Teen Mom Amber-Felony charges

'Teen Mom' Amber may face felony charges

By Anna Chan, TV Editor

Not only is "Teen Mom" star Amber Portwood being investigated by the police in Anderson, Ind., for domestic violence, she could face felony charges for beating on ex-fiance Gary Shirley in front of their toddler, Leah, according to HollywoodLife.com. The incident was caught by MTV's cameras and aired on Sept. 28. (The episode airs again on Oct. 29.)

The Coalition Against Domestic Violence told the website that domestic violence in front of a child under the age of 14 in that state can result in felony charges. Law enforcement in Indiana confirmed to HollywoodLife.com that the charges are a possibility in Portwood's case.

But that's not all. The Indiana Department of Child Services is also investigating the situation. The DCS told HollywoodLife.com that anyone who suspects or witnesses child abuse must report the situation to the Indiana Child Abuse Hotline, which means the department may soon be calling in potential witnesses.

Could Portwood's neighbor Tiffany Harless be a potential witness? In the current issue of Life & Style Weekly, the magazine reported that police were called to Portwood's home in April after she and Harless got into a physical confrontation over a parking spot. Harless told the magazine that during the entire fight, Leah was alone in the home. "Her child was upstairs the whole time by herself. No one else was coming or going out of that house, and no one was looking out for the baby."

'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood's Real MTV Salary: $280,000

by Chris Harnick, posted Dec 30th 2010 10:00AM

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Amber Portwood, star of MTV's 'Teen Mom' makes $280,000 a year. We'll give you a minute to digest that fact.

Ready? OK, good. According to HollywoodLife, the young mother was forced to reveal her salary during an appearance before a judge following her release on a $5,000 bond. Portwood was jailed for 24-hours after being charged with two felony domestic battery counts, a felony count of neglect of a dependent and one misdemeanor of domestic violence and battery.

During the course of shooting 'Teen Mom,' MTV cameras captured Portwood hitting Gary Shirley, her ex-fiancee and father of her child. Currently, Portwood is barred from seeing Shirley, but according to E! Online, Shirley is fighting to have the protective order overturned.

According to the report, Portwood stated her occupation was being a "television personality." When asked to reveal her salary, her lawyer objected, but was overruled. The Herald Bulletin, a newspaper in Indiana, reported Portwood makes $140,000 with a six-month MTV contract. She makes $280,000 annually.

So, where did this $280,000 come from? Earlier this year it was reported the teen stars of the hit MTV show make around $60,000-65,000 for an 11-episode season. Our own Jean Bentley wondered where all that money was going since the young women always appeared to be broke. A fund for the child?

1.     Regarding the first article, Amber and Gary have been greatly influenced by the media.  Amber is being charged with three separate felonies while Gary has been out having sex with many different women.  Do you think that shows like Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant, when mixed with the media, can give a skewed view of what it means to be a teen parent?

2. Regarding the second article, Amber had to report that she made $140,000 for a six-month MTV contract ($280,000 annually) and referred to her occupation as a television personality.  MTV intended that the purpose of these shows was to show teens what it would be like if they were to get pregnant, but does the fact that they get paid handsomely cloud their abilities to be a good parent?

3. After reading these two articles, do you agree or disagree that shows like Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant should be taken off the air?

-Lauren B.

The Pregnancy Pact

I decided to do my blog on the movie "The Pregnancy Pact". The film is based on the events that occurred in Gloucester, Massachusetts where a group of  high school girls allegedly made a pact to all get pregnant at the same time.

The movies centers around four friends who all decide to get pregnant at the same time(Sarah Dougan, Karissa, Iris, and Rose) and Sidney Bloom an alumni of Gloucester High who is an Internet blog reporter

In the opening act Karissa is seen in the nurses office asking for a pregnancy test. She seems to be rather eager and happy to take the pregnancy test, even laughing when the nurse brings out the test. Karissa takes the test and is distraught that she ISN'T pregnant. After finding out this news Karissa fids a boy from the baseball team to have sex with her. In a later scene it is discovered that she is pregnant and is quite joyful about her current situation

Sidney Bloom, and alumni of Gloucester High is writing her next story for her video blog that discusses teen pregnancy. After reading an article that her old schools pregnancy rate has increased from ten girls to eighteen girls she decides to go back home and investigate what's going on. She returns to the school to talk to the school nurse. The nurse tells her that she has distributed over 150  pregnancy tests in the past two months. Sidney is startled by this alarming news and decides to interview the local high school students. She comes across Sarah and all her friends. Out of the four girls Sarah is the only one who is not pregnant. The girls are all eager to interview with Sidney and think that having a baby and raising them all together will be the happiest times of their lives. Sidney tries to understand why the girls would even consider having a baby at such a young age and asks the girls if they knew about contraceptives.

When Sidney find out that the girls didn't know anything about contraceptives she goes to the principal to see if they can try to get the school to provide contraceptives. The principal however is not at all interested in doing so and rushes Sidney off unwilling to talk to her any further. Sidney decides to go to a parent board meeting where Sarah's mom is the president of the meeting. Sidney tries to propose offering contraceptives and a sex education class so teenagers can know all the information about sex. But once again she gets shut down. The parent board would rather raise 13,000 to open up another slot for the day care center that the school provides than talk about sex education.

A few weeks later Sarah becomes pregnant, fulfilling the promise she made to get pregnant. Time magazine hears about the news that girls are becoming pregnant at a rapid rate and speculates that the girls all made a pact to become pregnant. Jesse, Sarah's boyfriend asks Sarah if this is true. Sarah denies this and makes Jesse feel guilty that he would even ask a question like that. All seems to be going well until Jesse overhears Sarah and Sidney talking about the pregnancy and that the pregnancy pact is indeed true. Jesse is furious and tells Sarah that he wants nothing to do with her any further. Sarah begs Jesse to forgive her but to no avail. Sarah realizes that she will have to raise the baby on her own and comes to the conclusion that the pregnancy pact wasn't such a great idea


1. Why would girls so young want to have a baby to begin with?

2. Why do some girls thing that becoming pregnant isn't a "big deal"?

3.  The girls town is a small catholic conservative town and many of the parents never discuss sex with their children. The school would rather raise 13,000 dollars for an extra slot in the day care center than get a sex education program for the school. Do you feel that this is kind of ironic? That the school allowing a day care center is letting the students know that it is ok for them to have a child, yet they promote an abstinence only program and refuse to have a sex education program.


-Chris M.

15 and Pregnant

In 1998, Lifetime aired the movie starring Kirsten Dunst. She playes soon-to-be fifteen-year-old Tina. Tina's parents had recently separated due to her father's infidelity when Tina decided to have sex with her sixteen-year-old boyfriend. Ray, for the first time. They do not use protection because Tina feels that it is a sin to have sex and having a condom means that she was planning on stinning. The next time they are together, Ray wants to "take a break" due to football season. When she asks what about them being together forever, he says July to October was long enough for him.

In a later scene, Tina and her mom are driving to school when the radio station begins talking about teenagers having sex and becoming pregnant. Her mom then turns to Tina and asks her if she knew any girls who were having sex. (The watcher is lead to believe this is their first conversation about sex.) Tina nods her head yes gets out of the car.

Tina's fifteenth birthday arrives shortly after and Tina learns of her impending motherhood. Tina's parents have mixed reactions to the news. Her mother is a devout Catholic. She is angered but decides to "do the right thing" and support her daughter. Tina's father appears more accepting of the situation and is less upset by the news. Tina's younger brother and sister only think about what people will think about them; they show no concern for their sister.

Ray, the father, finally re-enters the picture Christmas day. Her mom sends him away without allowing Tina to speak to him.

At the early stages of her pregnancy, Tina spends more time with her friend Lori who had a baby at seventeen. She sees how difficult Lori's life is raising a child on her own. Because Tina has not had a chance to speak with Ray, she goes to his house to talk to him. He tells her that he'll help with the baby but they aren't going to get married. He reasons that he's not doing much with his life so he may as well have a kid, and it's good they're having them young so they won't be too old at the play ground. "The three of them can grow up together."

Tina experiences problems at school when the school wants to put Tina in a separate program for teen mothers. Her father argues with the principal that maybe they should teach students how to parent instead of the biology involved with getting pregnant.

As the pregnancy progresses Tina holds unrealistic expectations of what her future will be like. She learns she is having a boy. Tina brags to Lori about everything in her life. She says Ray wants to marry her and doesn't listen when Lori said her child's father said the same thing. In the next scene, we see Ray driving with another girl. At Tina's parenting class that night, Tina learns her pregnant friend's boyfriend broke up with her. They have a young mother speak about how her life is: no boyfriend, one friend, no sleep, no money, and a minimum wage job.

Ray claims to be working late and misses the parenting classes. Tina and Ray begin to fight about his lack of involvement. Ray accuses Tina of having sex with people before him because that is what everyone says about her. They break up soon after. However Tina holds hope that Ray will do right, especially when he tells her about what his mom bought for her shower. Tina is officially done with Ray when she sees him with his new girlfriend at the mall.

The day of Tina's shower arrives and no one shows, including Ray and his family. Afterwards Tina admits she is happy about the baby because she wanted something that was all hers. She wanted to feel love becuase she never felt love around her. She had sex with Ray in order to keep him. Tina's parents also have revelations and decide that they want to be together.

The birth of Tina's baby finally arrives, along with the previously absent Ray. He brings his new girlfriend and mother to the hospital. Tina's father does not allow him to enter the room and sends him to the waiting room. Tina delivers a healthy baby boy. The movie ends with Tina's entire family being reunited. She begins a narration about the uncertainty of her life and says how hard parenthood will be because she is still a kid.

1. Tina's mother did not talk to her about sex until she had already done it. Do you think religion play too big of a role in people's decisions to talk to their children about sex? How should religious parents discuss sex and religion with their children?

2. At school, Tina did not learn about the realities of being a young parent until she was already pregnant. Do you think schools should teach students about the realities of parenthood or leave the subject of parenthood to the parents?

3. Even though Tina's father was present in the household for fourteen years of her life, she dwelled on the absence of her father. She admits that was what lead her to have sex with Ray, in order to have love. What are your opinions on the prescence of fathers in the home? Does it really make such a strong impact on a child's life that they constantly seek love?

4. Tina had a friend who was a teenage mother. However she still had unprotected sex with Ray with no real thought about the consequences. Do you feel that friends of teen mothers are more likely to consistently use contreception? Or do they think that they still believe it won't happen to them?

5. After Tina had sex she only worried about being pregnant. She gave no thought about STDs that Ray could have passed to her. Do you feel that young people are only concerned with pregnancy? Does the risk of STDs take a backseat to pregnacy?


Sloane H.

Maci, Bentley, and Who??

The following article was published in an article of Teen Vogue.

Teen Mom Maci Bookout: In Her Own Words

May 24, 2010

Fans of MTV's 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom have watched Maci Bookout go from carefree high school senior to hard-working mother. Maci tells Teen Vogue what's next.

At the start of 2008, I was just a typical sixteen-year-old. I played softball and volleyball for my high school, went to football games with friends on the weekends, and had a boyfriend, Ryan, whom I had been dating for five months.

When Ryan and I met the summer after my sophomore year, I was a virgin. A lot of my friends had made the decision to have sex, but their relationships didn't last. I didn't want to get hurt, but I fell in love with Ryan and decided that I could trust him. Four months into the relationship, we slept together. I hate to say it, but we didn't use protection.

One morning, about a month after we started having sex, I woke up and felt different. I can't even explain it--I just knew that I was pregnant. After school I took a pregnancy test with Ryan. When it came up positive, we were in shock but agreed we were going to have to deal with it and be the best parents possible. We never considered abortion or adoption; those choices weren't right for us.

When I was about eight weeks along, I told my parents. They had always been supportive and trusted me to make the right decisions, so the news upset them. They were worried that I didn't understand how hard it was going to be. I explained that I was going to finish high school and go to college. My plan was to start saving money so I would be able to support myself. I also let my friends know that things were going to change--if I was going to be a good mom, my life couldn't be like theirs anymore.

Once everyone knew, my world became a whirlwind. In June I found out I was having a baby boy. I was so excited. Ryan and I even got engaged. In August, when I was six months pregnant, my mom saw an ad on Craigslist about an MTV show that would become 16 and Pregnant. I replied to the posting--I looked at it as an opportunity to show other girls what it was like to be in this situation. A few weeks later, MTV contacted me to make an audition tape, and in September they came to my hometown, Chattanooga, to start filming. Camera crews came every two weeks for three or four days at a time. They filmed my graduation from accelerated high school in early October and the birth of my son, Bentley, later that month. My episode of 16 and Pregnant aired in June 2009. I think MTV did a really good job of showing my experience. Last summer MTV asked me to be a part of their new spin-off series, Teen Mom.

When Teen Mom aired last December, I was upset with myself because I saw how I let Ryan walk all over me. After seeing everything go down on TV, I knew I had to end things with him. It was hard, but it was the best decision. It's been six months since we broke up, and we're no longer friends. He still babysits Bentley every Wednesday night when I have class and sees him every other weekend. I would love for us to be together for our son, but I know that's not going to happen. Bentley should see me in a healthy relationship, even if it isn't with his father.

Now Bentley and I live with my parents, who help me with childcare. I'm studying journalism at Chattanooga State Community College. I hope to finish in May 2011 and pursue a career as a writer. I'm actually working on a book about my life. I'm also filming the second season of Teen Mom. I've gotten used to the cameras, and Bentley loves the attention. He's more of a star than I'll ever be.

I've been going to local high schools to speak to students too. I want them to know that if they've made up their minds to abstain from sex, they shouldn't feel pressured to change their decision. Telling my story publicly can be very emotional, since I'm so close in age to the girls.

Bentley is nineteen months old now. I know it would have been a lot easier if I'd had him when I was older, but I can't change the past. I just want him to be happy--and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen. --AS TOLD TO ALLISON DAVIS

• In Teen Vogue

Read More http://www.teenvogue.com/connect/blogs/soundoff/2010/05/teen-mom-maci-bookout.html#ixzz1D0ylqHuF

Although most of us already knew the majority of information in this article, it brings me to be curious about things I hadn’t already considered.  The first thing that caught my eye in this article is that it was featured in “Teen Vogue: You’re source for teen celebrities, fashion, style, hair, and makeup trends.        

Although I never really bought into the fact that Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant was glorifying teen pregnancy, I think it is a little ridiculous that Maci is featured in a magazine meant to show young women what is “in style.”  I feel as though the article would be better suited for a parenting, or teen health magazine.  Having said that, here is my first question: Why do you think that MTV decided Maci should be featured in this magazine?  Why do you think this magazine chose to feature Maci?  What kind of message do you think young women would get out of reading this article in this particular magazine?  Do you see this as a problem?

The next thing I noticed was that much like each 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom show, the focus was primarily on Maci.  Ryan was mentioned, but his perspective was not given at all.  My next set of questions deal not only with this article, but also on the show as well.  Why did MTV feel the show would be best marketed to young women specifically as opposed to young men as well?  Do you think young men learn just as much from the show and its media as young women do?  If the article was written from Ryan’s perspective, how do you think it would be different?

In the article and throughout her TV appearances, Maci makes it clear that she believes it is important to have a complete family for Bentley.  She stays with Ryan longer that most would have and states that she wanted Bentley to have a father.  Which is worse: not having a parent in your life, or having that parent be a negative influence?  Would it be equally positive for Bentley to see Maci as strong, independent woman, or does he need to see her in a positive relationship? How has society and media shaped Maci’s perception that having a complete family is so important? 

What questions do YOU have about this article?

(Cheyane Frizell)

Quinn (on regrets): Thinking "trust me" was a sensible birth control option.

We all know GLEE for its countless musical numbers and quirky characters, but it actually brings some serious social issues to light.  In case you aren’t a GLEEK, here’s what you missed…. In the first season of the show head Cheerio and president of the celibacy club, Quinn Fabray, finds her whole life crashing down around her when she discovers she is pregnant at 16 years old. 

Quinn is at the top of the popularity food chain and quite the stereotypical “queen bee” being the captain of the cheerleading squad and dating the quarterback at William McKinley High School. When news of her pregnancy gets out, however, she is kicked off the squad and treated as a social outcast with slushies in the face to prove it.  The only support group she has is with her fellow members of the GLEE club, but the drop all the way to the bottom of the social ladder is a tragedy in Quinn’s mind and we see her struggle with this throughout her pregnancy. 

Quinn’s boyfriend, Finn, is told that he is the father of the baby (even though they never had sex, Quinn convinces him that the conception occurred after a precarious hot tub incident) and Quinn pressures him into getting a job so they can afford the medical expenses.  The stresses of a reality they are not yet ready to face take a toll on their relationship and that’s when Shue’s (the GLEE coach) mentally deranged wife offers to adopt Quinn’s baby and pay for the expenses.  (BACKSTORY: Terri Schuester suffered from a hysterical pregnancy and once she learned she wasn’t pregnant she continued to pretend she was out of fear of losing her husband.  When she realized Quinn was pregnant she did the math and decided to adopt Quinn’s baby and pretend it was hers all along… drama, drama, drama!). 

Quinn comes from a Christian, conservative family and when they found out she was pregnant her father kicked her out.  Finn and his mother take Quinn in, but after he finds out that his best friend is really the father of the baby Quinn is out again and moves in with Puck (the baby daddy).  She reconsiders the adoption and gives Puck a chance to prove he can handle being a father, but she is let down by his immature behavior.  Quinn ends up moving again, this time to be with her new friend, Mercedes, a fellow GLEE mate.  The big day of Regionals comes for GLEE and Quinn’s mother shows up and invites Quinn to move back in, informing her she left her father after learning of his “extracurricular activities.”  Quinn went into labor the same day and ended up giving her baby up to the coach of the rival team, Vocal Adrenaline.  And that’s what you missed!

Things to Ponder:

1.      After reading about the lack of effectiveness in abstinence only education and seeing the irony in Quinn’s involvement in the celibacy club, do you feel that abstinence only education is worth trying at all?  Finn was also a member of the celibacy club (along with most of the cheerleading squad and football team… many of which we know for sure are not practicing abstinence) but somehow he thought it was possible that he impregnated Quinn despite the fact that they never had sex.  How much sex education do you think they have had from parents or school?

2.    Looking at both Quinn’s family situation and Kailyn’s from 16 and Pregnant, how important do you think a supportive family situation is? 

3.    Had Terri Schuester, despite her craziness, not stepped in do you think Quinn would have gotten any prenatal care at all? 

4.    Quinn did realize her incapacity to raise a child at this point in her life, but in 16 and pregnant we saw Kailyn say she could never consider adoption.  Many young women have this same viewpoint.  Do you think this is a selfish decision?  Do they feel this way because they think the guilt would be too much to handle?  Is it different for teen parents who were adopted themselves; do they want to give their child the biological parents they missed out on?


-Alyssa K.

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