Josh Efird New Girlfriend: What Really Happened After the Split

It’s been a wild ride for fans of Mama June: Family Crisis. For years, Josh Efird and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird seemed like the most stable couple in the entire Shannon family orbit. They were the ones holding it all together while the world around them seemingly caught fire. But then, the 2024 divorce filings hit the tabloids, and suddenly, the "rock" of the family was splitting in two.

Since the ink dried on those papers, everyone has been asking the same thing: Who is Josh Efird new girlfriend, and how did he move on so fast?

If you’ve been following the social media breadcrumbs, you know the drama didn't stop at the courtroom door. It actually got way more complicated once the cameras stopped rolling and the real-life dating began.

The Shocking Split and the New Chapter

The divorce wasn't just a "creative differences" situation. Pumpkin officially filed in August 2024, citing that the marriage was irretrievably broken. But the real kicker? They had already been living in a "state of separation" since July. For a while, they tried "nesting"—which is basically that awkward arrangement where the parents take turns living in the family house while the kids stay put.

Honestly, it sounds like a nightmare. Josh admitted on the show that he felt "sick to his stomach" during the transition.

But soon after, reports from outlets like TMZ started surfacing that both Josh and Pumpkin had already found new partners. While Pumpkin made headlines for dating Josh’s cousin, Darrin Kitchens (we’ll get into that mess in a second), Josh was linked to a woman named Keely.

Who is Keely?

Information on Keely has been kept relatively quiet compared to the explosive drama on Pumpkin’s side. Unlike the Shannon family, who live their lives on 100% volume, Josh’s new partner doesn't seem to be chasing the reality TV spotlight.

• The Initial Rumors: TMZ reported early on that Josh had moved on with Keely shortly after the separation.
• The Pregnancy Bombshell: This is where it gets messy. In May 2025, during an interview with TooFab and Entertainment Tonight, Pumpkin and Mama June dropped a massive bomb: Josh recently welcomed a new baby with another woman. Yeah. You read that right.

While the family has been somewhat tight-lipped about the specifics of the mother's identity to protect the kids, Pumpkin confirmed that her four children—Ella, Bentley, and the twins Sylus and Stella—are actually "very excited" about their new sibling. It's a lot to process. One minute you're watching Josh be the ultimate girl-dad on WE tv, and the next, he's starting an entirely new family unit.

The "Cousin" Controversy That Clouded Everything

You can't talk about Josh Efird new girlfriend without talking about the guy Pumpkin started dating. It’s impossible to separate the two stories because they are weirdly intertwined.

Pumpkin went public with Darrin Kitchens, who happens to be Josh’s cousin. Now, to be fair, Pumpkin was quick to clarify that they aren't "blood cousins." Darrin is related to Josh's stepfather. Since Josh’s stepdad was the main father figure in his life, the family connection is still incredibly close.

Josh did not take this well.

Imagine moving out of your house and finding out your ex-wife is seeing someone you grew up with. In a leaked scene from Mama June: Family Crisis, Josh left a scathing note for Pumpkin, basically saying all the years were "wasted" because she was seeing someone behind his back.

How Josh is Handling the 2026 Reality

So, where is he now?

✨ Don't miss: The Van Jones and Family Story: Life Beyond the Green Room

As of early 2026, Josh has mostly retreated from the constant social media posting that the rest of the family thrives on. He’s focusing on a 50/50 custody split. They do one week on, one week off. When it’s his week, he’s full-time dad mode.

He’s admitted that being a single parent is a "whole-nother ballgame." Diapers, bath time, and the chaos of four young kids—plus a newborn in the mix—is a lot for anyone to juggle.

What we know about his current status:

1. Living Situation: He moved out of the marital home in Georgia and eventually found his own space to accommodate his kids and his new life.
2. The New Baby: The child was born sometime in late 2024 or early 2025, meaning Josh was navigating a pregnancy right as the divorce was being finalized.
3. Relationship Style: Unlike Pumpkin, who posts "my happy place" photos with her new man at Zach Bryan concerts, Josh has kept Keely (or whoever he is currently seeing) off the grid.

It’s a classic case of two people handling a breakup in totally opposite ways. One is loud and public; the other is private and defensive.

Why This Matters for Fans

For years, Josh was the moral compass of the show. He was the one who took in Alana (Honey Boo Boo) when June was struggling with addiction. Seeing him move on so quickly—and with a new baby—was a huge shock to the system for the "team Josh" fans.

It reminds us that reality TV is just a tiny slice of the pie. While we were watching them "try" to make it work in therapy on our screens, the real-life timeline was already moving toward new partners and new children.

If you're looking to keep up with the latest, the best thing to do is watch the 2025-2026 episodes of Family Crisis. That’s where the "nesting" struggles and the fallout from the new relationships actually play out.

Actionable Insights for Following the Drama:

• Check the Facebook Groups: Most of the real "boots on the ground" info about Josh and Keely comes from local Georgia residents and fan groups that track their public sightings.
• Watch for the 50/50 Schedule: You'll notice Josh's social media presence (when he does post) almost perfectly aligns with his "off" weeks from the kids.
• Separate Fact from Tik-Tok Fiction: There were rumors that Josh's new girlfriend was actually Darrin's ex. While that makes for a great soap opera plot, there hasn't been solid proof to back up that specific "wife swap" theory yet.

The reality of the situation is that Josh has moved on, he’s a father again, and the "Pumpkin and Josh" era is officially in the rearview mirror. It’s messy, it’s complicated, and it’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from this family.