Imagine finding out about your parents' rocky past by watching old videos. That's exactly what happened to Leah Shirley, the 16-year-old daughter of Teen Mom stars Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley. A friend showed her clips of Amber and Gary's intense fights from earlier seasons of the show, leading to some pretty strong feelings.
“My friend messaged me and she’s like, ‘Are you on a TV show?’” Leah revealed to Gary during the Feb. 20 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. “And I was like, ‘Yeah.’ And she’s like, ‘A video just popped up on my TikTok.’ "And I was like, ‘Oh.’”
“It’s just weird,” Leah added. “I’ve been seeing a lot of TikTok videos with old clips and stuff.”
If you're new to the Teen Mom universe, Amber and Gary have a history. It's filled with drama, struggles, and lots of ups and downs.
Amber and Gary were young when they became parents to Leah. They faced many challenges that come with being teen parents. Balancing a baby, school, and their own relationship was tough. They had many hurdles in those early years.
Their relationship was far from perfect. Some of their fights were intense and public, playing out on Teen Mom. These arguments often involved yelling, accusations, and a lot of hurt feelings. One instance shows them in a heated discussion. These conflicts added stress to their family life.
Leah who lives with her father, his wife Kristina Anderson and their daughter Emilee, 7, full-time—admitted that the videos have been painful to watch, as it shows her parents in heated verbal and physical disputes.
"I see the older ones from when I was, like, 2,” she revealed. “And it’s just weird to watch because it’s always, like, Amber screaming at you and you leave. And then there’s one clip where she’s yelling, like, ‘Why is Leah crying?’—when she’s in a complete opposite room, just leaving me. And it’s just weird. I think those ones are kinda painful to watch because it’s little me.”
Things got even more complicated with legal issues and custody battles. Amber and Gary fought for custody of Leah, which was emotionally draining for everyone involved. Legal troubles made it tough on Leah as she grew up. Court dates and custody arrangements changed her life.
So, what happened when Leah watched these old videos? It was an emotional rollercoaster.
Leah watched the clips with a friend. The setting was casual. However, the content was anything but easy to digest. Seeing her parents argue like that was jarring.
She didn't expect to see her parents like that. "It was shocking," Leah shared, "I didn't realize how bad things were." It made her rethink some things. The videos were a lot to process.
The videos might have changed how Leah sees Amber and Gary. It could give her a different outlook on their relationship. It gave her another view of the past. She now better understands what they went through.
Leah’s relationship with her mom Amber has been strained as she does not have custody of the teen as well as her 6-year-old son James, whom she shares with her ex-boyfriend Andrew Glennon.
According to Leah, she hasn’t had contact with her mother in four months, sharing that the abandonment has caused a fear in her life.
“I just think I have a lot of issues because of Amber,” she explained to her dad. “And the experiences that I’ve had.”
These days, Amber and Gary are trying to co-parent in a more peaceful way, but it's not always easy. For Gary, his daughter’s confession made him wish that he would have done more to prevent her hurt from her mother.
They have made steps toward getting along better for Leah's sake. They try to be civil at events. This can be tough, though. Setting aside issues for their daughter is important.
“Honestly, Leah, no joke, I wish I would have done more,” Gary said. “I wish I would have just taken you and left instantly. And not left you there. It wasn’t, like, she technically had custody.”
Leah assured her father that it wasn’t his fault telling him, “It’s okay. I don’t remember it.”
However, Gary shared that he was aware that the videos could bring up “trauma” and suggested therapy for Leah so she could heal properly. A decision she’s all for.
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“I want to overcome that,” Leah told her father. “So, I can be able to forgive her and just move on. I think it would help to have someone to guide me on how to forgive someone because it’s hard for me to do that.”
Even with progress, some tensions still linger. Old wounds can take time to heal. Occasional disagreements still pop up. These issues show it's not always easy.
Being on a reality TV show can be hard, especially for kids. Children of reality TV stars often lack privacy. They grow up in the public eye. Everyone has an opinion about their family. This scrutiny can be intense.
Growing up in the spotlight can take a toll. There can be psychological effects, like stress or anxiety. Balancing fame and normal life are hard. It can be a lot for a young person to handle.
How can Leah, Amber, and Gary move forward after this?
Talking openly is key. Honest conversations can help everyone understand each other better. Support is key during these tough discussions. A strong family bond can help them through.
Therapy or counseling could also be helpful. A therapist can provide tools for dealing with emotions. It can help them deal with conflict better. Mental health support is an option, too if need be.
Leah Shirley's experience shows the problems for children of reality TV stars. Seeing her parents' past fights was eye-opening and emotional. It highlights the need for understanding, healing, and open communication. There is hope for resilience for Leah and her family.
Imagine finding out about your parents' rocky past by watching old videos. That's exactly what happened to Leah Shirley, the 16-year-old daughter of Teen Mom stars Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley. A friend showed her clips of Amber and Gary's intense fights from earlier seasons of the show, leading to some pretty strong feelings.
“My friend messaged me and she’s like, ‘Are you on a TV show?’” Leah revealed to Gary during the Feb. 20 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. “And I was like, ‘Yeah.’ And she’s like, ‘A video just popped up on my TikTok.’ "And I was like, ‘Oh.’”
“It’s just weird,” Leah added. “I’ve been seeing a lot of TikTok videos with old clips and stuff.”
If you're new to the Teen Mom universe, Amber and Gary have a history. It's filled with drama, struggles, and lots of ups and downs.
Amber and Gary were young when they became parents to Leah. They faced many challenges that come with being teen parents. Balancing a baby, school, and their own relationship was tough. They had many hurdles in those early years.
Their relationship was far from perfect. Some of their fights were intense and public, playing out on Teen Mom. These arguments often involved yelling, accusations, and a lot of hurt feelings. One instance shows them in a heated discussion. These conflicts added stress to their family life.
Leah who lives with her father, his wife Kristina Anderson and their daughter Emilee, 7, full-time—admitted that the videos have been painful to watch, as it shows her parents in heated verbal and physical disputes.
"I see the older ones from when I was, like, 2,” she revealed. “And it’s just weird to watch because it’s always, like, Amber screaming at you and you leave. And then there’s one clip where she’s yelling, like, ‘Why is Leah crying?’—when she’s in a complete opposite room, just leaving me. And it’s just weird. I think those ones are kinda painful to watch because it’s little me.”
Things got even more complicated with legal issues and custody battles. Amber and Gary fought for custody of Leah, which was emotionally draining for everyone involved. Legal troubles made it tough on Leah as she grew up. Court dates and custody arrangements changed her life.
So, what happened when Leah watched these old videos? It was an emotional rollercoaster.
Leah watched the clips with a friend. The setting was casual. However, the content was anything but easy to digest. Seeing her parents argue like that was jarring.
She didn't expect to see her parents like that. "It was shocking," Leah shared, "I didn't realize how bad things were." It made her rethink some things. The videos were a lot to process.
The videos might have changed how Leah sees Amber and Gary. It could give her a different outlook on their relationship. It gave her another view of the past. She now better understands what they went through.
Leah’s relationship with her mom Amber has been strained as she does not have custody of the teen as well as her 6-year-old son James, whom she shares with her ex-boyfriend Andrew Glennon.
According to Leah, she hasn’t had contact with her mother in four months, sharing that the abandonment has caused a fear in her life.
“I just think I have a lot of issues because of Amber,” she explained to her dad. “And the experiences that I’ve had.”
These days, Amber and Gary are trying to co-parent in a more peaceful way, but it's not always easy. For Gary, his daughter’s confession made him wish that he would have done more to prevent her hurt from her mother.
They have made steps toward getting along better for Leah's sake. They try to be civil at events. This can be tough, though. Setting aside issues for their daughter is important.
“Honestly, Leah, no joke, I wish I would have done more,” Gary said. “I wish I would have just taken you and left instantly. And not left you there. It wasn’t, like, she technically had custody.”
Leah assured her father that it wasn’t his fault telling him, “It’s okay. I don’t remember it.”
However, Gary shared that he was aware that the videos could bring up “trauma” and suggested therapy for Leah so she could heal properly. A decision she’s all for.
“I want to overcome that,” Leah told her father. “So, I can be able to forgive her and just move on. I think it would help to have someone to guide me on how to forgive someone because it’s hard for me to do that.”
Even with progress, some tensions still linger. Old wounds can take time to heal. Occasional disagreements still pop up. These issues show it's not always easy.
Being on a reality TV show can be hard, especially for kids. Children of reality TV stars often lack privacy. They grow up in the public eye. Everyone has an opinion about their family. This scrutiny can be intense.
Growing up in the spotlight can take a toll. There can be psychological effects, like stress or anxiety. Balancing fame and normal life are hard. It can be a lot for a young person to handle.
How can Leah, Amber, and Gary move forward after this?
Talking openly is key. Honest conversations can help everyone understand each other better. Support is key during these tough discussions. A strong family bond can help them through.
Therapy or counseling could also be helpful. A therapist can provide tools for dealing with emotions. It can help them deal with conflict better. Mental health support is an option, too if need be.
Leah Shirley's experience shows the problems for children of reality TV stars. Seeing her parents' past fights was eye-opening and emotional. It highlights the need for understanding, healing, and open communication. There is hope for resilience for Leah and her family.
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