On this week’s episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, viewers watched as Amber Portwood vowed– yet again– to step up as a mom and make an effort to repair her estranged relationship with daughter Leah Shirley; however, Leah’s dad Gary Shirley recently revealed that Amber hasn’t lived up to her promises.
(Shocking, we know.)
On Thursday, a clip from this week’s episode was posted to the official Teen Mom TikTok account in which Gary, Leah and Gary’s wife, Kristina Shirley, sat down to talk with Amber and her blink-and-you’ll-miss-him fiancé Gary Wayt. During the conversation, Amber told Leah she wanted to spend more time with her and attend her school events “sometimes.” As Amber continued to attempt to be a “damn good mom”– presumably to impress Gary 2.0– Gary said he supported Amber’s decision to make an effort, though he appeared a bit skeptical that Amber would follow through with her pledge to be consistent in Leah’s life.
In the comment section of the TikTok, Gary revealed to fans that Amber hasn’t made an effort to see their daughter since her (very dramatic) split from Gary 2.0…which happened back in June.
“So my question is, since the new Gary left her, how often has [Amber] seen Leah,” a fan asked on TikTok, to which OG Gary replied, “10 times – 10 times=?” (For those of you who attend schools that are “not well,” that equals zero times.)
For those wondering if the individual claiming to be Gary on TikTok was, in fact, Gary Shirley, the former Belden Lineman Camp attendee assured fans his account was legit.
“Haha yes actual[ly] Gary,” he wrote. “I just hardly use the TikTok! More so Instagram @itsgarytime is the same handle!”
Based on Gary’s claims, Amber hasn’t seen Leah since June– the month that Gary 2.0 went “missing” after attending the wedding of Amber’s brother, Shawn Portwood, in North Carolina.
As The Ashley previously reported, days after Gary 2.0 disappeared, Amber tearfully begged fans for prayers for her fiancé, who stormed out of their vacation rental home without his phone and without contacting her or his family. The search for Gary went on for several days– with Gary even being listed as a missing person in North Carolina– before he was spotted in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Gary later contacted police to let them know he was “missing” by choice and wasn’t in any danger.
As The Ashley told you earlier this week, Gary 2.0 hasn’t just moved on from Amber: he’s already planning to marry a new rill woman, after reportedly proposing last weekend at a restaurant in Seattle, Washington.
Last month, a source close to Amber stated that the ‘Teen Mom’ star had been taking the broken engagement hard.
“Amber has been taking the last few weeks to heal and reflect on what happened,” the source said. “Right now, she’s focusing on finishing up her home and getting her life together.”
The couch enthusiast was even attempting to regulate her sleep in the wake of her engagement blowing up.
“She even put herself on a sleep schedule in order to be her best mentally,” the source said.
Amber has yet to publicly comment on Gary’s statements about her not seeing Leah since June.
Watch the clip from Thursday’s episode below.
@teenmom Amber and the new Gary express they want to spend more time with Leah, especially since they have exciting news… 👀💍 #TeenMom is all-new tonight at 8p on @mtv! ✨ #amberportwoood #coparenting #momsoftiktok
(Photos: MTV; TikTok; Instagram)
58 Responses
I was going to remark what a piece of narcissistic shit Amber is, but I see my buds here have done that lol. What I would like to say is: the look on Kristina’s face when they had news was RILLY fucking priceless!!!! 😂😂😂
I seriously don’t understand why MTV has continued to pay this deadbeat mom. They should have fired her back when she hit Gary. If Gary had hit Amber, you best believe he would have been gone. MTV is trash and it’s time for all of these moms to finally get jobs.
If Amber has all these MENTAL health issues and is on MEDICATIONS WHY IS SHE DRINKING AND WHY IS SHE STILL ON THE SHOW?????
Leah and Gary are so unbothered by her bigger reveals. They seen this shit so many times… she was trying to shut Gary up when he was making his point to come around even if you have a boyfriend and she was trying to shut them up so big.. Gary is good and fed up. He’s going to start spilling. He has been covering for her for years, the best that he can.
You can’t make someone a mother if they don’t want to be. She is not a mom. She is too worried about herself. While she is destroying her daughter. What a joke she is! And they pay her well.. Sad!
Amber hasn’t seen Leah all summer?
I didn’t even think Amber had left her couch since Maci dropped her off.
Seriously. Please take her off of the show.
Amen!
What happened to Amber going to college?
She is too busy boo hoo to do anything. Your life is what you make it! I have mental health issues. I didn’t bail on my kids nor my grandchildren. She is TRASH!
Agreed. I have BPD but I have full physical and legal custody of ALL three of my kids, but I also treat my BPD, I am 100% sober, I work full time at a 9-5 AND have a side floral design business- so there’s that. You take your meds, engage in therapy, stay away from drinking/drugs, and you stay busy and engaged in life. Even when I’ve had my low lows, I have just enlisted extra help and still taken care of myself and my children. I laughed hella hard when I saw that Amber has herself on a “sleep schedule”. Is that any different than what she’ been doing the last 10+ years? It’s really simple when you have a mental illness for lots of us- you treat it and it really doesn’t affect you too much and that should include Amber. I feel like the only condition in which I could see you not being actively involved with your children is schizophrenia, because you aren’t even in reality a good deal of the time. at first, YEARS ago, I did feel somewhat bad for Amber but that went away pretty quickly. There is literally NO excuse for her staying away from Leah and I hope Gary sees that and I also hope Leah is able to legally consider Kristina as her actual mother. Creating your own drama is no excuse to be away from your child.
dammit, I just spit my coffee out…. lol
Why do they still keep her on the show? She’s never been a “teen mom” Gary has given that child stability from the start.
She does “Jack Shit” and gets paid for it.
What a disgrace!
Agree!
Poor Leah. Dealing with such a POS of a birth mother (because that’s all she is). Thankfully she is old enough to know she will never be there for her. What a sad excuse for a mother (I’m sure James will say the same when he grows old enough to know better)
I watched the video clip and Amber’s acting isn’t even convincing. Gary and Leah saw right through it. When Gary 2.0 said “we have something to tell you” the “oh crap” look on everyone’s faces WAS pretty good acting if they already knew in advance. If they didn’t know in advance, then Leah and Gary OG were probably thinking she’s preggers. Good thing that wasn’t the case.
I’m sure there was cleanup at that table that night bc the absolute last thing anyone needs is another Amber pregnancy.
A marriage and/or someone taking Amber off their hands for awhile would be a blessing.
Do the math. Engaged, married and divorced all in the next 2, 3 years Leah will be 18 and Amber won’t be a factor.
Leah is old enough now to plead her case to a judge. I hope she does Kristina has been there for her regardless of all the drama surrounding her and has never left her side–Leah knows that is her real Mom
I don’t think Leah will need to. I feel like there’s 0 chance of Amber trying to file for custody.
I live in Indiana. My grandkids didn’t get to decide. It was sad they cried everything they had to leave with her. But the judge finally took our side when he newborn came into the world addicted. This world is sad and the PARENT should be charged with this . Poor babbies
It’s obvious in this clip that Amber is putting on a show for Gary 2.0. She’s tried to create some image of her being a loving mom and she kept cutting Gary off when he revealed that she hasn’t been consistent and that they need to get on the same page. “I’ve known that for years”???? Ugh, props to Gary for keeping his cool.
Naturally she lost all use for Leah once the camera stopped rolling. I’m glad Leah, Kristina, and Gary all realize at this point that Amber is a deadbeat and will never be a good (or even decent) mom. They just sat there expressionless because they knew it was all bs.
Exactly she’s trying to bully him like she always does…in shutting him up and not revealing the real deal ..but I think he’s tired of it. But she tries to rush in and fill in the blanks before he can say too much, but we all know the deal,
Leah is old enough that a judge will take her wishes into consideration. Gary should just file and let the courts decide.
And people still think Gary alienates amber from Leah. There is a reason she doesn’t have custody of either one of her kids. She is the problem
Right?! I cannot stand when somebody jumps on the bash Gary bandwagon.
I’m convinced that everyone who defends Amber has the emotional intelligence of Catelynn which we all know is…. Not good. Lol
Amber seems to have codependency issues. She always has a boyfriend but can’t show up for her daughter . Such a shame
This relationship really reminds me of me and my father. My father tries to guilt trip and make me feel bad, just like Amber does. And all I can do is sit there uncomfortably and take it because if I react in any negative way, I get put in the doghouse and my name is dragged through the mud. I really hope that Gary takes this case to the courts so Kristina can adopt Leah. I know that I immediately wanted my stepdad to adopt me from the moment I met him, and I’m sure Leah feels the same.
Love the screen name! I don’t Kristina can adopt unless CouchAmber gives up custody
That does seem to be the case in many states, mine included. I definitely wish the system was structured differently, it sucks to see how uncomfortable Leah is 🙁
Is it custody when you go months without contacting your kid, though??
I know. Legally. Legal and reality are 2 completely different things and for Leah, that sucks
Leah will be 18 before we know it and can permanently block Couch from her life.
Not Amber wearing that hair to dinner 🥴
Girrrrl! She has the worst taste in everything
Your profile name is the freakin BEST! !♥♥
At this point is anyone surprised? Call a spade a spade, Amber is a narcissist. Nothing is ever her fault, she blames Leah for the fact that she doesn’t make time to spend with her, before she’ll take any accountability & learn she’s the damn adult & should be making the effort. She’s a horrible mother & what riles me most is the likes of Cate & Maci tiptoeing around this behaviour but confronting Gary of all people, who has been consistent in Leah’s life since day dot. He’s an amazing dad who’s made his life a safe space for Leah. Kristina has stepped up to the plate, she is Leah’s mom in all sense of the word. Gary needs to take Ambers ass to court, shut it down & let Leah be adopted by Kristina.
Catelynn is uneducated and not intelligent enough to actually comprehend that Amber is the problem. Maci is an interesting one because she isn’t stupid. She’s actually pretty smart, she just manipulates peoples image of her to make herself ALWAYS look like the hero. Her driving to the middle of fucking nowhere to pick Amber up for what a 10 hour drive? Are ya kidding me? Amber can rent a car and drive it back same as any other adult can. There was no reason for maci to drive there other than to make herself look like a literal hero. We see right thru her shit
Well I know that the director’s (producer’s) are standing 2 feet away encouragingly throwing out ideas and questions for the drama. Of course these girl’s follow the rules because they get a Hefty paycheck annually for a week of barely sharing the boring stuff in their life.
Which is weird right because amber and Catelynns mom April are quite similar.
Cate also thinks that she’s not the problem regarding Carly, Brandon and Theresa.
Agreed 👍 I believe at Leah’s age and with the Consistency that Amber has given to her daughter NOT being consistent!! The entire Shirley family can attest to that. I hope for the CHILD sake the Courts will approve the adoption request.
Imagine not having a job, not having custody of your kids, not having any responsibilities, having enough time for a SLEEP SCHEDULE BAHAHAHAH, and still not seeing your child ALL SUMMER??????? I’m sorry but even working 10+ hour days I would look forward to the moment I got home and saw my daughter. What is Amber doing all day then? Doesn’t a person get bored??? Honestly thank god Leah has the family she has. She will thankfully be just fine thanks to Gary and Kristina
Yes I believe Leah got blessed with Gary as her father. And WHAT?!??!does Amber do? Well She Sleeps mostly bc of overmedicating herself. And if she wakes up she hires a driver to do a Lil shopping and goes home to scroll dating sites,. Literally everything except Connecting with her kids.
Poor Kristina looks absolutely over it.
I would be so exhausted if amber was in my life too!!!! Thankfully she never quits being a good Mom to Leah
I think they all have. Every one of them know she’s lying.
Gary 2.0 makes great decisions. Totally rational 😒
Her and Gary, both along with Leah seems over the charade. They covered for her for years. There are good and fed up.
Time for Gary to take action. Let the courts decide if Kristina can adopt Leah. Let them look at all the damning evidence that Amber herself has single-handedly created over the years & give that girl’s REAL mom custody.
Can they terminate custody if she has not hurt or abandoned her?
It depends. I would be surprised if they didn’t terminate custody, considering she has little to no relationship with any of her kids and is fairly absent. I think Amber would try to prove she’s present and it wouldn’t work out very well since her whole life is documented for national television.
From a legal standpoint, she has abandoned her. Physical harm is not required to terminate parental rights. It would be an uphill battle, despite the fact that it’s a textbook case (simply because family court/the system sucks ass more often than not). But it is 100% possible for them to initiate a termination of parental rights and a petition for adoption (by Kristina) at the same time. It would be granted too, even if it’s an uphill battle. It just might be a battle the three of them (Leah, Kristina and Gary) don’t want to engage in right now. It’s really up to Leah, ultimately, even though she isn’t a deciding voice, she would get a voice during the case. This is another area where the system sucks ass, as the child’s voice should *always* take priority but doesn’t in any state in the US, or really any country/court in the world.
I forgot a bit in that reply there, lol. When I say ultimately it’s up to Leah, I mean them (Gary and Kristina) choosing to go forward with the PR termination and petition for adoption is up to Leah. They’ve always said it’s up to her. But during the court case(s), while she will get to speak, it won’t be taken into consideration in the same way every other adult’s voice would.
She has abandoned her. The laws are different in every state I’m sure, but amber has no case. NADA
Also, where is hannah?? Shouldn’t she be on here spewing her hatred at Gary, because he’s a man
Hannah is looooooong gone 🤣🤣 she got banned a few days ago, and we shall never hear from her again!!
I hear if you say her name three times she’ll materialize 😂
Leah is old enough now to plead her case to a judge. I hope she does Kristina has been there for her regardless of all the drama surrounding her and has never left her side–Leah knows that is her real Mom
I think the elephant in the room is, if Amber’s parental rights are signed away and Leah is able to be adopted by Kristina, there is zero story line. Amber is why they’re on TM. Poor Leah. For all the reasons.
Another reason why not letting Kristina adopt her is bullshit. Boo-boo is done.
Amber cares ad cause she don’t want to look bad on TV. But she does. She always blames everyone else. Or it’s mental! She is pos…. Sorry Leaha I know that’s your mom…..
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