Jen and Zac Affleck Have Been Doing Therapy ‘Nonstop’ Since Filming Mormon Wives

“If we continue in our relationship, there are changes that need to be made,” says Jen Affleck of her and Zac’s marriage. “If they’re not made, we might have to … look at other options.” Photo: Fred Hayes/Disney

It’s not easy to see the Church you were sealed into condemn your own show. It’s even harder to have the cracks in your marriage exposed for the whole world’s entertainment.

Jennifer Affleck knows this well: She signed up for Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives when her marriage with husband Zac was already in a “rocky place.” Then, on a fateful cast trip to Las Vegas, Zac told Jen she’d find herself divorced if she attended a Chippendales show. Meanwhile, it was revealed that Zac was gambling away his anxieties, a practice looked down upon in the Church.

Still, there were some perks to going on the show. Jen got inducted into a circle of TikTok-making LDS moms, women she now calls dear friends (and MomTok co-workers). She even got her own round of tabloid coverage: A distant relative of post-Bennifer Ben, Jen insists that she’s the new Jenny from the Block. And, as her household’s primary breadwinner while Zac is in medical school, the paycheck doesn’t hurt.

On premiere day, and just one day after watching the edited episodes, Affleck sat down to talk about making the show while keeping her faith. “I’ve done a lot of therapy since filming,” she says. “I’ve done the work in healing to be able to celebrate this day, which is a win.”

How did you get involved with the show?
I didn’t know anyone from the group. My manager randomly reached out to me one day and said, “Hey, they’re doing a show about Mormon moms, are you interested?” We still didn’t know if it was going to be a show, but I started hanging out with the girls.

Would you consider yourself a part of MomTok?
I got into MomTok about a year ago. I wouldn’t consider myself as one of the OGs, but as of right now, I definitely am a part of it. It isn’t just for business, which I wasn’t expecting. I went into MomTok with the mentality of, “This is a business opportunity and nothing more than that.” I didn’t expect to get as close as I did with all the girls.

You had been on social media before that. What’s your relationship with socials? 
It was never my plan to do social media. A couple years ago, I started up my videography business. It became a business naturally, because my husband had committed to medical school at the time, and I was forced to provide without a career background. I ended up posting my pregnancy journey, and it blew up and got like 9 million views overnight.

Tell me about filming the show, then. Was it uncomfortable or were you used to it?
I felt right at home, which was an issue, because I forgot the cameras were there. I think there are times that I maybe should have taken a step back. If there’s one thing I could change, it would be how much I ate throughout. I was snacking and eating in every scene. I’m like, “Oh wait, I do that naturally.” That’s how you know that everything was authentic.

I want to go through some of the show’s subplots. We get this really touching moment with your baby blessing; what was it like to film that?
I was trying to make it as special and sacred as possible, but I had to remember that we’re being filmed. I went back and forth with wanting to film the blessing, because it really is such a special thing in our religion, but I also want to showcase what it’s like to be a member of the Church. I asked them, out of respect, not to film the actual blessing, just because that part is sacred. But as for everything else, I looked at it as any other gathering, whether it’s a mission homecoming, mission farewell, baby blessing, it’s all the same thing.

Your castmates bring up that you wear undergarments, too.
I actually have been one of the members who hasn’t been the best at wearing them consistently since I got sealed in the temple. You wear garments as a reminder of the promises that you make in the temple. I definitely wanted to be reminded throughout the show that I’m representing something bigger than me. I’m representing my religion, my faith, my relationship with God. Wearing my garments throughout the show helped me, and I feel like it also helped me set my intention straight.

Toward the end of the show, we see you and Zac get into a major fight around the Chippendales show. How are you feeling about that fight airing?
It’s scary to have your relationship exposed to the world. We went into the season in a rocky place, but I still wanted to move forward with filming, because that’s what felt right to me, my career, and wanting to provide for my family. Looking back, it’s probably the best thing to happen to us, because a lot of the things they showed were things I didn’t want to acknowledge. That’s something a lot of members of the Church do, and I think that’s something that needs to change in the culture.

Since filming, we’ve done therapy nonstop. If we continue in our relationship, there are changes that need to be made. If they’re not made, we might have to … look at other options. But as of right now, I do think he’s trying his best to make those changes.

Did you watch those episodes with Zac?
He’s actually in school now. He’s studying for three tests. I watched it with my girlfriend last night. It was hard to watch, but also therapeutic. Now that it’s exposed, we don’t really have a choice but to either make those changes or … walk away from the relationship. It’s hard for me to say that out loud.

Those final episodes also show Zac gambling. Have you talked to him about that? 
The only episode he’s watched as of now has been the whole Las Vegas scene. He feels awful. With the show out, we’re reliving it. It’s definitely taboo in Mormon culture, but I have many friends in the Church that gamble. It’s a fun, light-hearted thing.

The Church had a fairly negative reaction to the show. How do you feel about that?
I see where they’re coming from. I know what it’s like to be part of the Church and have people perceive us wrong. Even though I wasn’t a part of MomTok when the swinging scandal happened, people assumed that I was a swinger because of the history of polyamory. I see, from a member’s point of view, how it gets exhausting to explain, “No we don’t do this.” I think the statement was more for members of the Church than for non-members. Obviously, it stings a little bit to read it and know they’re talking about us.

In the meantime, you’ve been getting some tabloid coverage over your connection to Ben Affleck.
Jennifer Garner was Jennifer Affleck for a moment there. There was Jennifer Lopez who was Jennifer Affleck, but now switched back to her name. I’m the last Jennifer Affleck standing! I’m the new Jenny from the Block.

How are you related to Ben?
I’ve never met him, and neither has my husband. He’s my husband’s dad’s second cousin, so they met a long time ago, maybe at a family reunion when they were really little, but there’s no connection there.

Have you heard anything from his camp?
Nothing. But I’m curious to know if he’s watched.

To close, I have to ask: What’s your soda order?
A Diet Dr. Pepper with peach cream, half and half, and it is all sugar free.