You’ve probably seen the TikToks. The ones where Jen Affleck is dancing in her pristine kitchen, maybe with a toddler on her hip, looking like she’s living the ultimate Mormon influencer dream. But if you’ve followed the "MomTok" drama at all, you know the comments section is usually a war zone. Most of that heat isn't even directed at Jen. It’s directed at her husband, Zac Affleck.
Honestly, Zac might be one of the most polarizing figures in reality TV right now. People love to hate him. Or they love to worry about Jen because of him. Between the explosive text messages leaked during The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and that whole "are they related to Ben Affleck?" saga, there is a lot to unpack.
Who exactly is Zac Affleck?
Before the Hulu cameras started rolling, Zac was just a guy Jen met on Mutual—basically the LDS version of Tinder—back in 2018. She was 18; he was 21. It moved fast. Like, "engaged in six months and married by June 2019" fast.
Zac comes from a family of high achievers. His dad is a doctor, and for the longest time, Zac’s entire identity was wrapped up in becoming a surgeon. That medical school ambition became a huge point of contention on the show. While Jen was the one actually paying the bills through her massive social media following, Zac often seemed to talk down to her career, treating her "influencing" like a hobby while his future medical degree was the "real" goal.
It’s a classic power struggle, but with the added layer of traditional Mormon gender roles.
That Chippendales blowup
We have to talk about Vegas. If you haven't seen it, the "Chippendales incident" is basically the origin story for why the internet turned on Zac. While Jen was out on a girls' trip, she visited the male revue show. She didn't even stay for the whole thing, but Zac absolutely lost it.
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The texts he sent her were brutal. He called her "disgusting" and questioned her morals. The irony? While he was shaming her for being at a dance show, he was reportedly out gambling—which, if we’re sticking to strict LDS rules, is also a major no-no. It was the "rules for thee, but not for me" energy that really set viewers off.
The Ben Affleck "Cousin" Mystery
For a long time, Jen told everyone—including her millions of followers—that Zac was a distant cousin of Ben and Casey Affleck. It felt like a fun bit of trivia. I mean, they have the same last name and lived in the same world of "Affleck fame," right?
Well, the truth is a bit more awkward.
- The Claim: Jen said Zac’s dad was a second cousin to the Hollywood stars.
- The Reality: Genealogy experts (and eventually the couple themselves) had to walk this back.
- The Result: It turns out it was more of a long-running family joke that Jen took as literal fact.
Watching them address this in Season 2 of Mormon Wives was painful. Zac basically told Jen she was the one who "ran with it" and made them look silly, even though she insisted his family was the source of the story. It was just another moment where fans felt he was hanging her out to dry.
Separation, Pregnancy, and the 2026 Update
Believe it or not, things actually got worse before they got better. In 2024, the couple actually separated. It wasn't just a "taking a break" situation; Jen was vocal about being ready to walk away. She even moved out.
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But then, the news dropped: Jen was pregnant with their third child.
Penelope (baby "Penny") was born in July 2025. This "save the marriage" baby narrative is something fans discuss endlessly on Reddit. Some think it’s a tragedy; others think it’s the thing that finally forced Zac to grow up.
Interestingly, Zac actually dropped out of medical school to support Jen. He shifted into a stay-at-home dad role while she competed on Dancing With the Stars in late 2025. It’s a total 180 from the guy who was belittling her job just a year prior.
Where they stand right now
As of early 2026, the Afflecks are still together. They’ve been doing "nonstop therapy," according to Jen’s recent interviews. You can see the shift on her social media. Zac is in the background more, doing "kid duty" and actually cheering her on rather than trying to control the narrative.
Is he a changed man? Or is he just better at PR now?
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Honestly, it’s probably a bit of both. Marriage is messy, especially when you get married as "kids" (Jen’s words, not mine) and then get thrust into the reality TV meat grinder.
What you can learn from the Affleck drama
If you’re following this story because your own relationship feels like a power struggle, there are a few real takeaways here.
- The Breadwinner Dynamic: When one partner makes significantly more money, it can bruise the other person's ego, especially in traditional cultures. Zac's early lashing out was a textbook example of someone feeling "less than" and trying to reclaim power.
- Public vs. Private: Don't believe everything you see on a 15-second TikTok. Jen was smiling in videos during the same months she was secretly separated and considering divorce.
- The Power of Therapy: They credit a lot of their survival to professional help. If a guy like Zac Affleck can be convinced to de-prioritize med school to be a stay-at-home dad, there’s usually some heavy-duty counseling involved.
Keep an eye on Jen's Instagram for the latest on their move back to Utah. They’ve been through the ringer, but they seem determined to prove the "haters" wrong. Whether that’s healthy or just stubbornness is up for debate, but for now, the Affleck marriage is very much alive.
To keep up with the latest updates on the MomTok crew, you should check out the official Season 3 casting announcements for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, as the family's dynamic is expected to be a major storyline again.