Is The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck‘s husband, Zac Affleck, related to Ben Affleck? Depends on who you ask.
The hit Hulu series premiered in September 2024 and introduced Us to a group of Mormon mom influencers in Utah. Season 1 was made up of Demi Engemann, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul and Layla Taylor, but it was Jen Affleck that caught everyone’s attention because of her familiar last name.
Jen claimed on the show that Zac was related to Ben and Casey Affleck — specifically that Zac’s dad, David Affleck, is second cousins with the famous actors.
Not everyone believed Jen — including her costars. Jessi weighed in on the revelation in September 2024, telling Scheana Shay on her “Scheananigans” podcast, “I could see a world where Zac told her that, and she believed it because why wouldn’t you?”
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jen and Zac Affleck’s Relationship Timeline
She continued: “I don’t think Jen would lie about that. I really don’t, but maybe he could. I mean, we’ve seen a little bit of how he can be. … 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.”
Season 2 offered some clarity when Zac told Jen on screen that she was never told Ben was related to him. Jen, however, stood her ground that Zac’s family members did connect themselves to Ben.
Keep scrolling for everything Jen and Zac have said about whether they are — or aren’t — related to the Hollywood Afflecks:
Making Comparisons
After Ben and Jennifer Lopez got married in 2022, Jen joined in on the conversation, writing via TikTok, “When you thought you were going to be the next JLO. But instead … she stole your name & you’re busting it down to Ms. Rachel.” (Ben and Lopez have since ended their marriage, which has made Utah Jen the only remaining Jen Affleck.)
The Real Jen Affleck
“I’m definitely the first Jennifer Affleck,” Jen said on season 1 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024. “Not only that, her middle name is the same as mine: Jennifer Lynn Affleck. I don’t know, maybe we can convert them to the church.”
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Clearing the Rumors Up
In May 2025, Zac admitted in a confessional that he has “no idea” if he’s actually related to Ben and that it all began as “a running joke” in his family.
“It’s never been something serious,” he explained. “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.’”
Zac specifically asked Jen to stop spreading the rumor around. “That is not true,” he told her. “I’ve heard that as a joke. No one’s ever claimed to have some kind of relationship with him besides you.”
According to Jen, she was told multiple times about Zac’s alleged connection to Ben. “I feel like if anyone was related to Ben Affleck, that’s something they’d mention,” she told the cameras. “With Zac, he’s just trying to squash it even though his family did tell me that.”
Jen told Zac he was “not going to make” her “feel stupid” and brought up that his grandfather previously said he’d met Ben when he was a child.
“I had heard that. I’m not making you feel crazy. I’m just saying you ran with it when I said [not to],” he told Jen, who replied, “Of course I ran with that! I’m second cousins with Ben Affleck!”
Zac wouldn’t budge on the matter but he did poke fun, adding, “You’re not. Or maybe you are.”
Still Confused on the Details
“Oh my gosh, I’m still shocked,” Jen exclusively told Us Weekly in May about how she is “still just confused” that there is no biological connection between Zac and the Oscar winner.
Jen went on to joke that they needed to use 23andMe genetic testing to make sure.
