Amber Portwood, the fiery and sometimes violent star of 'Teen Mom,' broke down during a reunion episode Tuesday night after Dr. Drew Pinsky confronted her about the abuse she inflicted -- on camera -- on her former fiance, Gary Shirley. Now, there are reports that she is being investigated for domestic violence by police in Anderson, Ind., and the state Department of Child Services, and could face felony charges for punching Shirley in front of their daughter, Leah.
In Indiana and other states, domestic violence in front of a child under the age of 14 can result in felony charges, Caryn Burton, training director at the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, told HollywoodLife.com. There has also been some talk about whether the MTV camera crew's decision to not intervene in the attacks could merit misdemeanor charges, as it is similarly against Indiana state law to not report witnessed domestic or child abuse.
The story was addressed in-depth this morning on the 'Today' show.
According to Life & Style, whose headline this week refers to Amber as an "Out-of-Control MONSTER," Portwood has become something of a pariah in her hometown since her violent behavior aired on a Sept. 28 episode of 'Teen Mom.' In an editorial entitled "Reality TV Giving Wrong Impression of Anderson" in a local newspaper, The Herald Bulletin, an Anderson-based reporter had a lot to say about Amber's behavior.
"She kicked and punched him seven times before kicking him in the back as he walked down a flight of stairs ... Reality shows prey on featuring people who appear to be undereducated, narcissistic and full of anger," the piece reads. "'Teen Mom' is not the national image Anderson wants. We don't push our loved ones down stairs. We don't take pride that our teenage girls are 16 and pregnant. We don't all drop out of high school."
At the time, MTV told the Herald Bulletin: "Our role in 'Teen Mom' is to document how incredibly challenging and difficult being a teen parent is. In this particular instance, we monitored the situation to make sure no one was in imminent danger and that the child was not there."
However, the child, Leah, was present during at least one of several different altercations between Amber and Gary, and according to HollywoodLife.com, "Failure to report child abuse/neglect is a crime ... Indiana law requires any person who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect to make an immediate oral report to DCS or to law enforcement."
When confronted about the situation by Pinsky, Amber broke down in tears and claimed to have "blacked out" during the incident, saying she only remembers striking Gary once. For his part, a source close to Gary told RadarOnline that he believes Amber is a "great mother."
'Teen Mom' star Maci and fellow teen mom Bristol Palin posed together at an event in New York City on May 5. Check out more 'Mom' photos >>
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NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout and Bristol Palin attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin
NEW YORK - MAY 05: TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout attends The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout and Bristol Palin attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin
NEW YORK - MAY 05: TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout attends The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout, Bristol Palin and Brianda Diaz attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin;Brianda;Diaz
NEW YORK - MAY 05: TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout attends The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) Farrah Abraham, Maci Bookout and Bristol Palin speak to Dr. Drew Pinsky during " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sponsored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Farrah Abraham;Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin;Dr. Drew Pinsk
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) CEO of Candie's, Neil Cole, Bristol Palin and Dr. Drew Pinsky attend " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sponsored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Neil Cole;Bristol Palin;Dr. Drew Pinsky
Bristol Palin and Dr. Drew attend " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sposored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. "The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting Sposored By The Candie's Foundation Lighthouse International Conference Center New York, NY United States May 5, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (17257527), contact WireImage.com
Bristol Palin attends " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sposored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. "The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting Sposored By The Candie's Foundation Lighthouse International Conference Center New York, NY United States May 5, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (17257536), contact WireImage.com
From what I know, the only way that a child can have the kind of trust account that will be saved for them is to have the county surrogate to hold it until they turn 18, and the only way to get the money out before then is with a judge's order.My boyfriend and i both think so ...He is almost 11year older than me .i met him via kissmilita ry.co'ma nice place for s'ee'king Army, Navy, Mari'nes, Air Force, Police Force and their admires.just love it
This girl is a total bytch and he's a slob. I hate to say it but he deserves better. A couple of these girls seem to have their head straight but this girl.....I could knock the crap out of her!
Hey Lisa! Listen to yourself. Talk about ignorant trailer trash. She can't hit her husband, but you want to hit her? Go to work on the streets trailer trash.
This is disgusting and gives teen moms a bad name that actually take care of their kids and are mature,hard working young moms..this is glamourizing disgusting immature individuals.
Frankly, any teenager pregnant in this world, given the numerous methods of birth control, is frankly disgusting. Irresponsible behavior at it's height. Don't tell me that teen moms are 'mature'. It is a sure sign of immaturity and irresponsibility that they get pregnant in the first place! I hate these shows. They pander to low level thinking and low brow lifestyles. I'm old school. I think pregnancy as a single person, much less as a teenager, is cause for disgrace. Not to be glamourized on television!
I was a teenage Mom & I never behaved as badly or irresponsibly as those TV idiots, even the adults! I was a great Mother, raised a wonderful, caring member of society with a good job. I know quite a few teenage girls who did the best they could all by themselves & were better parents than many adult married "couples".
If you are or were a teenage mom, then obviously you did something wrong! If you were stupid enough to have sex without protection or were having sex at all when you're a kid, then you're not responsible enough to be a parent. You're too into being "liked" from everyone (boys and friends) and I'm sure you relied on everyone else to pick up the slack.
Maria...Teens have NO business being Moms...duh there is tooooo much birthcontrol available..if you are "mature" enough for sex you should be mature enough to get on depro, the bill whatever & use a condom...tooo many sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, HIV, hep c are not curable. DUH teen moms do have a BAD name...STOOOOPID, SELFISH, lol toooo smart for their own good. It can't happen to me...their pooor babies having idiots for parents!
YOu are so right! I was a "teen mom". A married teen mom. I did things the right was as I got married then got pregnant. I was a good mother and have 2 kids who are now almost adults who are amazing. My son, 18 and my daughter 16 have never dated or been kissed...never done drugs...never had alcohol.....have 2 parents living in home......and 1 is going to a University now. I am so tired of listening to the likes of Oprah and Dr. PHil and Dr. Laura berating young people for getting married and having kids. It's girls like this that cause people to see all of us as "losers and mess ups". All of the girls in my family married young and had kids young....cousins and all. Seems to be working well for us.
Cher, I'm glad thing's worked out so well for your family even though you started out as a teenaged mom. Don't you think you were incredibly lucky that your situation turned out so well? Sounds like it'd be "okay" with you if your own teenagers (18 & 16 years old) were to also start families as teenagers. Be honest...would you really be thrilled to find out this minute that they were going to have babies as teenagers? I mean REALLY?? Reality is: This country has an epidemic of teenaged pregnancies with the greatest majority of them seeking financial help (funded by us taxpayers).
He did it. He knows it. The Congress that confirmed him should be ashamed to have a judge of this stature in our highest court. It was the beginning of our country's downward spiral.
Quikwhited? You likely meant quick-witted--clever change of spelling for "quick," but you are a moron for spelling witted as "whited." And what in the world is your little rant about, and what has it to do with the state of the country? I am more worried about the education system that spawned you than I am about this ignorant brat who probably should never have had a child, let alone have a child at such a young age.
What a silly mommy! Katie Holmes takes Suri into the water in her clothes as the two spend the afternoon at the beach in Miami. More of Today's Hottest Photos
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From what I know, the only way that a child can have the kind of trust account that will be saved for them is to have the county surrogate to hold it until they turn 18, and the only way to get the money out before then is with a judge's order.My boyfriend and i both think so ...He is almost 11year older than me .i met him via kissmilita ry.co'ma nice place for s'ee'king Army, Navy, Mari'nes, Air Force, Police Force and their admires.just love it
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This girl is a total bytch and he's a slob. I hate to say it but he deserves better. A couple of these girls seem to have their head straight but this girl.....I could knock the crap out of her!
Hey Lisa! Listen to yourself. Talk about ignorant trailer trash. She can't hit her husband, but you want to hit her? Go to work on the streets trailer trash.
Really for KEN Hey Ken what husband...is is a sperm donor that is also the father of the child.
Hey Ken, I didn't say that she couldn't hit him. I said she was a bytch! Oh and I bet you my bank account that your house would fit inside of mine!
A stupid show for stupid people
Get a life
OMG, watch what I've found! It's really hot video with Bristol
Palin!It's here: sn.im/bristol_palin It's her leaked private video!
This is disgusting and gives teen moms a bad name that actually take care of their kids and are mature,hard working young moms..this is glamourizing disgusting immature individuals.
Reply
Dear, this does not give teenage mothers a bad name. That is like saying Micheal Vick gave dog fighting a bad name. Go back to school soon, honey!
Frankly, any teenager pregnant in this world, given the numerous methods of birth control, is frankly disgusting. Irresponsible behavior at it's height. Don't tell me that teen moms are 'mature'. It is a sure sign of immaturity and irresponsibility that they get pregnant in the first place! I hate these shows. They pander to low level thinking and low brow lifestyles. I'm old school. I think pregnancy as a single person, much less as a teenager, is cause for disgrace. Not to be glamourized on television!
tadpoletales - I take offense to that!
I was a teenage Mom & I never behaved as badly or irresponsibly as those TV idiots, even the adults! I was a great Mother, raised a wonderful, caring member of society with a good job. I know quite a few teenage girls who did the best they could all by themselves & were better parents than many adult married "couples".
i agree, this is only promoting teen pregnancy not stopping. and i hope they throw the book at her!
If you are or were a teenage mom, then obviously you did something wrong! If you were stupid enough to have sex without protection or were having sex at all when you're a kid, then you're not responsible enough to be a parent. You're too into being "liked" from everyone (boys and friends) and I'm sure you relied on everyone else to pick up the slack.
Maria...Teens have NO business being Moms...duh there is tooooo much birthcontrol available..if you are "mature" enough for sex you should be mature enough to get on depro, the bill whatever & use a condom...tooo many sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, HIV, hep c are not curable. DUH teen moms do have a BAD name...STOOOOPID, SELFISH, lol toooo smart for their own good. It can't happen to me...their pooor babies having idiots for parents!
YOu are so right! I was a "teen mom". A married teen mom. I did things the right was as I got married then got pregnant. I was a good mother and have 2 kids who are now almost adults who are amazing. My son, 18 and my daughter 16 have never dated or been kissed...never done drugs...never had alcohol.....have 2 parents living in home......and 1 is going to a University now. I am so tired of listening to the likes of Oprah and Dr. PHil and Dr. Laura berating young people for getting married and having kids. It's girls like this that cause people to see all of us as "losers and mess ups". All of the girls in my family married young and had kids young....cousins and all. Seems to be working well for us.
Cher, I'm glad thing's worked out so well for your family even though you started out as a teenaged mom. Don't you think you were incredibly lucky that your situation turned out so well? Sounds like it'd be "okay" with you if your own teenagers (18 & 16 years old) were to also start families as teenagers. Be honest...would you really be thrilled to find out this minute that they were going to have babies as teenagers? I mean REALLY?? Reality is: This country has an epidemic of teenaged pregnancies with the greatest majority of them seeking financial help (funded by us taxpayers).
I agree with you 100% The show is making it look like a Baby is the new "Accessory."
He did it. He knows it. The Congress that confirmed him should be ashamed to have a judge of this stature in our highest court. It was the beginning of our country's downward spiral.
Reply
Quikwhited? You likely meant quick-witted--clever change of spelling for "quick," but you are a moron for spelling witted as "whited." And what in the world is your little rant about, and what has it to do with the state of the country? I am more worried about the education system that spawned you than I am about this ignorant brat who probably should never have had a child, let alone have a child at such a young age.