Olivia Plath is reflecting on her religious upbringing, her relationship with soon-to-be-ex-husband Ethan Plath, past seasons of Welcome to Plathville and what she’s learned along the way.
In a new interview with Teen Vogue, Olivia acknowledged that she was often seen crying and getting “so emotional” on past seasons of the TLC reality series, though she claims it was due to the “very overwhelming” situation she was in at the time.
“I was 20 and newly married to someone who wasn’t ready to leave fundamentalism behind at the same time as I was questioning fundamentalism,” she said. “I had my whole life open for the public to criticize and critique, and I was a kid who grew up so sheltered from the world.
“To be thrown out in it and have everyone watch me as I’m deconstructing and trying to figure out what being married is all about and dealing with in-law conflict,” she continued. “I look back and I’m like, sheesh. It felt very overwhelming.”
As The Ashley previously told you, Olivia and Ethan announced in October that they had “parted ways” after nearly five years of marriage. Leading up to their announcement, the pair was at the center of public scrutiny over a possible breakup for months. In her statement confirming the split, Olivia alluded to the fact that she and Ethan–- who met as teenagers–- had simply outgrown each other.
Now that she’s no longer with Ethan, Olivia is dating– though she has not confirmed nor denied if the man she posted a photo with on social media last month is someone she is in a relationship with. She continues to live in Los Angeles, but is looking for a place to put down some roots, as she claims she always intended for her time in LA to be temporary.
Olivia told the outlet she’s also working through the “shame” that being raised in purity culture left her with and is considering using her platform to connect with other “ex-fundie kids.”
Following last year’s release of Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets on Prime Video, Olivia– who previously claimed she was raised in the same controversial religious cult, the Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP), that is discussed in the doc– took to social media to share how she found the four-part series relatable.
“[It was] a little triggering to watch, but also there is solidarity in having other people speak up and say, ‘Yep, you’re not crazy, happened to me, too. I know about this.’ That is healing in a way,” she said at the time.
Olivia’s sister-in-law Lydia Plath went on to accuse her of lying about the Plath family’s ties to the IBLP; Olivia was also accused of embellishing her story in the comment section during an Instagram Live. Olivia argued that she and Ethan “had a heavily supervised courtship, deeply steeped in purity culture, a trademark of the fundamental world,” insisting that she was not lying about the family’s religion.
The 25-year-old told Teen Vogue that while her own family attended a non-denominational church that took on a fundamentalist view of religion and the Bible, she was raised with beliefs similar to those of the IBLP. Still, she claims the Plaths were more strict than her own family and believes confrontations between herself and her in-laws occurred because she didn’t fit the family’s expectations.
Ethan’s family often made it no secret that they were not fans of Olivia. As you may remember, on the Season 5 premiere of the family’s TLC show, Ethan’s parents Kim and Barry chatted with Ethan’s brother Micah and sister Moriah about the negative effects they felt Olivia has had on Ethan. During the conversation, Micah claimed that his sister-in-law has “always talked crap” about the family, with Barry going on to accuse Olivia of “brainwashing” Ethan.
Olivia said all she ever wanted “was to be myself and live authentically as who I am,” and sometimes, she would “immediately” respond to critics in an effort to get that point across. Looking back, Olivia said she has a number of regrets regarding the way she conducted herself.
“I’m trying to sit in this place now, realizing that I should’ve behaved better, and also knowing that I did not have the tools at the time to behave better,” she said. “It’s the juxtaposition of, that was a bad choice; I didn’t know how at the time, but I do now.
“I look back to Season 1 and I see a scared kid who felt like she was backed into a corner,” she continued. “I saw things as black and white and drew very harsh boundaries. I think that I needed that at the time. It harmed other people and … I wish that wasn’t the case, but I don’t get a do-over. I want to consistently make better choices.”
While it’s unknown if ‘Welcome to Plathville’ will return to TLC for a Season 6, Olivia said if cameras do begin rolling, she is planning to be in front of them.
“You have to show what happens when someone walks away from [fundamentalism],” she stated on an episode of So Bad It’s Good with Ryan Bailey. “You have to show what happens when someone questions it. Otherwise it’s just, it’s not the full story.”
RELATED STORY: ‘Welcome to Plathville’ Star Micah Plath Insinuates That Olivia Plath Cheated On His Brother Ethan
(Photos: Instagram; TLC)
I gave up on this show this year. Watched a few eps. and that was it.
I love her. Ethan telling her to cook him a meal made my blood boil. I love that she is a feminist and doesn’t take crap from men! People change, she now knows she doesnt have to be a little man-serving, conservative mouse.
Olivia continues to be the attention seeking me-me-me person she always has been. She uses big words in an attempt to sound intelligent and important, while constantly demeaning Ethan right to his face. She is mean spirited and nasty and I have no interest in seeing her on my TV ever again. Go do you, you pretentious a$$.
LOL! Yes, she’s horrible but I still love the show due to Moriah, Ethan and Micah. Btw, Micah was the first to figure see her true colors, which just makes him that much more adorable.
Yeah, you can tell they never got a chance to know each other before marriage.
Olivia would have found out that Ethan not communicating and leaving for days/weeks when he was upset was not healthy.
Ethan would have found out that Olivia wants to talk about something to the point that it’s overdone and even I am watching it and need to yell at the tv, enough.
They were never really compatible.
Just two kids who were attractive and desperate for the independence that only marriage would solve in these religious extremist families.
“I look back to Season 1 and I see a scared kid who felt like she was backed into a corner, I saw things as black and white and drew very harsh boundaries.”
The problem is that she continued to double down on those boundaries and her justifications right up until the end of last season. She’s just another Kody. No accountability and always has to be in control.
None of them should continue to have a platform, including Olivia.
Of course she would come back, who doesn’t want to make money off their ex husband’s name? She’s insufferable, her own biggest fan who thinks she’s God’s gift to all people
100%. Insufferable is exactly the word I would use. But at least Moriah and Ethan finally saw her true colors. I definitely enjoyed watching that! LOL.