Shivangi Sinha
After the debut season of ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ Jen and Zac Affleck quickly became one of the most scrutinized couples on the show. By the second season, they seemed committed to repairing their relationship, openly addressing past issues and showing a willingness to work through them. However, it wasn’t a smooth path. As more truths came to light, the challenges between them only intensified. The strain grew heavier when Jen experienced a mental health crisis, leading her to take a step back from filming. In the third season, they returned to the MomTok group and spoke about how their marriage was going.
Jen and Zac Affleck Retured to Utah From Arizona After a Difficult Phase
Jennifer “Jen” Lynn and Zac Affleck first met in 2018 through the Mormon dating app Mutual. Just a few months later, during a trip to New York City in January 2019, Zac proposed to Jen, who was only 18 at the time. They were married on June 28 in an LDS temple in Newport Beach, California. Despite being the primary breadwinner, Jen often felt like an outsider within Zac’s family and noted that Zac was the one making most household decisions. The couple welcomed their daughter Nora in 2021 and their son Luca in August 2023. Although Zac had plans to attend Brigham Young University and the family was preparing to relocate, life ultimately took them in a different direction.
After the Chippendales revue incident in Las Vegas, the dynamics between Jen and Zac Affleck shifted significantly. Zac faced sharp criticism, not only from viewers of the reality series but also from Jen’s close friends, including Jessi Ngatikaura and Demi Engeman. In the second season, Zac admitted that after the premiere, it felt like the entire world was rooting for their relationship to fail. This led to major decisions: Jen chose not to move to New York and instead enrolled in medical school in Arizona. The couple revealed they had been spending time apart, with Zac frequently visiting them in Utah. They shared that they were committed to working on their relationship through open conversations, therapy, and a renewed understanding. One of Jen’s firm boundaries was that she would no longer be spoken over.
Tensions reached a boiling point when Jen asked Zac to speak with her friends Jessi and Demi in an attempt to mend fences. However, after hearing Zac’s side, both women felt that Jen had exaggerated and misrepresented aspects of her relationship, which only deepened the divide. This led to several confrontations between Jen and her inner circle as well, as she felt abandoned and unsupported. Amidst the turmoil, the couple tried ketamine therapy and, for a while, seemed to reconnect. But when Jen discovered she was pregnant with their third child, she suffered a breakdown. Overwhelmed by her mental health struggles and unsure about the timing, she ultimately decided to step away from filming. She confirmed that her decision had nothing to do with her husband and it was something she did for her peace of mind. Along with her family she moved to Arizona but for season 3, the couple returned in the final phases of their third pregnancy.
Jen and Zac shared that stepping back from the MomTok group had been healthy for them, and they were nervous about returning to Utah. Even so, Jen went back to reconnect with her friends and resolve several ongoing disagreements. Viewers saw that the couple had established a new rhythm and a version of their relationship that genuinely worked. With Zac taking on the role of full-time stay-at-home father, Jen was able to focus on her social-media and press opportunities. They also avoided getting involved in other people’s conflicts, especially while Jessi and Jordan were working through their own issues. Zac did, however, empathize with Jordan, saying that having a marriage under public scrutiny can feel overwhelming. Watching Jen and Zac’s growth together underlines how far they have come.
Jen and Zac Affleck Are a Family of Five Now
Jen and Zac Affleck have come a long way in their relationship, facing more than their fair share of public and private challenges. In February 2025, Jen announced her third pregnancy in an emotional interview where she opened up about the toll reality television had taken on her marriage. The couple welcomed their daughter, Penelope, to their lives in July 2025 and things have eben nothing short of magical for them. Jen has shared that filming of the reality TV series has exposed their lives to intense scrutiny, which has led to many dark and difficult moments between them. She emphasized that there was so much more to their relationship than what audiences saw onscreen. While she acknowledged that both of them had spoken about how being away from the spotlight was easier, she also said that she could not take away from how much that journey had made them learn and grow.
Jen and Zac clearly have their hands full, and the past months haven’t been particularly easy on them. With Jen competing on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ Zac has been unwaveringly supportive. When someone suggested he wasn’t happy about her rising success, Jen quickly corrected the narrative. She explained that it could be frustrating for Zac when people failed to recognize the effort he puts in privately. Expressing her appreciation, she said, “He’s the one who checks that I’ve actually eaten breakfast, who reminds me to sleep and makes sure I get real rest. What you don’t see are all the quiet ways he keeps us going—cooking, cleaning, kid duty, and those late-night shifts with Penny. This journey truly wouldn’t be possible without him, and for that, I am forever grateful.”
Jen and Zac Affleck Are at a Good and Stable Place
Jen Affleck is a thriving content creator whose rise to fame has opened doors to meaningful brand collaborations, including partnerships with MCo Beauty and Shak Home. In April 2025, she hit a major milestone when she appeared on a Times Square billboard in New York City. It was a moment she described as surreal and deeply gratifying. She had a good stint on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ alongside her partner, Jan Ravnik, and Zac celebrated and encouraged all her wins. In July 2025, the couple welcomed their third child, and things have been busy for them. They had a fully natural birth at their home and it was an experience that Zac said definitely brought them closer and made him see his wife in a totally new light. They went on a family holiday to Disneyland along with some other castmates and even went to a UFC match in October 2025. Zac is focused on being a stay-at-home father for now, and both he and Jen have been collaborating on a lot of social media work. It has been a stressful few months for the two of them, but it is heartwarming to see them rising out of it stronger.
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