Amber Leann Portwood is a cast member on Teen Mom. Amber Portwood from Anderson, Indiana. She participated in the show, when she and her then boyfriend of two-and-a-half years : Gary Shirley, discovered that they were expecting their first and only child together. In November 2008, Amber gave birth to : Leah Leann Shirley. At the hospital, Shirley gets a call from Portwood's brother, Shawn, who is coming home from Iraq the next day. After seeing Shawn, Portwood starts to get stressed out. After settling into a normal routine, Portwood and Shirley become nervous about Leah's breathing. They take Leah to a specialist in Indianapolis, Indiana where they learn that it was just the swelling of her voicebox. Shirley proposes to Portwood and she accepts but their relationship remains rocky.
Legal Issues[]
Footage of Amber Portwood's violent behavior towards the father of her child, Gary Shirley, prompted an investigation from the police department in Anderson, Indiana as well as Child Protective Services. On October 20, 2010, The Today Show aired a segment revolving around the depicted domestic abuse in both seasons. NBC's Dan Abrams discussed the possible legal consequences Portwood could face under Indiana law, and under the maximum punishment, Portwood could be charged with three felonies (conducting abuse in front of a child under 14, domestic violence, along with several related misdemeanors). Police have searched Portwood's apartment, finding "evidence that requires further investigation", although they would not specify what had been found. On June 5, Portwood was sentenced to five-years in Jail and have put her on a drug rehabilitation programme.
Relationship With Leah[]
Amber and Leah's relationship has been up and down in the last ten years. Amber would disapprove of Gary's relationship and later marriage to Kristina, who Leah saw as a mother figure for her. Amber was included in social events as Gary felt it was important for her to be included in anything to do with their daughter so that their relationship could improve in the future, but whatever Gary did to make an effort, Amber would always play the victim and feel isolated even when she was being included in events. On Leah's 15th birthday, Amber turned up to her birthday dinner drunk and she accused Leah of being negative when she tried to tell her about her new boyfriend. She also called Leah a "D**k" in front of everyone, which embarrassed and upset Leah to the point where she went to the bathroom with Kristina and her half sister Emelie and broke down in tears, asking to go home. Gary took Leah and the rest of his family home and Amber was also upset but because of how Gary spoke to her. Amber was not remorseful towards Leah and their relationship became strained.
On Leah's 16th birthday, Leah decided she did not want Amber to attend her birthday that year as she did not want a repeat performance from her. Amber resorted into calling her brother and telling him that it was not fair that she didn't get invited to Leah's birthday and made the situation about her as she did not want to accept Leah's true feelings about her relationship with Amber. Over the next few months, Leah expressed to Gary and Kristina that she wanted Kristina to adopt her, as she refers to Kristina as her real mother and Amber as her birth mother. Gary made it clear that he would be supportive of the decision but reminded his daughter that Amber would need to know about it. Amber found out not long after, presumably from the other cast members and she was not happy about the news. A few weeks later, Leah decided that she did not want to have a relationship with her mother and with Kristina and Gary supporting her she texted Amber, telling her that they should not be in contact until she is ready for a better relationship. Amber was furious over the text and not only insulted Gary and accused him of controlling Leah's decisions, but she also insulted Kristina and Leah as well. Since the second season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter ended, it is presumed that Leah still does not have regular contact with Amber.==References==
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