While her Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costars are arguing about Fruity Pebbles, Jen Affleck is expressing gratitude this holiday season.
Jen, 26, shared an emotional video via Instagram and TikTok on Thursday, November 27, reflecting on her Dancing With the Stars season 34 journey with professional dance partner Jan Ravnik.
In the Thanksgiving Day video, interspersed with footage of her and Jan rehearsing and performing, a teary-eyed Jen said, “I just feel so grateful for everyone that voted for us this season.”
“I went into this journey excited to dance, but more than anything, I went into this journey wanting to share my story and bring awareness to depression. Postpartum, prenatal depression is something that really affected me this last year,” said Jen, who welcomed daughter Penelope in July. (The Hulu star also shares daughter Nora, 4, and son Lucas, 2, with husband Zac Affleck.)
Jen continued in the video, “I also wanted to talk about being a mother and how hard it is. As a mom, I think it’s really easy to forget about yourself, and your dreams and goals, and I wanted to show that your dreams matter too. And in return, your kids get a better, happier version of yourself. That was my purpose.”
“At the end of the day, what matters is the story that you’re wanting to tell and the lives that you’re wanting to touch. That was my goal. I think I did that. Hopefully I did that!” she said, adding, “These are happy tears.”
Jen and Jan, 30, were eliminated during week 7 of the competition on the October 28 Halloween Night episode of DWTS.
Earlier this week, Jen’s Mormon Wives costar Whitney Leavitt — who was eliminated a week before the season 34 finale with partner Mark Ballas — clarified her facial reaction to Jen’s elimination after fans accused her of smiling and then appearing to cover her mouth.
“I thought I was getting eliminated every Tuesday,” Leavitt explained on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast Wednesday, November 26. “Every single Tuesday, I was mentally preparing myself. So in that moment, I felt two emotions: It was one where it was like, oh, my God, they didn’t call my name, but oh, my God, now my friend’s going home. Two emotions in that moment. I think, you know, it’s a relief, and then it’s like, ‘Oh wait, but now somebody is going home and now is leaving this experience.’”
According to Whitney, she didn’t “remember smiling,” noting that her reaction “if anything” was “relief.” The TikTok influencer said she felt “no excitement whatsoever” over her costar’s DWTS exit.
Whitney, 32, also said “it sucked” to see Jen apparently rooting for other contestants on the show following her departure.
“Jen understands what it’s like being in the public eye, being in the reality space, getting the hate,” she said. “She’s experienced it. … It didn’t feel great that she fed into that, that she decided to go on a Live and say, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to vote for her.’ I mean, she could have just said who she was voting for. She didn’t need to say who she wasn’t voting for.”
As for where their relationship stands now, Whitney told host Alex Cooper, “The relationship’s not great. I don’t really even know if there is one right now. There was a lot that happened while we were doing Dancing with the Stars. We were also filming Secret Life during the time. So, I know the audience is going to be able to see that story when that comes out next year.”
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