In theory, it’s antithetical for a reality show to hide the realities of its participants’ lives in order to keep that fourth wall intact, but considering how scripted and staged the genre has become as of late, audiences have grown accustomed to this failure to acknowledge how being on a show changes the lives of its stars (see: The Hills). And that’s why it’s kind of refreshing that Teen Mom is showing how Amber’s fame (or infamy)—a direct result of her association with show—is affecting her everyday life.
On last night’s episode, Amber acknowledged that the bad press she’s received (stemming from an episode last season in which she is shown punching the father of her child) has invited hecklers who yell insults at her as they drive by, saying that she’s a bad mother. The ridicule and harassment has led to Amber secluding herself from the outside world, and she admits that she hasn’t been out of the house much. She wouldn’t even take her daughter Leah trick-or-treating because she feared that people would say disparaging things to her.
Amber’s had a rough run: public shaming, a CPS investigation, charges of felony domestic abuse, and a suspended driver’s license are all possible contributors to her depression, which ultimately led to her recent suicide attempt.