‘Welcome to Plathville’: Ethan’s Toxic Masculinity Is On Full Display in His Treatment of Lydia and Zac
Ethan Plath isn’t exactly welcoming his future brother-in-law with open arms.
In the Welcome to Plathville Season 7 premiere, Ethan’s younger sister Lydia Plath surprised her brother by introducing him to her new boyfriend (and soon-to-be fiancé), Zac Wyse. But Ethan wasn’t impressed by Lydia’s taste in men. He even doubted that Zac was into women at all.
“Lydia’s happy, so that’s good,” a skeptical Ethan told a producer after he met Zac. “I guess the one thing I have hesitation of is, I think he’s gay.”
Though Ethan didn’t give his sister’s relationship an automatic seal of approval, she was still hopeful that he might come around if he got to know Zac. But a casual dinner with Ethan, her brother Isaac, and their friends quickly in the July 29 episode of the TLC show quickly turned uncomfortable thanks to Ethan and Isaac’s immature behavior.
‘Welcome to Plathville’ brothers mocked Lydia’s fiancé
In addition to questioning Zac’s sexuality, Lydia’s brother worried that his 20-year-old sister’s whirlwind romance with Zac, 23, was moving way too fast and that she was rushing into marriage with a guy she barely knows. While their dad Barry Plath has given his blessing to the match, Ethan remained skeptical. He even told their sister Moriah that he planned to put Zac through the wringer to see if he’s worthy of Lydia.
Ethan made good on his promise of a Plath family hazing ritual when Lydia and Zac showed up for dinner. Younger brother Isaac eagerly joined in on the bullying.
“It’s obvious how different Zac is from not just me, but all my friends, most people down here,” Isaac told a producer. The camo-clad Isaac didn’t elaborate on those differences, but it’s obvious that, like Ethan, he thinks Zac is too effeminate for their sister.
During the meal, Zac and Lydia discussed wedding planning while a red-faced Ethan struggled to contain his laughter. In an interview, he pufed on a cigar and unapologetically admited his behavior was “probably not the nicest thing, but that’s just me, I guess.”
Ethan and Isaac were particularly amused when Zac mentioned being part of a choir while growing up. Zac and Lydia were visibly disappointed by her brothers’ behavior, and he even called them out directly.
“I would just love to be brought on what you guys are laughing about,” he said to Ethan and Isaac.
Zac was ‘bummed’ his meeting with the Plath brothers ‘got awkward’
In an interview, a diplomatic Zac said he knew there were “inside jokes” in the Plath family and that he didn’t expect to be able to relate to his future brothers-in-law right away. Still, he was disappointed.
“A big reason why we’re here is just to spend more time with them. And I’m just bummed it got awkward,” he told a producer. “I don’t know, I guess I just want them to trust me. But it’s, you know, there’s only so much that I can do.”
Lydia felt bad for Zac, who just wanted to get to know her family.
“That just wasn’t really possible to do with them tonight,” she said.
Later in the episode, Ethan discussed his feelings about Zac with his mom, Kim Plath. She pointed out that Zac might not fit in because he isn’t as much of a “rugged man’s man” as the Plath boys. Ethan said he was uncomfortable because he believed that Zac wanted to give him a hug when they met, implying that it was sexual in nature.
“I went to shake his hand when I first met him and he was like, climbing up on me,” Ethan told his mom. “He wanted to hug me.”
“I just don’t really like him,” Ethan says to Lydia in a preview for the next episode of Welcome to Plathville. “Just being honest. I don’t like him.”
Fans criticize ‘Welcome to Plathville’ star’s behavior
Ethan seems to have assigned himself the role of Lydia’s protector, even though she is an adult and capable of making her own decision. While his concerns about her racing to the altar might be legitimate, it’s obvious that his dislike of Zac is rooted in the fact that Zac doesn’t seem to embrace the supposedly “macho” activities that Ethan enjoys, like fixing cars, riding motorcycles and ostentatiously smoking cigars. (In Ethan’s case, that “manly” behavior also allegedly includes domestic abuse and anti-LGBTQ beliefs, according to his ex-wife Olivia Plath.)
On social media, Welcome to Plathville viewers agreed that Ethan’s behavior was out of line.
“If [Zac’s] “different” from them (he’s not, Ethan was the same way at that age) that’s a reason to treat him bad? That’s NOT discovering him for the sister’s sake, nor is it ‘manly man’ behavior. It’s juvenile BS,” one person commented on a post on TLC’s Instagram.
“That frat boy stuff is hurtful,” another wrote.
Welcome to Plathville Season 7 airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TLC. Episodes also stream on Max.
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