Olivia Plath Accuses TLC of Platforming People With ‘Dangerous’ Views
TLC is giving a platform to people with “dangerous” views, reality star Olivia Plath says.
The Welcome to Plathville cast member took to social media over the Memorial Day weekend to criticize what she says is the network’s inadequate vetting of people who appear on its shows. As evidence, the professional wedding photographer highlighted racist posts that she says came from someone who has also appeared on Welcome to Plathville. And Olivia says it is not the first time that TLC has ignored the problematic views of some of its cast members.
Olivia Plath calls out another ‘Welcome to Plathville’ personality
In an Instagram video shared on May 25, Olivia spoke about a series of disturbing social media posts that appear to have been shared by Ken Palmer. Ken began dating Olivia’s ex-mother-in-law Kim Plath following her divorce from Barry Plath and has appeared several times on Welcome to Plathville.
A Facebook Marketplace post from a man with the user name Ken Palmer advertised an item described as a “slave restraint ball … solid cast iron.”
“Own a piece of real American history,” the listing read.
One person commented that the idea of selling or buying such an item was “pretty f***ed up.” Ken responded by saying they “must be a liberal.”
Olivia also shared screenshots of several other racist posts that appeared to have been shared by Ken. Given the vetting process, the network had no excuse letting someone with such views on one of their shows, she said.
“Everyone who is on Welcome to Plathville, and I believe every other TLC show, is vetted before they go on,” she said.
“This is someone TLC vetted and checked … they still felt comfortable showing him online,” she added. “I am thoroughly disgusted … I will absolutely be looking into this further. Because not on my watch. Not on my watch.”
TLC has ignored the problematic views of other network stars, Olivia says
Ken is not the only TLC personality whose troubling views the network has ignored, Olivia said, though she did not call out any individuals by name.
“They have also ‘vetted’ other cast members who hold and express dangerous homophobic, sexist, racist, violent, etc views,” Olivia wrote. “I’m doing what I can to bring that to light and address it as well, I’ll share updates when I can.”
Over the years, a number of people who’ve appeared in the network’s shows have been called out for controversial statements, including Counting On’s Derick Dillard, who made transphobic remarks about fellow network star Jazz Jennings and homophobic comments about designer Nate Berkus, and 90 Day Fiancé’s Alina Kozhevnikova, who was cut from the show in 2022 after racist social media posts surfaced.
TLC and its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, should be doing better, Olivia said.
“This is absolutely disgusting @tlc @discovery @warnerbros,” she wrote. “You claim to be an ally so where’s the proof???”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet has reached out to TLC for comment.
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