Inside the Tumultuous Journey of Jen and Zac Affleck: From Mormon Love to Reality TV Drama

Viewers have been buzzing with myriad opinions on the marriage of Jen and Zac Affleck since The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives gave audiences an intimate glimpse into their life. The couple embarked on their romantic journey in 2018, swiftly tying the knot a year later. With two children to their name, Jen and Zac stepped into the spotlight via Hulu’s reality series, which chronicles a vibrant group of Mormon mom influencers in Utah. As Season 1 unfolds, tensions rose and the couple nearly called it quits, admitting their relationship was still a work in progress.

“Ever since we finished filming, we’ve been doing nonstop therapy and it’s been great,” Jen exclusively shared with Us Weekly in September 2024 as the series hit screens. “If anything, watching the show is just going to be exposure therapy at this point. We’ve healed and now we’re ready to talk about it once it comes out.” Jen clarified that her departure from MomTok was not influenced by Zac, but rather a personal decision. “It had a lot to do with just me and figuring out everything. There are so many factors — not just our relationship — like religion, friendships and my children.”

Moving forward, Jen took a reflective approach to choices affecting her family. “In order to make the right decision for me and my family, I really had to take a step back and ask myself, ‘How am I going to move forward and what’s best for us?’ You’ll just have to wait for Season 2 to see what happens.”

That September, Jen publicly praised Zac for his unwavering support — both emotional and financial — since their relationship began. “Zac bought me my first laptop when he had $10 in his bank account. When I shared my dream of running a marathon, he trained alongside me and ran it with me. I told him I wanted to start my videography business, so he saved up money and bought me my first camera. When we were expecting our first baby, I wanted a place to call home, so he worked hard, saved up, and bought us our first house,” she penned on Instagram. “He gave me both stability and freedom, which allowed me to post videos online and launch my career on social media. This, in turn, allowed me to support him and our family while he’s been in school.”

Jen acknowledged that she couldn’t have achieved success without Zac’s support. “Is Zac perfect? No. Does he have flaws that we’ve needed to address? Yes. But I can confidently say he’s always supported and believed in me more than anyone else,” she added. “We’re still young, with two precious babies, and we have struggles like many marriages. But do we love each other? Yes. Are we willing to put in the work to be better? Yes. Have there been moments when we wanted to walk away? Of course. But there’s so much more to our marriage and what we offer to each other than people realize.”

With Hulu’s renewal of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for another season, speculations arose about the solidity of Jen and Zac’s marriage. The couple took a step back from showcasing their relationship highlights as they transitioned from Utah to New York, where Zac pursued medical studies.

Relive the journey of Jen and Zac before and after The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives:

2018

Jen and Zac’s love story began in 2018 after meeting on the Mormon dating app Mutual. After a year of dating bliss, Zac popped the question atop New York City’s iconic Top of the Rock.

2019

The duo sealed their love in 2019 with a wedding at a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple. “I knew Zac was the one when I realized I couldn’t imagine life without him and his amazing qualities,” Jen reflected on Instagram before their wedding.

2021

The couple welcomed their firstborn, daughter Nora, in November 2021. Looking back three years later, Jen expressed sheer joy, “Nora brings so much joy and light into our lives, and I feel incredibly blessed to be her mom.”

2022

“Three years ago today I made the best decision of my life. That was to marry my best friend. It was a day we’ll always remember,” shared Jen online.

2023

Jen and Zac’s family joyfully expanded with the birth of their son, Lucas, in July 2023. “Zac has always been there every step of the way,” Jen noted in a Father’s Day 2024 Instagram post.

September 2024

Season 1 of the show highlighted the strained yet endearing marital dynamics between Jen and Zac. Zac accused her of lacking values or morals after a girls’ trip to Las Vegas. Allegations of Zac sending threatening messages and having a gambling issue surfaced, raising eyebrows within the Mormon faith.

September 2024 – Cast Reactions

Costar Demi Engemann suggested Zac’s insecurities drove much of Jen’s behavior, while Jessi Ngatikaura questioned Zac’s influence over Jen’s decisions.

Ben Affleck Rumor
A rumor tied Zac to actor Ben Affleck. Jessi remarked she didn’t believe Jen would lie but suggested Zac might be embellishing the connection. Jen later confirmed they have never met Ben.

Relationship Status
Despite social media chatter and rumors of trouble, Jen reaffirmed their bond, saying the show actually strengthened their relationship by forcing them to evaluate it.

Jen Reflects on Early Marriage
Jen described their early years as naive and full of challenges due to their differences. “We keep trying. I truly believe there were lessons we both needed to teach each other,” she wrote.

October 2024

Jen was seen without her wedding ring in TikToks, but Zac remained visible in her posts.

December 2024

With Hulu renewing the show, Jen and Zac relocated to New York. Jen shared, “These months have been some of the toughest I’ve faced, but they’ve also helped me gain clarity about myself, my relationships, and the mother and friend I aspire to be.”

February 2025

Jen announced she was expecting their third child. “Seeing that dream come true is both exciting and fulfilling,” she said.

May 2025
On The Viall Files podcast, Jen and Zac discussed their experience with reality TV and how it nearly broke them. “We were naive going in,” Zac admitted. Jen added, “I want to show what actually happens in Mormon relationships. It’s not always easy.”

Jen also hoped to inspire other Mormon women to speak out. “Hopefully they can reflect on their own relationships and say, ‘Hey, I think we kind of struggle with that too.’”

Zac, meanwhile, revealed that Jen became pregnant with their second child just six months after their first, admitting, “I got tricked into it.” Jen laughed, “Whoopsies, I forgot to tell you I took my IUD out.”