Ethan Plath said he has been grappling with depression in the wake of his divorce and is turning to music to process his emotions, revealing the struggles in the April 7 episode of TLC’s Welcome to Plathville. The 27-year-old, who has spent much of his adult life in the public eye due to the family reality series, described songwriting as both a release and a source of pain as he works through recent breakups.
The episode followed Ethan and his friend Austin during their regular Friday night music session, where they traded new material. One of Ethan’s new songs — which he described as “walking along a lonely road” — was written “from the place of pain, like somebody leaving everything, trying to start over.” He told Austin the song was inspired by “when Olivia left,” referring to his split from ex-wife Olivia Plath. The couple publicly announced their separation in October 2023 and jointly filed for divorce in February 2024 after five years of marriage.
In a confessional, Ethan spoke candidly about his mental health, saying, “Depression is a real thing, and I definitely struggled a lot with it.” He added that while music “helps a lot,” it can also exacerbate feelings at times: “sometimes music is very painful too.” The conversation underscored how songwriting has become a primary outlet for him as he navigates the end of his marriage and the emotional fallout that followed.
Ethan also revealed he is working on another song tied to his recent relationship with Teegan Nichols. The season 8 premiere of Welcome to Plathville disclosed the two had broken up, though there had been hints of potential reconciliation. When Austin asked if Ethan still had romantic feelings for Teegan, Ethan replied, “I guess I do,” but said he wasn’t sure he wanted to perform the new song publicly yet: “I don't really think I'd want to play it.”
Beyond romantic heartache, Ethan reflected on deeper, longstanding communication problems he attributes to his upbringing. “I have a lot on my heart and mind, but I can't express it,” he said, adding that he and his siblings “just didn't really learn to communicate very well” with their parents. “That's okay. I'm still learning, working on it,” he told the camera. Austin encouraged him to accept support from friends and to acknowledge that some relationships leave a permanent mark even if they do not last.
Welcome to Plathville has long aired the family’s tensions over communication, politics, religion and parenting choices, and Ethan’s openness in this episode provides a more personal look at the emotional consequences of those conflicts. The series continues Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. For anyone struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, U.S. callers and texters can reach 988 for support 24/7.