Teen Mother followers are lastly realizing simply how unhealthy of a mum or dad Amber Portwood has been to her daughter, Leah Shirley, now that {the teenager} is brazenly sharing her experiences on nationwide tv. And spoiler alert—it hasn’t been simple. Each combat, mistake, and authorized subject involving Leah’s mother and father has been documented for the world to see. And for Amber, there are loads. She has a lengthy legal historical past, beginning with a 2010 home violence arrest for attacking Leah’s father, Gary Shirley. She was charged with two felony counts of home battery and one depend of neglect of a dependent. In 2011, Amber misplaced custody of Leah, and the next 12 months, she was sentenced to 5 years in jail for violating her probation on drug expenses. She in the end served 17 months earlier than being launched early. Amber’s troubling historical past didn’t cease there. Years later, she was arrested for home battery towards Andrew Glennon, the daddy of her second little one, James. Andrew alleged that Amber attacked him with a machete whereas he was holding their child. He later gained full custody of James and moved him out of state, additional solidifying Amber’s popularity as a questionable mum or dad.
Nevertheless, the one one that doesn’t appear to acknowledge the ache and destruction she’s induced is Amber herself. She’s repeatedly blamed her psychological well being struggles and traumatic previous for her actions, however Teen Mother followers have lengthy known as her out for by no means taking actual accountability. But her current response to Leah’s confessions is especially stunning – it not solely explains why Leah considers herself estranged from her mom, however raises the query of whether or not Amber will ever have the ability to restore the harm. And if her newest response is any indication, issues will solely worsen from right here.
Leah Lastly Shared Her Expertise Being Amber Portwood’s Daughter
Leah’s ache was on full show throughout a current episode of Teen Mother: The Subsequent Chapter, when she opened as much as Cheyenne Floyd, who has traditionally defended Amber’s conduct. When requested if she had spoken to her mom just lately, Leah’s response was telling – she even referred to Amber by her first identify all through the dialog.
“Probably not. I have not actually talked to her or have not actually seen her shortly,” Leah stated. “It is wonderful. I do not actually care anymore. I form of need Kristina to undertake me. I have been wanting it for some time… Simply because Kristina’s been there for me since I used to be in kindergarten and even earlier than that too.”
This wasn’t the primary time Leah has hinted at desirous to be adopted by her stepmother, Kristina Shirley, nevertheless it’s probably the most direct she’s ever been about it. Final 12 months, Leah’s father, Gary, confirmed that Leah had introduced up the thought, although Amber was brazenly towards it, accusing Gary of interfering of their relationship. Nevertheless, Leah stays adamant that is what she needs.
Leah additionally expressed frustration over Amber’s inconsistency as a mum or dad. “She acts like the whole lot is completely wonderful. It is like, ‘I have not seen you in months, why are you speaking to me like this?'” Leah stated.

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Why are followers concerned right here?
The teenager admitted that she finds it overwhelming to cope with her mom’s feelings and struggles, saying, “Clearly, she has quite a lot of various things occurring, a lot of difficulties. I simply really feel like I am unable to deal with it… I want I may.”
Maybe most tellingly, Leah admitted she’s “scared” to specific her emotions to Amber straight. The truth that she feels snug saying this on digicam however to not Amber’s face speaks volumes – it suggests she is aware of precisely how her mom will react.
Leah additionally revealed that as she’s gotten older, her friends have began recognizing her from TV and have confronted her about her mother’s actions. “Oh yeah. Folks come as much as me they usually say stuff about Amber,” she informed Cheyenne. “They similar to know what’s occurred and stuff.”
This isn’t the primary time Leah has spoken about her sophisticated relationship with Amber, nevertheless it’s definitely probably the most blunt and heartbreaking. Through the years, each Leah and Gary have claimed that Amber has been an inconsistent mum or dad, typically bailing on plans to spend time together with her daughter.
For example, when Amber’s engagement fell aside final 12 months – after she reported her fiancé lacking, solely to find he was really ghosting her – she allegedly averted seeing Leah for months. Amber has cited her psychological well being struggles as the explanation for these disappearances, claiming she typically finds it tough to depart the home. However being a mum or dad isn’t elective; there are actual penalties for her actions.
It’s heartbreaking to listen to Leah open up about her painful experiences, particularly contemplating Teen Mother viewers have been watching her household’s dysfunction as leisure whereas, in actuality, it’s deeply harm her. It additionally places Amber’s public complaints about Leah avoiding her into context – Leah has had good motive for placing distance between her and Amber.
Amber Refuses to Acknowledge Leah’s Ache
If Amber really needed to fix her relationship with Leah, she’d must take accountability for the harm she’s induced. However fairly than proudly owning as much as her previous, Amber is flat-out denying it ever occurred. And he or she’s now making shockingly dismissive feedback about Leah’s trauma.
In a current TikTok rant, Amber addressed claims that she hadn’t seen Leah just lately. “I used to be informed to remain away. To not keep away, however… all that stuff,” Amber stated, implying she wasn’t allowed to see Leah, regardless of Leah repeatedly saying it was her alternative.
“I need to have my daughter with me. I’d like to have my daughter with me. I’d like to do mother and daughter issues. It’s as much as her,” she added. “She doesn’t need to be round me in the meanwhile, whereas she’s in remedy. I perceive.”
Nevertheless, her tone rapidly shifted from understanding to finish dismissal. “It’s not trauma. She doesn’t have trauma. Thank God. She’s had a tough life, yeah. However guys, not the whole lot is trauma. And it’s not denial. You possibly can’t name that trauma. I didn’t beat her.”
She went on to invalidate Leah’s feelings completely, “She’s traumatized about what? No, she’s not traumatized due to me. I didn’t do something to her like that.”
Amber later pivoted to a self-pitying rant, as she concluded, “Rattling, I had a means worse life than she will think about, greater than half of you guys did. You possibly can’t sit there and try this along with your children. You possibly can’t sit there and pamper to the purpose of—you apologize for years, and persons are being pushed away from you, and also you’re nonetheless apologizing.”
We get it – Amber is uninterested in apologizing. However actual accountability isn’t about sorry repeatedly; it’s about altering your conduct. And up to now, Amber has accomplished little to show she’s doing something in a different way.
Leah isn’t Amber’s solely little one – she additionally has her son, James, with Andrew. Like Gary earlier than him, Andrew was granted major custody after a home violence incident. However in contrast to Leah, James continues to be younger and largely out of the highlight, but when Leah’s story is any indication, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he goes public together with his personal expertise because the estranged little one of a Teen Mother star.