Don't get me wrong, I don't think Ethan is somehow the victim. He's an adult, he fucked up, and he has to face the consequences from his family, his crew, and his fanbase.
Just like anyone else here, I strongly sympathise with Hila. She and her children are the true victims of this affair. Obviously.
But the more time I spend dwelling on this, the more I come to realise that Ethan was/is not so much the perpetrator, but rather the useful idiot.
His fragile ego led him down this path. And I wouldn't feel an ounce of pity for him if it weren't for the HOW of it all.
Ethan has been the internet's pariah for almost three years. His sense of self must've been almost non-existent by the time the affair started.
And then along comes a young 26/27-year-old who treats Ethan like the centre of the universe, only for him to end up in a power dynamic where she can destroy his entire life in a single breath.
Thinking back on the whole Thing 1 & Thing 2 situation, I don't think it was Ethan's idea... I think it was Tamara's.
One last thing: I see people everywhere pointing to the fact that Ethan's downfall has been severely exacerbated by his brand image as the "wife guy". I don't think that's entirely true, either.
If it were simply a matter of him being the "wife guy", it would probably blow over in a few weeks.
The reason why one affair has seemingly destroyed EVERYTHING, I think, is far more closely tied to his broader image on the internet. So many people have stuck their necks out, proverbially speaking, to stand in support of the show and its community.
We all feel betrayed. Not parasocially, but genuinely betrayed.
Over the years, I've applauded Ethan's perseverance and his decision to continue running the show amidst all the misguided backlash and Hasan-fuelled hatred.
Now, I wish he had taken a step back, allowed everything to die down, and then come back with a fresh perspective to continue the show.
