TLC Cancels ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Because Child Molestation Is a Bit Too Real for Reality TV

Bad news, everybody. TLC has officially cancelled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, your favorite reality show about obese hillbillies.

The reason? Mama Boo Boo (actual name June Shannon, pictured here) is dating a convicted child molester who just finished a 10-year sentence FOR MOLESTING HER EIGHT-YEAR-OLD RELATIVE.

I wish I was kidding—about the child molester, about the fact that a mother of young children would date such a man, about the fact that Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was a television program that actually existed—but I am not. Apparently Shannon was dating the man ten years ago when he went to prison, and I guess the fact that he forced himself on a child wasn't a deal-breaker, because they're back together now that he's out.

As a result, this woman with no discernible talent, skill, or intelligence—who had nevertheless become the well-paid star of a famous reality TV show—has totally shredded her family's meal ticket.

When TMZ first reported the news yesterday, TLC's response was that they would be "reassessing" the show's future—meaning they just needed time for their lawyers to get all the paper work in order.

Today they officially pulled the plug. Instead of giving you an actual excerpt from their actual statement, though, I'll give you this rough translation:

"We thought it would probably be a bad thing to have a reality show about children living with a child molester. So we cancelled it."

Good call, guys.

[via THR]