Trigger warning: This story contains descriptions of domestic violence and abuse.
Olivia Plath took to Instagram this week to share some of the details from her marriage to ex-husband Ethan Plath, alleging that, “behind closed doors,” she was subjected to abuse, as well as Ethan’s “extremely problematic behavior.”
As The Ashley told you in 2023, the Welcome to Plathville stars confirmed they had parted ways after less than five years of marriage and months of public speculation that they were headed to divorce.
This week, Olivia took to social media to thank fans for their support, noting she was “very touched” by those who claim that watching her walk away from her problematic marriage to Ethan gave them the “courage to leave their situation.” She also opened up for the first time about Ethan’s allegedly abusive ways and treatment of her during their marriage.
Days after Olivia made a lengthy Instagram post hinting that she had been abused by Ethan, she returned to the platform with a video expounding on the comments she made about domestic violence and abuse, not only to clarify what she allegedly experienced in her marriage, but also to remind people that there are different types of abuse.
“ … diminishing other kinds of abuse that aren’t physical keeps women in dangerous, harmful situations,” she said.
Olivia revealed that, about a year before she decided to file for divorce, she questioned if she really was being abused, as she “didn’t have bruises,” and therefore didn’t have “evidence” that any abuse was happening.
Since ending her marriage, though, Olivia said she now has multiple examples of things that she experienced that were, in fact, “domestic abuse and violence.”
“He threatened to shoot my friends– that he called out by name– that he thought were influencing me to be more liberal and open-minded,” she alleged. “The morning we broke up, he told me he was buying guns to ‘restore order’ [but] later told me he never bought guns, he just said that to scare me.”
Olivia then shared that when she went to Minnesota to get her divorce papers signed, Ethan slammed a chair into a bar– a moment she said ‘Welcome to Plathville’ viewers only saw “half of” on TV. According to Olivia, the show edited out the part of her and Ethan’s confrontation when Ethan allegedly verbally threatened her to “be very careful what you say.”
“ … I made sure I was meeting with him when there was cameras there for a reason,” Olivia said.
Olivia detailed more of the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Ethan.
“He would back me into corners, he would cuss me out, he would spit on my face and anytime I threatened to call the cops on that, he would say, ‘I didn’t hit you, you have nothing on me,’” she said. “He also told me I would never find better and that everyone would treat me that way and I know for a fact that’s a lie … .”
Olivia then accused Ethan of not allowing her to leave their house during arguments– even blocking her car in the driveway in some cases. She also mentioned an argument the two got into in Italy, during which she claims Ethan was cussing her out and drunk. Olivia alleged that after removing herself from the situation in Italy, Ethan responded by taking the door off the hinges “angrily” and refusing to let her be by herself in the room where she had retreated.
“He left me stranded while traveling internationally with no cell service,” she continued, adding that after Ethan left her stranded in the middle of a city, he returned to their hotel and never bothered checking in on her, despite her not having a hotel key or a way to call him.
Olivia went on to add in the comment section of her post another example of her ex-husband’s alleged abuse.
“ … driving erratically and dangerously and refusing to let me leave the vehicle … all while previously he flipped a car I was in because he was out of control as the driver and we landed upside down in a ditch in a crushed car,” she wrote. “I think the photo of the crushed car is actually posted on my IG from years ago.”
In her video, Olivia encouraged other women who are in relationships and not being treated well to “know that there is better.”
“Even if you’re not with someone, you can treat yourself better than that,” she said. “You deserve better than that. I know that the system is not built to support women and it lets women down all the time, but there’s support here … .”
In her Instagram post from earlier this week, Olivia mentioned that ‘Welcome to Plathville’ fans have not been kind to her, especially now that she’s speaking out about the alleged abuse she suffered. She claimed that she’s recently received “nasty messages” from fans of the Plath family, some of whom have accused her of lying about being a victim of domestic violence.
“One thing I’ve learned: it doesn’t matter what you go through as a woman, you will never be a good enough victim for the public,” Olivia wrote, later adding that when she married Ethan at 20 years-old, she didn’t know her worth and believed she could “convince someone to love and choose her.”
Ethan has not responded to Olivia’s allegations of abuse.
Watch Olivia’s full video below.
(Photos:TLC; Instagram)
13 Responses
I’ve been physically and emotionally abused and let me tell you – I’d rather be beat yes beat and have broken ribs then be emotionally abused! Wounds heal but that mental abuse is hard to heal!!!
Team Ethan all the way! She’s a psycho that literally separated him from everything that mattered to him, no exceptions.
And if she’s so happy and has moved on and all that, what’s this all about? The time to have brought this stuff up was at the time of the split. She’s still a miserable bitch, imo.
Congratulations on being part of the problem. Your mother must be so proud.
You made no point at all. What did I get wrong and what problem am I part of? Do tell! Thanks.
Sorry, I donot recall seeing a third party living and sleeping with them. (sorry not sorry!)
I believe her. It still doesn’t make her likeable. None of them are.
Olivia is not my favorite but I believe everything she is saying , Ethan has had emotional issues u can just look at him and tell, I am happy she is happy.
Himm, is another TLC fundie family program is circling the toilet?! The family reminds me of a line from Steel Magnolias…they look like they’re carved out of cream cheese. When Olivia left Cream Cheese Son Number One, several members of the family attacked her publicly so her account of her problematic relationship with the family and her marriage is believable completely.
I have believed her all along. You could tell he was one person for the cameras and another in real life. Telling her to “cook a meal for him to show her love” sickened me. Cook your own damned food, ya backward, gun loving, conservative jerk off!
I believe her honestly. TLC controls the narrative. How would it have looked if it was shown that dimple faced wholesome as apple pie Ethan wasn’t that wholesome after all? I expect all of the Plath boys including dear old Dad are drastically different when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Lots of people keep their married name after divorcing. I did. I didn’t want to have to stand in line at the dmv and social security office to go back to my maiden name. It’s just a last name. Not a big deal.
Off subject. Gemma, loved your comment, if you get a chance listen to Miranda Lamberts song, “I got my name changed back”.
I never heard that song before Anita it’s going on my “can’t stand my ex” playlist.🤭
My ex husband was a slow learner. He called me right before we were going in front of a Judge for divorce court and said “Hey beautiful, you wanna get breakfast after court?” WHAT?! I said “No. I don’t like you. I’m paying more to get rid of you than I did to marry you”. He also was a cheater so the song fits.
I understand Olivia. My ex didn’t hit me but he also drove erratically in the highway, speeding more and more, and yelled to me that he was going to kill us both if I didn’t apologize for a joke I’d make.
Even today people justify violence when they don’t like the victim