Olivia Plath reveals it ‘felt like a power struggle’ being with Ethan on ‘Welcome to Plathville’

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Olivia Plath is recollecting the time she spent filming 'Welcome to Plathville' with her estranged husband Ethan Plath and his family.

While openly navigating setting boundaries with her in-laws on the TLC reality series, 25-year-old Olivia told Teen Vogue that she had "a power struggle" with Ethan's mother, Kim Plath, before divorcing Ethan in February.

The divorce papers state that they separated on February 25, 2023, per PEOPLE.

Olivia Plath opens up about living with Ethan Plath and his family

'Welcome to Plathville' centers on the Plath family. However, the plot of the first season and most of the subsequent four have been largely driven by Olivia and Ethan, 25.

Olivia's justification for her boundaries can appear cryptic at times, and occasionally the restrictions themselves can seem excessive.

Furthermore, her attempts to enforce them might be seen as attempts to gain the upper hand in a developing power struggle between her estranged husband's family and her marriage.

Many viewers believed that Olivia was involved in a power struggle with Ethan's mother, Kim Plath.

Olivia admitted, "It felt like a power struggle. I would read critical comments [about me on the show] and I would immediately respond to that, like ‘no, I’m not the same [as Kim], you don’t understand.’"

"Looking back on it now, all I wanted was to choose my own life. All I wanted was to be myself and live authentically as who I am."

"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," she continued.

"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. I look back and I’m like, sheesh. It felt very overwhelming."

Olivia further revealed, "I look back on the last four or five seasons of the show, which is four or five years of my life, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, who is that kid who cries in every single interview and is so emotional? What is her problem?’"

"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."

Olivia Plath admitted regretting her actions in 'Welcome to Plathville'

Even though Olivia knew she wasn't prepared for the circumstances, she said that she regrets what she did on 'Welcome to Plathville.'

"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. It’s the juxtaposition of, that was a bad choice; I didn’t know how at the time, but now I do," Olivia admitted.

"I look back to Season 1 and 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."

"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," the reality star added.

The now former couple struggled in their relationships, as fans watched their highs and lows on the TLC documentary about the Plath family.

They had found it difficult to agree on several important topics, such as politics, religion, communication, and their respective parenting philosophies.

Ethan formally decided to dissolve the couple's marriage at the Season 5 finale in December.