Jen Affleck has been married to Zac Affleck since 2019 — but it wasn’t until she made her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives debut that she learned she’s not related to Ben Affleck.
“Oh my gosh, I’m still shocked,” Jen, 25, exclusively reveals in Us Weekly’s cover story, admitting she is “still just confused” that there is no biological connection between her husband and the Oscar winner, 52.
During season 1 of the Hulu series, Jen claimed that Zac was a cousin of Ben and Casey Affleck. She revealed on the show that Zac’s dad, David Affleck, is second cousins with the famous actors.
Once the episodes aired in September 2024, Jen’s claims were called into question. The reality star, who is pregnant with her and Zac’s third baby, even told Us at the time that she’d never met Ben despite the alleged connection.
“Hopefully we meet him sometime soon because we are family,” Jen said at the time. “My husband’s dad is second cousins with Ben Affleck, so we’re pretty far removed. We’ve never met him. Zac’s dad has a long time ago.”
Not all Jen’s costars were convinced that the familiar connection was in fact true. Jessi Ngatikaura confessed in September 2024, “I could see a world where Zac told her that, and she believed it because why wouldn’t you?”
“I don’t think Jen would lie about that. I really don’t, but maybe he could,” Jessi, 32, said on an episode of Scheana Shay’s “Scheananigans” podcast. “I mean, we’ve seen a little bit of how he can be.” (Jen and Zac’s ups and downs as a couple played out on season 1, including a big fight over her seeing the Chippendales show on a girls’ trip.)
Jessi added, “But also maybe Ben Affleck’s team’s like, ‘We want nothing to do with you guys.’ So let’s dig and, like, plant this story because Zac is looking a little bad.”
During season 2 of the Hulu series, which premieres on Thursday, May 15, Jen and Zac’s famous affiliations will once again be a topic. The couple debate dressing up as Ben and ex-wife Jennifer Lopez for a Halloween party featured on an upcoming episode to poke fun at the rumors surrounding their family.
As they discuss costumes, Zac claims his family only said they were related to Ben “as a joke” and no one took it “seriously” until Jen talked about it publicly.
“I have no idea if I am or am not related to Ben Affleck and that had been, like, a running joke in my family,” Zac admits in a confessional via People. “It’s never been something serious. And so, when Jen started telling people that, I did tell her, ‘I don’t think you should say that anymore. I think that’s probably gonna backfire.'”
Jen, for her part, stands by her assertion that she was told Ben was part of the extended family from the moment she said, “I do.”
“That’s something we’ve actually talked about where we’re like, ‘Wait, we need to figure this out’ and have a conversation with his family,” Jen exclusively tells Us. “I’ve only been told that throughout our whole marriage, so maybe [it’s not a lie], I don’t know. It’s still confusing to me.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 2 premieres on Hulu Thursday, May 15.
For more on Jen and Zac’s story ahead of season 2 pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.
