Teen Mom star Amber Portwood is single again after ending her engagement with fiancé Gary Wayt.
While devastated, Amber is working through the trauma and focusing on herself, as reported by US Weekly.
Amber caught renowned fame after being one of the original cast members of MTV’s popular show Teen Mom.
She then joined spinoffs Teen Mom OG and Teen Mom: Next Chapter.
Her life with her daughter Leah (from ex-fiance Gary Shirley) and son James (from ex-boyfriend Andrew Glennon) was widely criticized after a slew of abuse allegations and a domestic battery case, according to People. Now single, Amber is putting in the work to become the best version of herself.
Amber Portwood’s Broken Engagement Was For The Best
After ending her engagement to Gary Wayt, Amber Portwood is committed to focusing on her mental health. The two had an abrupt ending that caused Amber to take a step back and reflect on her choices.
In June 2024, Amber Portwood shared on social media that her fiancé Gary Wayt was missing. According to Page Six, Amber shared on YouTube that Gary could not be found, and she was “extremely” worried. She assured fans there was no argument and the two were in good standing after getting engaged a few days prior. However, other reports shared that the two got into a disagreement over their different cultures and family acceptance.
Amber explained that Gary’s car keys and wallet were left behind, indicating a few red flags about his whereabouts. However, a few days later police located him in Oklahoma, fine and well. US Weekly reported a few days after Gary was found, the two ended their engagement and broke up. Now, Amber is focusing on healing.
A source told US Weekly that her breakup with Gary “threw her through a loop.” They continued, “She thought he was her first real love. He proposed to her and made a lot of promises about their future only to bail. Meeting someone worthwhile is hard for most people in the world right now and Amber is no exception.”
The source went on to commend Amber for healing in a healthy way. “Right now, she’s focusing on finishing up her home and getting her life together. She even put herself on a sleep schedule in order to be her best mentally.”
The broken engagement encourages Amber to focus on her mental health and being a present mother to her daughter Leah and son James. Because of Amber’s complicated relationships, focusing on her mental health and issues with anger is a priority.
Amber Portwood Has A Dark Past
Amber Portwood’s dark past traces back to her first days on Teen Mom in 2009. Many of her storylines focused on her aggressive behavior and inability to choose the right men. This behavior became complicated when she was aggressive in front of her children.
| Gary Shirley | Gary Shirley and Amber had a teen pregnancy that was shown on Teen Mom. At 18, Amber gave birth to their daughter Leah. Shortly after her birth, her aggressive nature towards her partner was violently shown on camera. CNN reported Amber was seen hitting, kicking, and choking Gary — even pushing him down the stairs. After the episodes aired, local authorities and child protective services (CPS) got involved because her daughter was present at the time of the abuse. Amber was found guilty of three counts of domestic abuse. InTouch Weekly shared that with two counts being felonies, Amber was given two years probation and had to pay a fine, as well as a temporary restraining order from Gary. Shortly after, Gary was awarded primary custody of their daughter. Gary went on to marry Kristina Shirley where they had a daughter together and now have a happy blended family. |
| Issues With Drugs | In 2011, Amber was arrested again for violating her probation and possession of a controlled substance. She failed to take her anger management classes and obtain her GED (which was mandated by the court). In 2012, Amber was arrested yet again for drug charges. The reality TV star was sentenced to five years but wound up only serving 16 months. She was on parole for an uncertain amount of time. |
| Andrew Glennon | In 2019, InTouch Weekly shared that Amber was arrested for abusing her then-boyfriend and father of her son, Andrew Glennon. She was arrested for felony domestic battery while Andrew was holding their one-year-old son at the time. Andrew was granted primary custody of their son. Amber didn’t serve jail time but instead agreed to 900 days of probation. Andrew later moved back to his home state of California while Amber remained in Indiana. |
Although Amber is on a path to healing, things continue to spiral for her. In a June 2024 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, US Weekly reported that Gary Shirley admitted that their daughter Leah wanted to be adopted by her step-mom, Kristina Shirley. Amber was against the idea despite not having a real relationship with Leah for years.
Now that Amber is clear-headed and working on herself, it’s prime time to focus on mending her relationships with her children.
Teen Mom (retitled Teen Mom OG) is a reality-drama TV series created for MTV that follows a growing cast of several young mothers who experience teenage pregnancy and must navigate the challenges of having a baby at a young age. The show follows their growth while focusing on the drama and complicated family dynamics that emerge.