Amber Portwood was apparently devastated when she heard the news that her daughter Leah wants her stepmom, Kristina Shirley, to legally adopt her and, on Thursday’s episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Amber claimed she was bed-ridden for months after finding out.
After Amber rises out of bed after 11 a.m., she tells the cameras that she was already depressed even before finding out that Leah wants Kristina to adopt her.
“I thought I was already dark and deep and in a hole from what happened to me from [my fiancée Gary Wayt ditching me] in North Carolina and him leaving me in the mountains,” Amber said. “But when I found out about my daughter saying she wanted to be adopted, it took over everything.”
We then see one of Amber’s many (many) screaming sessions on TikTok Live where she discusses her fractured relationship with her 16-year-old daughter, before Amber reveals that she was “really in bed for four months,” due to the devastation she felt after hearing that Leah wants Kristina to be her mother.
Back in July, Leah’s dad Gary Shirley revealed on the show that Leah wanted Kristina to adopt her. Soon afterward, a “source close to Amber” stated that Amber was “devastated” by the news.
“Obviously, any implication that her daughter wants to be adopted is devastating to Amber,” the source told Us Weekly. “Her two kids are the reason Amber wakes up in the morning. They are why she continues filming the show and her motivation for everything.”
During more-recent episodes of ‘Next Chapter,’ Leah herself has explained why she wants Kristina to adopt her, stating on-camera that Kristina has been there for her since she was a toddler, while Amber has been inconsistent in her life.
During Thursday’s episode, Amber says she emerged from her four-month hibernation after realizing she needed her own mother.
“I just woke up hopeless,” Amber tells her mom, Tonya, on the phone. “I was just feeling, like, hopeless, like, why am I awake?”
Tonya questions if Amber has been staying on top of her medications used to treat her mental illnesses, but Amber assures her that she is.
“You’ve been through a lot of s**t over these past years,” Tonya tells Amber.
“How many times have I called you crying, Mom? In the last couple weeks?” Amber says, to which her mom says she’s “lost count.”
“My life circumstances, and the things with Leah, I’m scared she’s never gonna come around,” Amber told her mom, who stated that Leah will “come around when she’s ready.”
“I know, but I’m scared that’s not going to happen,” Amber replied.
Amber’s mom revealed that Leah keeps in touch with her through text, which makes Amber emotional.
Later, Amber reflects on how much her relationship with her mom has improved over the years, which gives her hope that someday her relationship with Leah can get to a better place.
“I see how my relationship with my mom was completely tumultuous and today, I’m with my mom and love my mom so much,” Amber said. “So, this is why I have hope with Leah. It’s gonna get better; it’s just gonna take me a little while.”
‘Teen Mom: The Next Chapter’ airs Thursdays on MTV.
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37 Responses
Like she wouldn’t be in bed for 4 months anyway.
Leah should not be filmed, along with the rest of the teens. At least Chelsea got her kid off before she was a teenager. There oughtta be a law protecting them.
I think Chelsea really was just ready to do her own thing with that new show. Idk that it was about her daughter, she posts tons of clips and videos of her anyways
She mentioned that she was uncomfortable with how Aubree (she got a cell phone!) and the situation was Adam was frequently the focus. It was way too intrusive. That’s not really the same as posting random videos that don’t reveal anything about Aubree’s personal life.
If she was in bed for months after the greatest breakup ever AND in bed for 4 months when she found out about the adoption request, when exactly is she visiting James? 🧐
At least the couch got some recovery time
I can’t even imagine sleeping that late. I’m a stay at home mom who homeschools my kids and we’re up at 6 am everyday. Sleeping in til 1130 alone can make a person depressed. It is truly sad to see the state she is in.
Yeah 3 nights ago she was up singing in the middle of the night on line. She is sssssooooo depressed.
Is that her constipated face?
So MTV sat in her room till she woke up at 11:30 am. That sat there all night till she woke. She woke up and never looked at the camera crew in her room. Staged fate scene. Take some exlax and move on lol
Leah, we have all seen your mom in bed or on the couch from the time she was pregnant with you until now. This is nothing new. She isn’t interested in getting up unless it’s to pee, take a dump, obviously to eat or physically assault one of her boyfriends.
Don’t fall for the sordid game she’s trying to play, her behavior is NOT your fault.
Yep. THIS.
It’s all the same song and dance. The Amber guilt scene/post as a message to a specific person, or group of people. Despite it being par for the course long before the person, and long after.
I hope beyond hope that Leah can break the cycle of people rushing to reinforce this nonsense with Amber. I hope her therapist is beyond experienced and qualified in this kind of situation. A kid of that shit myself ( a mentally ill parent who plays these games and their illness became MY identity, MY purpose… etc.) I hope she has the best of the best helping her navigate and break free of the horrors that does to your mind.
She’s already stronger than I was in my 20’s and 30’s, cutting contact and getting help, staying the course through the guilt and shame and conflicting emotional nightmare… but, you can’t help but be scared for her. She’s just a kid. She doesn’t need this relentless barrage of “look what you are doing to mommy dearest” blasted publicly for everyone, and every other teen, to see.
How’s Purdue university going? At least with Matt she was flipping houses, she doesn’t do anything
lmao this is just a normal thing for her. bed, couch, bed, couch….
She has to rotate “equipment” to avoid bedsores!
Honestly, she needs to be hospitalized and get real help. Laying in bed for 4 months? Wow! Amber is on her way out
Being a mom so young isn’t easy. I should know, I had a 3 month premature baby at 17. Guess what, I rose to the challenge. No it wasn’t easy BUT my son was my #1 priority. Amber’s first priority was and always is Amber. I change the channel when she comes on, her poor me routine got old 15 years ago. Then she goes and has ANOTHER baby, who I’m sure will refuse to see her too when he gets older. What’s the common denominator Amber????
Ahhhhh, the luxury of lazing in bed, months on end, without having to see those pesky kids.
I’m sure many parents dream of this. It’s Parenting 101, right up there with Jenelle for Mother of the Year 🙄
And still making a hefty salary.
Yep, MTV’s morals are the lowest, paying non-mum’s huge funds and letting them call all the shots.
And we were supposed to believe that the camera crew sat in her bedroom, just waiting to get the money shot of her waking from her hibernation? LMAO. 😆
Her being in bed for months on end is a big reason why Leah wants Kristina to adopt her. As usual, no accountability. Leah isn’t just going to “come around” one day because Amber will never change.
Moms don’t have the luxury of staying in bed for four months, there’s your first clue Amber. You think Kristina is laying in bed for even one day? Prob not even when she’s sick! Take a hint ya nut 🥜 how’s Purdue university btw?
Why is it always EVERYONE ELSE’S FAULT?! Goddamnit woman, you are an adult, take some accountability for your actions (and get some serious therapy). Leah wants to get adopted by Kristina cuz she is THE ONLY MOTHER FIGURE SHE HAS KNOWN, you were never around for her, called her names on HER OWN birthday…and now you think Leah will just one day come to your house and be like “I’m sorry mom” and you will hug and be besties?! You disappointed her SO MANY TIMES in her life that she just doesn’t know if she can trust you. Leah is a smart kid and if you don’t change, she will cut you off at 18 and it will be YOUR OWN GODDAMN FAULT!!!
Again, as someone from the same generation as this woman, I am ashamed to be as old as her. Seriously, grow up, it’s not always everybody else’s fault.
“…Amber reveals that she was “really in bed for four months,” due to the devastation she felt after hearing that Leah wants Kristina to be her mother.”
If you’re so depressed you’re in bed for four months, you need to contact your psychiatrist and therapist. Obviously, the medications need to be evaluated and possibly adjusted and you need the assistance of a qualified therapist. Everything happens to her, she takes no responsibility for her own actions and how they impact the lives of anyone else
In bed for four months? How’s that any different to the years she’s spent lying on a couch? She really is just a waste of space and oxygen that contributes nothing.
Amber,
Instead of waiting for your daughter, get you a$$ to a therapist. Be ACCOUNTABLE and tell the TRUTH so they can help you! Once you ACT LIKE A MOM, then you can work on a relationship with your daughter. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, ask WHY Leah feels that way! Sheesh, take some damn responsibility.
This isn’t surprising.. I mean, the woman hasn’t got off that couch in the last 16 years
She was also in bed for four months before finding out Leah wants Kristina to adopt her
So she woke up at 11:30 in the morning? I only wish my schedule would allow that, lucky bitch! Ha haha. I’m at 5 AM and work till 5 PM. And I have to do it without medication.!
Right. Leah is the reason Amber’s lazy ass stays in bed for four months.🤨We know Amber manages to drag her ass to the couch for her out of tune singing tik tok’s so she isn’t too upset.
What exactly is Leah supposed to “come around” to? Amber isn’t doing anything different. Does she think Leah is going to wake up one day and have lost all of the memories of Amber abandoning her? Maybe Amber really is that stupid. She damn sure lacks self awareness and taking accountability.
She’ll come around?? Your supposed to win back her trust Amber by showing you care., get off yr ass and go try for once. What mother would ever treat her own kid like this? You dont care, Better yet, stop yr bad acting like the victim and just let Kristina, her real mom adopt her. Why would LEAH be reaching out? To save you a trip from sitting on the couch 24/7? What does she possibly owe you?
You’ve been in bed for the last 16 years. Hence why Leah wants Kristina to adopt her
What’s the difference other than a different excuse to stay in bed
Girl go away and give your kids a chance at a normal life.
Must have been a nice break for her couch!
Bragging you got off the couch isn’t gonna fix this one, amber.
Amber seriously stop with the violin 😡
It’s about Leah not you.
Stop trying to play victim, YOU ARE NOT THE VICTIM HERE
Yes! Stop being victim Amber