Who Is Michelle ‘Mimi’ Theriot on ‘OutDaughtered’? Get to Know Danielle Busby’s Feisty Mom
You didn't think Adam and Danielle Busby are raising six little girls without any support, did you? As you can imagine, the stars of OutDaughtered rely quite a bit on the family when it comes to raising their daughters — including Danielle's mom Michelle Theriot, a.k.a. Mimi.
Who Is Mimi on ‘OutDaughtered’?
Mimi proved to be a dedicated grandma when she left her native Louisiana to be closer to the couple and their girls in Houston, Texas, shortly after the quints were born. Though Mimi originally lived with her daughter, son-in-law and six granddaughters, she eventually moved into a home of her own.
As fans of the TLC show know, the move wasn't exactly easy for Mimi, as she was reluctant to settle into her home in Texas. In fact, it took her so long to unpack her belongings that Danielle and her twin sisters, Ashley Mowbray and Crystal Mills, decided to unpack for her. They also threw their mama a surprise party to make the transition easier.
What Happened to Mimi’s Home on ‘OutDaughtered’?
Unfortunately, Mimi's home was flooded with over a foot of water when Hurricane Harvey tore through southeast Texas in 2017. Luckily, Danielle and her family were there to help.
"We have thrown out MiMi's entire house today, it's devastating," Adam and Danielle wrote on Facebook at the time. "Though stuff is just stuff and can always be replaced, it's not easy tossing your belongings. One thing is for sure, we all stick together and will make it through! #familyfirst #thebestisyettocome #itsabuzzworld #hurricaneharvey."
Later, Danielle shared an update on how her mother was doing in a blog post. "My Mom, MiMi, as well as tons of other close friends of ours have lost everything. We were not able to get into MiMi's house for about four days after the storm due to the high water. We had to throw away pretty much EVERYTHING. It has been very emotional … having to throw away family heirlooms, photos from when we were all kids … just … all around our memories."
Adam explained how the family tried to keep themselves and the kids safe throughout the storm. "We've been kind of hunkered down for the past few days," the father-of-six told fans, explaining that the family had been tuning into the news reports to get regular updates on the flooding. "That's pretty much all we've been doing — and trying to get out of the house in between rain bands."
Is Mimi Still on ‘OutDaughtered’?
Since entering the spotlight, Danielle has been open about how close she is to her mother and sisters and how she loves being able to raise her gaggle of girls alongside them.
"Would I have done the show without [my mother and sisters]? Well, it's made it more exciting with them," the mom to Blayke, Hazel, Riley, Parker, Ava and Olivia told Channel Guide Magazine in 2016. "I love being able to capture moments with them. And I see them all the time — especially my sister [who] lives here close to me — so it would have been weird not having her involved, them involved, because we're always together."
Fans have watched Mimi help Danielle raise her girls for much of the show, but the grandmother seemingly fell out of the picture during season 9 in 2023.
In October 2020, Mimi was pulled over in League City, Texas, after police saw her “swerving” on the road and “straddling” the shoulder, TMZ reported at the time. When authorities made contact with the reality star, she was reportedly “lethargic” and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. She reportedly told police that she had two glasses of wine but later changed her story to “no wine but two Michelob Ultra beers.”
Mimi reportedly “bombed” her field sobriety tests and was swaying when she got out of her vehicle. She was arrested for a DUI and taken to a local jail.
In April 2021, Mimi entered a diversion program in which she had to be under community supervision for one year, TMZ reported. She was prohibited from consuming alcohol and other controlled substances and was not allowed to enter any bars. Mimi also had to complete 24 hours of community service and a DWI education program. Finally, she needed to submit to random drug testing and not break any other laws.
Mimi completed her diversion program and had her record expunged in 2022, according to Texas court records viewed by In Touch.
Neither Mimi nor TLC have confirmed if her absence from OutDaughtered is connected to her DUI.
