Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson has addressed criticism over the age gap between herself and her boyfriend Dralin Carswell.
The 16-year-old Toddlers and Tiaras alum sat down with ET's Rachel Smith this week and told her that she and 21-year-old Dralin have been targeted based on two things: "our age gap" and "because he's Black and I’m white."
Sat with Alana during the interview was her sister, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon. The pair spoke from their home in Georgia about a range of topics including family, dating and reality TV.
The teen also discussed her relationship with Dralin, whom she's now been seeing for a year and seven months.
"In our relationship, the two most things that everybody is always talking about is our age gap and definitely because he's Black and I’m white and we're an interracial couple," Alana said.
The reality star went on to say that the opinions of those online are irrelevant to her as she and her boyfriend are in a happy relationship and their family is supportive.
"I don’t care because, like, at the end of the day, my sister approves, his mom approves, and we're happy, so what fans got to say or what haters got to say I don’t really care," Alana continued.
Lauryn, 22, voiced her own support for her younger sister's relationship with Dralin. She said that at nearly 17 years old, she believes Alana is mature enough to date a man in his early twenties.
“She’s not getting married, she’s not having a kid, she’s doing very good in school,” Lauryn said, adding that in spite of the age gap, Alana and Dralin are “on the same wavelength.”
Alana then spoke in detail about what she likes about her relationship with Dralin.
"I like how it’s never quiet when we're around each other, we're always talking about something. It’s never like an awkward moment, silence or none of that. We're always just talking about something," Alana shared.
Lauryn was this year granted sole custody of Alana away from their 42-year-old mother, Mama June Shannon, People reports.
The judge wrote that Lauryn "has had guardianship of the minor child" since April 29, 2019. "It is in the best interest of the child that the plaintiff is awarded sole custody," they wrote.
The mother will only be allowed to contact the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star by phone every day, and will have to pay her guardian $800 per month in child support until Alana turns 18.
Lauryn first became Alana's temporary guardian in August 2019 after their mom was arrested on drug possession charges that year with her then-boyfriend Geno Doak.
The older sister was permitted by her father, Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, to seek guardianship over her younger sister.
Now, Lauryn is the reality TV star's sole decision-making authority until she reaches legal age, and she has the right to make the day-to-day care decisions for her.
Additionally, Lauryn will have the choice to permit visitation rights between June and Alana. The judge also ruled that both parties have agreed to the arrangement set in the document.
.jpg_mQm5Av?tr=h-184)
.jpg_pm3tQD?tr=h-184)
