When Amber Portwood was arrested for attacking Andrew Glennon earlier this month, the news didn’t come as much of a surprise.
After all, Portwood has served time in prison for domestic violence charges, and sadly, she seems to have done little to change her ways in the years since.
However, much of what we learned about the attack after the fact has come as a major shock — such as the fact that Amber was allegedly brandishing a machete during the incident!
Of course, the most surprising part of all this might be the fact that Amber still has a job with MTV.
But it looks as though that may soon change.
Take a look:
A Familiar Sight
Yes, it’s another Amber Portwood mugshot. This time, the troubled Teen Mom OG star stands accused of assaulting Andrew Glennon, her live-in boyfriend and the father of her child.
The A-Team
According to a police report from the incident, Amber wielded a machete and struck a door while Andrew stood on the other side, holding and protecting the couple’s infant son.
An Ugly Pattern
Amber has done this sort of thing before, of course. And for the most part, MTV has looked the other way.
A History of Violence
In 2010, she was arrested on domestic violence charges after attacking then-boyfriend Gary Shirley.
The Downward Spiral
Amber was arrested several more times in her first years of Teen Mom stardom. Many of her brushes with the law were linked to her violent temper and her prescription drug addiction.
Rock Bottom
She was eventually sentenced to 5 years in prison, but was released after 17 months.
The OG of the OGs
Teen Mom went on indefinite hiatus during Amber’s time behind bars, but it returned as Teen Mom OG after her release.
Back At It
Yes, despite numerous brushes with the law, Amber was invited to return to the show that made her famous.
Amber on Top
It was a controversial decision, but at the end of the day, Amber helped put the franchise on the map, so it’s not terribly surprising that she would be invited to participate in the reboot.
Her Old Tricks
But times have changed … and apparently Amber hasn’t. TMZ is reporting that MTV and TMOG producers are now considering parting ways with the troubled mother of two.
Letting the Court Decide
MTV producers are reportedly awaiting the outcome of Portwood’s trial before they make a decision about her future on the show. But it doesn’t look promising for Amber.
Amber at Court
As you can see, she was uncharacteristically quiet during a recent arraignment hearing, and insiders say she knows she’s in hot water.
Mitigating Factors
Amber has spoken at length about her struggles with bipolar disorder and postpartum depression, but none of that will matter if a judge decides she endangered her son by brandishing a machete.
Plenty of Precedent
MTV execs have recently demonstrated that they’re not taking any chances when it comes to reality stars who have been accused of violent or abusive behavior.
The Farrah Factor
In December of 2017, Farrah Abraham was fired from Teen Mom OG after behaving abusively toward her family, as well as crew members working on the show.
A Wise Decision
In May of 2019, Jenelle Evans was fired from Teen Mom 2 after it was revealed that she allowed her husband, David Eason, to shoot and kill the family dog while the couple’s children were at home.
Bad Times Ahead
Unfortunately for Amber, fans have been taking a stand against the show continue to document — and thus subsidize — abusive behavior from its stars.
Cutting Her Loose
More than anyone else, Amber is responsible for making the Teen Mom franchise a success in its early days, but MTV simply will not put its reputation on the line to continue employing a convicted child abuser.
A Momentous Decision
And so the stakes couldn’t be much higher for Amber’s day in court, as the reality star has a whole lot to lose.
The End of an Era?
That goes for MTV, too. If Amber is found guilty and execs are forced to let her go, they may decide that the wildly lucrative but increasingly problematic Teen Mom franchise simply isn’t worth the trouble anymore.