Welcome to Plathville‘s Olivia Plath is still finding the words to describe the “extremely problematic behavior” that took place in her marriage to Ethan Plath.
“Last week I shared that it has been two years since I started the process of getting divorced. So many of you sent messages of love and encouragement and I wanted to say thank you,” Olivia, 26, wrote via Instagram on Monday, March 24. “It truly was the best decision for me and I have received countless messages from other women saying that watching them walk away and choose better for myself gave them the courage to leave their situation. I am very touched.”
Olivia reminded others who connected with her story that they were not alone, adding, “If that is you, know that you are joined in spirit by the countless other women who also discovered their worth, fought for it and came out on the other side.”
In the lengthy statement, Olivia noted that not all of the challenges she faced made it on screen.
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“Many people assume that because my relationship was on TV, they know all of the details of what happened even behind closed doors when cameras were not around,” she continued. “They can’t fathom that maybe systems, networks or individuals would hide extremely problematic behavior so that they aren’t cancelled. They also can’t fathom that maybe I didn’t or don’t have the power or legal clearance to expose or even tell the unfiltered truth about what *I* experienced, unfortunately.”
After documenting their romance on TLC’s hit series, Olivia and Ethan, 26, announced their split in October 2023 following five years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized one year later as they both publicly moved on.
“I’ve shared a few surface level details here and there about what my relationship was really like but I haven’t gone into a ton of details because I’m still unpacking and finding terminology for what I experienced,” she shared on Monday. “I’m not sure how much of the past to share as it relates to the present/future, I want to be honest with myself and other women while also not living in that headspace so that I can heal and move on, I’m figuring out my NDA/legal parameters, etc.”
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Olivia specifically called out the “nasty messages” she has received from “fans of the family” who accused her of making up allegations, writing, “I understand that being in the public eye means people get to have an opinion about you and social media is a place where everyone is free to share that opinion … but c’mon guys, that’s not only destructive to people who do speak up about their experiences, it’s also just blatantly not OK to be a bully.”
The reality star credited her experience in the spotlight as a catalyst for multiple lessons.
“One thing I’ve learned: it doesn’t matter what you go through as a woman, you will never be a good enough victim to the public,” she added. “Another thing I’ve learned: women speaking up about abuse or DV doesn’t ruin a man’s reputation. … Women don’t owe abusive behavior or men silence to protect them from scrutiny, accountability or uncomfortability. And I want the same thing for every other woman.”
Elsewhere in the post, Olivia explained why she was choosing to speak out.
“I haven’t shared all of this so that I can call myself a victim. I don’t need to be a victim. I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me. I just know that my experience was not isolated and many women can relate,” she wrote. “Deconstructing patriarchy has shown me how many women are silenced or stay in unhealthy environments because they think they don’t deserve better, they won’t find better, he might become better, their identity has been wrapped up in being submissive, agreeable, forgiving, etc.”
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Olivia recalled how when she was 20 years old she “didn’t know her worth.” (She got married to Ethan in 2018.)
“She [my younger self] overstayed because she was scared of being told she didn’t try hard enough. She thought she could convince someone to love and choose her but that was always going to be futile and make her insecure, emotionally unstable and have controlling tendencies,” she shared. “26 year old me knows her worth. She is able to discern what her role is in a relationship, what’s a conflict that is able to be resolved between two people willing to grow and what’s worth walking away from. She knows now that when someone doesn’t choose her, she’s better off choosing herself and walking away instead of trying to change or control the situation.”
Olivia concluded: “There is obviously a lot to say on this subject and many people are far more qualified to share than I am. There can also be grey areas and every situation is different. All I can share is my experience, whenever and however it feels right for me or that I’m allowed.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Ethan and TLC for comment.
