Amber Portwood Blames Gary Wayt’s Family for His Disappearance and Their Subsequent Breakup

Gary Wayt disappeared in June 2024. He was found a week later and ended his romance with Amber Portwood. Now, 'Teen Mom' fans are watching the aftermath on 'Teen Mom: The Next Chapter'

The dramatic end of Amber Portwood and Gary Wayt’s engagement played out on the most recent Teen Mom: The Next Chapter episode. While Portwood has been unusually quiet following Gary Wayt’s June disappearance, MTV cameras did capture the drama surrounding the Indiana native’s latest failed engagement. In the series’ season finale, Portwood theorized that Gary Wayt disappeared because his family refused to accept her as his partner.

Amber Portwood blames Gary Wayt’s family for his disappearance and their breakup

During a chat with the production team on the drive back to Indiana, Amber Portwood revealed that she thinks Gary Wayt’s family read up on her following their engagement. According to Portwood, they disapproved of the relationship. She feels her past, including domestic violence arrests and custody issues with her two exes, Gary Shirley and Andrew Glennon, played a role in how Wayt’s family felt about her.

Portwood said she believes Wayt thought she was breaking up with him. Before he disappeared, she expressed concerns about marrying someone whose family disliked her. While Wayt had contacted the police and had been deemed safe by the time Portwood was on her way home to Indiana sans her fiance, she had not spoken to him. It is unclear exactly how long after the disappearance that Amber Portwood and Gary Wayt connected again. It’s possible they haven’t spoken since the drama.

Since disappearing, Wayt has not spoken publicly about the situation. His family has not commented on the romance, Wayt’s appearance on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, or his sudden move out of state.

When did the couple meet?

Amber Portwood and Gary Wayt were engaged when he disappeared from a North Carolina vacation rental. Still, their relationship wasn’t particularly long-lived. Portwood first introduced Wayt to the world on Instagram in January 2024. They had been dating for a few months when they made things official on Instagram.

Portwood did not immediately announce her engagement. According to an insider, Wayt asked Portwood to marry him in May 2024, about seven months after they met. Maci Bookout and Catelynn Lowell, Portwood’s co-stars and friends, were on hand for the proposal. MTV cameras filmed the proposal. It was documented in a recent Teen Mom: The Next Chapter episode.

In June 2024, Portwood and Wayt traveled from their Indiana home to North Carolina for a Portwood family wedding. They attended the festivities together and were set to return home to Indiana when Wayt left the cabin in the evening and never returned. Portwood filed a missing person’s report on Wayt.

According to E! News, Wayt contacted the police a week later. He was deemed safe, and his case was closed. He has reportedly moved out of Indiana. Gary Wayt is believed to be living happily with a new fiancee following the disappearance. Portwood appears traumatized by the situation and online sleuths’ suggestions about what might have happened between Wayt and Portwood. She is not currently dating anyone.