Amber Portwood Reacts to Claims of Daughter Leah’s ‘Trauma’ Amid Absence Amber Portwood, a familiar face from Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, has recently responded to speculations regarding her daughter Leah’s alleged ‘trauma’ due to her absence in her life. The 34-year-old reality star has been navigating the challenges of estrangement from her 16-year-old daughter Leah, whom she shares with ex Gary Shirley and his wife Kristina. Portwood is also a mother to son James, aged 6, with ex Andrew Glennon.
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Fans of the reality series often discuss Portwood’s inconsistent presence in her children’s lives. Addressing some of the criticisms, Amber took to TikTok Live to share her side of the story. She clarified that while it was portrayed that she hadn’t spoken to Leah in four months during filming, it was not entirely by choice. Portwood emphasised that she would never intentionally go so long without talking to her daughter and expressed her desire to be closer to Leah and engage in mother-daughter activities.
During the Live session, one viewer commented that Portwood had “put Leah through enough,” to which Amber responded by stating that she and Leah had already discussed past events. Portwood explained that Leah didn’t recall the negative incidents and claimed that the teen does not have any ‘trauma’. She highlighted Leah’s statement that she didn’t remember anything harmful and found it difficult to watch certain clips online, suggesting that it wasn’t about trauma but rather a challenging upbringing.
Leah, on a recent episode, reacted to clips from her childhood, expressing discomfort at seeing Amber yelling at her and leaving her in distress. Despite acknowledging the tumultuous environment during her early years, Portwood maintained that Leah isn’t traumatised because of her, stating that she never inflicted harm on her daughter. She attributed the past turmoil to a brief period in their lives before serving a prison sentence in 2012 and 2013 for drug possession and domestic violence charges.
Responding to criticisms in the chat, Amber emphasised that she had overcome significant challenges and hardships in comparison to what Leah has experienced. She firmly stated that her children’s opinions of her were paramount, dismissing public scrutiny and suggesting that she prioritised her relationship with her kids over outside judgement. Amber concluded by underlining the importance of her children’s perspectives on her past and expressing a commitment to addressing any issues her children may have with her.
As the discussion surrounding Amber and Leah’s relationship continues, the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs new episodes on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. While MTV has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, Portwood’s candid revelations offer insight into the complexities of her family dynamics. As the public follows their journey, Amber Portwood’s reflections shed light on the challenges of motherhood under the scrutiny of reality television and the enduring bond between a mother and her children.