Amber Portwood, a prominent figure on Teen Mom, recently shocked viewers with a candid revelation: she admitted to faking a pregnancy scare in order to avoid filming for the MTV reality show. This surprising moment unfolded during the February 6th episode, when Amber called the production team, asking them to bring a pregnancy test as part of a staged crisis.
The Pregnancy Scare Moment
In a phone conversation with the production team, Amber expressed distress, saying, “I’m freaking out,” and asked if the test could be done the following day, as she was struggling emotionally. “Can’t we just do this tomorrow before I, like, completely cry and go and sit in a corner?” she added. When pressed about whether she thought she might actually be pregnant, Amber hesitated, saying, “I mean, it’s possible. It was an ex. It was a complete, like, aftershock breakup situation. I’m just freaked out right now. I’m scared. Just pray for me that I wasn’t too much of a jackass.”
The moment left viewers on edge, unsure of whether Amber was actually pregnant or just struggling with the emotional toll of her personal life. However, in a later revelation, Amber confessed the truth.
The Truth Behind the Scare
Amber admitted that she had not taken a pregnancy test and was not pregnant. Instead, she confessed that she had fabricated the entire pregnancy scare to avoid her filming obligations. “I’m sorry,” Amber explained, acknowledging that she had used false excuses in the past to escape commitments. “There’s been many times in my life where I’ve had to lie in order to get out of doing things because I’m not able to get ready, get dressed, move around, do anything. You just lie to people and say, ‘Oh, I’m busy’ or ‘I have this sickness.’”
This confession highlighted Amber’s struggles with meeting the demands of her reality TV role and the toll it sometimes takes on her mental health. Her honesty about faking the scare sparked a conversation about how reality TV can intersect with personal struggles and the complexities behind what viewers see on screen.
Struggles with Mental Health
Amber has been open about her ongoing struggles with mental health, including her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. This insight into her emotional state helps explain why, at times, she feels overwhelmed by her commitments and unable to manage the pressures of filming. Her transparency about her mental health challenges has allowed viewers to see a more vulnerable side of the star, providing context to her actions and the difficult situations she has faced both on and off camera.
A Tough Year for Amber
The pregnancy scare incident occurred during a particularly tough period in Amber’s life. Just months earlier, she had gone through the sudden disappearance of her fiancé, Gary Wayt, which caused immense emotional strain. Amber later shared that she was “more than heartbroken” by his disappearance, describing it as a traumatic experience. “We’re talking trauma. Being told you’re a murderer and thinking your fiancé’s dead,” she said. Fortunately, Gary was later found safe, and the investigation was closed, but the emotional scars from the experience have lingered for Amber.
Challenges in Her Relationship with Leah
Amber has also been candid about her strained relationship with her 16-year-old daughter, Leah, whom she shares with her ex-husband Gary Shirley. She admitted that she struggles with how to reconnect with Leah and repair their relationship, saying, “With my daughter, she doesn’t want to be around me.” Amber’s openness about the difficulties she faces as a mother trying to rebuild trust and bond with her daughter added another layer of complexity to her already challenging situation.
Continuing Her Journey on Teen Mom
Despite the setbacks and emotional challenges, Amber continues to share her journey on Teen Mom, allowing viewers a glimpse into her ongoing struggles and growth. The show, which airs new episodes on MTV Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET, documents her personal life, including her family dynamics, her mental health challenges, and the highs and lows of her relationships. Through her vulnerability and willingness to confront her flaws on-screen, Amber remains a relatable figure for many of her fans, who continue to watch her navigate the ups and downs of life in the public eye.
Amber’s confession of faking the pregnancy scare serves as a reminder of the pressures that come with being on reality TV, as well as the importance of mental health awareness and honesty in dealing with personal struggles. Her journey, while filled with adversity, continues to unfold, offering both lessons and moments of growth for herself and her audience.
