calendar month. These credits do not carry over if you don't use them. Why is there a monthly limit? CNET Kanopy works on a pay-per-checkout model, meaning the public library system pays a small fee each time you check out a title. By limiting checkouts to 10 titles per month, libraries can ensure they stay on budget. Which films are offered on Kanopy? Kanopy catalog gives you access to over 30,000 titles, including: Award-winning foreign films Critically acclaimed movies A24 films Documentaries Classic films from the Criterion Collection Content from the Great Courses and PBS Festival indie or world cinema Storybooks Films and series for children Some notable standout films include Memento (2000), Donnie Darko (2001), Dial M for Murder (1954), and my personal favorite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019). If you're interested, you can read my commentary about why I love this film so much. Does Kanopy offer seasonal collections? Yes, Kanopy offers select seasonal and speciality collections. Kanopy's Holiday Collection is released each December and includes a slew of Christmas features and documentaries, and Yuletide classics. In October, Kanopy released its Fright Fest collection -- a catalog of Halloween favorites -- comprised of horror flicks, slashers, thrillers and more. The Fright Fest collections includes A24 favorites, creepy classics, cozy horror and so much more. Kanopy/Screenshot by CNET You should also explore our full rundown of the best movies on Max, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Plus, stream our favorite horror double-feature now on Netflix.
