The tumultuous relationship between *Teen Mom* star Amber Portwood and Matt Baier remains one of the most controversial and talked-about sagas in reality television history. Five years after their dramatic split, fans are still dissecting the details of their three-year engagement, which was plagued by scandals involving a significant age gap, financial exploitation, secret children, and substance abuse issues. As of late 2024 and early 2025, both Portwood and Baier have moved on, yet the shadow of their chaotic past continues to influence their current lives, with Amber recently reflecting on how she was "swindled" by multiple ex-boyfriends, including Baier.
This deep dive explores the shocking details that led to their downfall, tracks their immediate post-breakup drama with Andrew Glennon, and reveals the surprising current lives of both Amber Portwood and Matt Baier, who are now navigating new relationships and careers far from the MTV cameras.
Amber Portwood and Matt Baier: A Controversial Biography Timeline
The relationship between Amber Portwood and Matt Baier was a whirlwind from the start, spanning from 2014 to 2017 and documented heavily on *Teen Mom OG*. Their story is a complex web of romance, broken trust, and public scandal.
- Amber Portwood (Television Personality, Author)
- Born: May 14, 1990 (Age: 35 in 2025)
- Hometown: Anderson, Indiana
- Known For: *16 and Pregnant*, *Teen Mom OG*, *Teen Mom: The Next Chapter*, *Marriage Boot Camp*
- Children: Leah Shirley (with Gary Shirley), James Glennon (with Andrew Glennon)
- Relationship with Matt Baier: 2014–2017 (Engaged)
- Current Status (2025): Stars on *Teen Mom: The Next Chapter*. Recently broke off an engagement with Gary Wayt and confirmed she is dating a new man.
- Matt Baier (Former Reality Star)
- Born: 1971 (Approximate Age: 54 in 2025)
- Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts (Moved to Indiana for Amber)
- Known For: *Teen Mom OG*, *Marriage Boot Camp*
- Children: Reportedly has at least nine children with five different women.
- Relationship with Amber Portwood: 2014–2017 (Engaged)
- Current Status (2025): Married to Jennifer Kathleen Conlon since 2017. Has largely stepped away from the spotlight, though an individual with the same name is a Director of a Center for Innovation in San Diego.
The 10 Most Shocking Controversies of the Amber and Matt Era
The three-year romance between Amber and Matt gave fans and critics countless explosive moments. Their story became a cautionary tale about the perils of dating in the reality TV spotlight.
1. The Staggering 19-Year Age Gap
One of the first details to raise eyebrows was the nearly two-decade difference in age between the two. Amber Portwood was in her early twenties when she began dating Matt Baier, who was in his forties. This significant age gap immediately fueled fan concerns that Baier was exploiting the young reality star for fame and financial gain, a common narrative in the *Teen Mom* universe.
2. The Secret Children Scandal
The biggest bombshell of their relationship was the revelation that Matt Baier had at least nine children with five different women, many of whom he had allegedly failed to support financially. This information came to light during their time on *Teen Mom OG*, forcing Amber to confront the shocking reality of her fiancé's hidden past on camera. The drama surrounding his multiple children became a central theme of their storyline.
3. Financial Exploitation Claims
Amber has since spoken out, claiming that Baier took advantage of her wealth from MTV. She alleged that he had virtually unlimited access to her bank accounts, spending her money freely. This financial entanglement was a major source of conflict and contributed to Amber’s recent public statements about being "swindled" by men in her life. The financial strain also affected her relationship with her daughter, Leah Shirley, and her ex, Gary Shirley.
4. The Xanax Offer to Catelynn Baltierra
The relationship reached a new low when a controversy involving fellow *Teen Mom* star Catelynn Baltierra (Lowell) surfaced. It was reported that Matt Baier had offered Catelynn Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication. This incident, which played out on the show, severely damaged his reputation and led to an intense confrontation between Amber and the other *Teen Mom* cast members, who warned her about Baier's manipulative behavior.
5. The Pain Pill Relapse Confession
During their stint on *Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars*, Baier confessed to a pain pill relapse, which he initially tried to hide from Amber. This revelation was devastating for Portwood, who has been open about her own struggles with addiction, and it highlighted the deep-seated issues of trust and honesty that plagued their engagement.
6. The Immediate Post-Breakup Marriage
The speed at which Matt moved on stunned fans. Only months after his televised split from Amber Portwood in 2017, Matt Baier married a woman named Jennifer Kathleen Conlon in a surprise Las Vegas wedding. The sudden marriage, which reportedly occurred after only six months of dating, cemented his final break from the *Teen Mom* spotlight and Amber's life.
7. The Andrew Glennon Crossover
The end of the Matt Baier era overlapped almost immediately with the beginning of the Andrew Glennon era. Amber met Glennon, a cinematographer, while filming *Marriage Boot Camp* with Baier. Fans and critics slammed the timeline, suggesting Amber was dating Glennon while still technically engaged to or living with Baier. The transition was swift, leading to the birth of her second child, James Glennon, in 2018.
8. The Failed Vegas Wedding Plans
Before the final breakup, their relationship was marked by several failed attempts to get married. A planned Las Vegas wedding became a flashpoint on *Teen Mom OG*. Amber’s refusal to elope, driven by her growing mistrust and the desire for a proper ceremony, led to a massive fight and further exposed the cracks in their foundation.
9. The Reality TV Exit
After the breakup, Matt Baier essentially disappeared from the reality television landscape, while Amber Portwood continued her career on MTV. Baier’s abrupt exit was a clear sign that his primary motivation—to be on television—had been severed with the end of his relationship with a main cast member. This move allowed him to pursue a life of relative privacy with his new wife, Jennifer Kathleen Conlon.
10. Amber’s Ongoing Custody Battles
The emotional and financial fallout from the Baier relationship and the subsequent domestic violence (DV) charges involving Andrew Glennon have had a lasting impact on Amber's personal life. As of 2025, Amber Portwood does not have primary custody of either of her children, Leah Shirley or James Glennon. This ongoing struggle is a frequent topic on *Teen Mom: The Next Chapter* and is a direct consequence of the instability that defined her dating life during the Baier and Glennon years.
Where Are Amber Portwood and Matt Baier Today in 2025?
The former couple is now living completely separate lives, with Amber navigating the reality TV world and Matt seemingly embracing a quieter, private existence.
Amber Portwood: New Relationships and *Teen Mom* Continuity
Amber Portwood remains a central figure on MTV's *Teen Mom: The Next Chapter*. Her storyline in 2024 and 2025 is focused on her mental health journey, her continued (though limited) relationship with her daughter Leah Shirley, and her search for stable romance. She recently ended her engagement to Gary Wayt, a man she met on a dating app, in 2024. Amber has since confirmed she is dating a new man, signaling her continued hope for a long-term, healthy partnership. Despite her personal challenges, including the custody issues with her exes Gary Shirley and Andrew Glennon, she remains a fixture on the network that launched her career. Her recent comments about being financially "swindled" by Baier and others show that she is still processing the trauma of her past relationships.
Matt Baier: Married Life and New Career Path
Matt Baier’s trajectory post-*Teen Mom* has been a stark contrast to his time in the spotlight. He is currently married to Jennifer Kathleen Conlon, whom he wed in 2017. Baier has largely stepped away from public life and social media, a move that suggests a deliberate effort to shed his controversial reality TV persona. While specific, recent details about his life are scarce, an individual named Matt Baier is listed as the Director of the Center for Innovation at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, California. While unconfirmed to be the same person, the move to a professional, educational role in a new state would represent a complete and dramatic transformation from the man who once chased fame on MTV. His silence on his relationship with Amber Portwood indicates a final, clean break from the franchise.
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