Teen Mom‘s Amber Portwood and ex current ex-fiance Gary Shirley are infamous for their volatile relationship, but they still managed to shock viewers this week when Amber violently lashed out at Gary after kicking him out of their apartment yet again.
The confrontation is all the buzz on the internet resulting in MTV pulling the episode from the internet and police investigating Amber on charges of domestic violence.
The scene took place at the top of a single-story stairwell and began with Amber tossing a box of Gary’s belongings down the stairs. Next in line was a rather large television set that Amber grabbed and was fully prepared to launch down the stairs as well except Gary stopped her saying, “Calm down, Amber!”
Needless to say his demands were not met as an enraged Amber continued her screaming while slapping and punching Gary. (Remember folks, Amber has been taking martial arts lessons!) The scene ended with Gary carrying the heavy television set down the stairs and Amber kicking him in the back!
While watching in astonishment at this real life Tennessee Williams drama play out I couldn’t help but think of the horrific scene from Precious in which her mother (played by Mo’nique) threw a television set down the stairs at her pregnant daughter. I couldn’t help but think MTV might ought to make a caucasianified version of the movie starring Gary as Precious and Amber as his mom:
In case you are still wondering about the question posed in the title, the answer is, “No. Teen Mom‘s Gary and Amber are not starring in a movie about domestic violence. Yet.”
It goes without saying that domestic violence is a serious issue and it doesn’t always mean a man beating up on a woman. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts this issue with Gary and Amber would have made headlines long ago if the roles were reversed and it was Gary slapping and choking Amber last season instead of the other way around!
I’m sure some will accuse MTV of trying to glorify this sort of behavior as many have accused the network of romanticizing teen pregnancy, but I disagree once again. Watching these young women struggle has been anything but romantic and watching that scene with Gary and Amber brought home the reality of domestic violence better than just about anything else I have ever seen on television.
And then there is an entirely separate issue about whether or not MTV should have intervened. Is there a code of ethics for “documentary” film makers as to when they should interfere? If not, should there be? What do you think?
