A family court has imposed restrictions on a teenage reality television star's living arrangements following a contentious custody battle between his parents. Hunter Johnson, now 14 years old and featured on the TLC series Unexpected, has been ordered by a judge to refrain from overnight stays at the residence of his girlfriend, Bella Vaughn, 15.
According to court documents, Hunter's father, Casey Johnson, initiated legal proceedings in April 2025, filing for full custody of his son. The petition alleged that the teenager's mother, Stacie Riddle, had created an unstable and unwholesome environment for the child.
Seven months after the initial filing, a judge granted Casey Johnson temporary joint custody in November 2025. The ruling came after Riddle requested the court dismiss the full custody petition. As part of the temporary custody arrangement, the court addressed concerns regarding Hunter's living situation with his girlfriend and her family.
The temporary custody order explicitly states that neither parent shall permit the minor child to stay overnight at a romantic partner's residence. This provision effectively prohibits Hunter from continuing to live with or sleep over at Vaughn's home, as his father had specifically requested. The custody dispute between Johnson's parents remains ongoing in family court.
The relationship between Hunter Johnson and Bella Vaughn has been documented on the seventh season of Unexpected, a reality series that follows teenage pregnancies and young parenthood. The couple reportedly welcomed their son, Wes, in March 2025. Their situation has generated significant public attention due to the exceptionally young ages of both parents.
Throughout the television series, viewers have witnessed the young couple navigating complex family dynamics, including disagreements with relatives regarding the pregnancy and concerns about Hunter's academic performance. During the February premiere episode, Hunter disclosed that his father had reacted strongly to news of the pregnancy.
In a confessional segment, Hunter stated that his father told him he had ruined his life. The teenager countered that assertion, expressing his belief that he had not, in fact, ruined his future prospects.
Bella Vaughn's parents, Kris Vaughn and Falen Vaughn, have also addressed the controversial pregnancy through social media channels. In a January video posted to TikTok, Kris Vaughn acknowledged the criticism directed at his family while suggesting that the attention would benefit their profile on the program.
The circumstances surrounding the conception have raised additional concerns. In a January social media video, Bella Vaughn revealed that Hunter Johnson was 12 years old at the time of conception, though she stated he turned 13 shortly thereafter. The disclosure prompted questions about the legality of the relationship given the ages involved.
Addressing those concerns directly, Vaughn stated in her video that she and Hunter had already spoken with law enforcement regarding the matter. She maintained that the relationship was consensual and rejected characterizations suggesting otherwise, though she acknowledged the problematic nature of the age difference.
Vaughn further stated that upon learning of her pregnancy, she offered Hunter Johnson the option to remain involved or step away from the situation. According to her account, Johnson chose to remain in the relationship and participate in raising their child.
The case highlights ongoing debates regarding teenage pregnancy, parental rights, and the role of reality television in documenting sensitive family situations. Unexpected continues to air on TLC on Monday evenings. Representatives for the network had not responded to requests for comment regarding the custody proceedings at the time of this report.