Reality television star Jen Affleck and her husband Zac Affleck are navigating major personal challenges while preparing for their fourth child and relocating to California.
The 27-year-old personality learned of her pregnancy in early 2026 during the family move from Utah to California, where the couple filmed the spinoff series Mormon Wives: Orange County. Jen suffered severe illness throughout her first trimester and disclosed in a July Instagram post that she experienced prenatal depression.
Speaking to People on August 20, 2026, Jen detailed the private struggles behind their transition. "It’s been a lot the past couple of months, I’ll be honest. But I do feel like I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and just trying to count my blessings every single day," she said. "There’s a lot that we’ve been navigating behind closed doors."
Jen credited 29-year-old Zac for taking charge of the household while she was unwell. "I could not be there for my kids, and so Zac really had to show up," Jen said, noting that while he "didn’t really have a choice," she "wouldn’t have survived the first trimester" without him. The couple share children Nora, four, Luca, three, and Penelope, 13 months.
Medical complications further strained her pregnancy when a wisdom tooth infection required surgical intervention. "I have to go into surgery," Jen explained. "I can’t go under, I can’t take the meds because I’m nauseous and throwing up. I was just going through it."
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is a Hulu reality television series following a group of Mormon mother influencers in Utah as they navigate marriage, motherhood, and public scrutiny. The franchise expands on their online presence and personal relationships following high-profile public controversies.
Reflecting on her seven-year marriage and public reaction, the former Dancing With the Stars contestant expressed hope that sharing her experience would assist viewers facing similar trials. "I’m in a very unique and interesting situation, where maybe people can’t relate with being Mormon and having four kids at such a young age, but I do think there are different things that people can relate with," she said. "There’s always going to be hate, and there’s always going to be criticism, but as long as one person is benefiting from me sharing my story, that’s all that matters to me."
She added: "I definitely feel like everything that I’m experiencing right now is for a reason, and I do believe that it’s supposed to help people."
Marriage scrutiny and striptease dispute
Jen and Zac Affleck, who married in 2019, have faced persistent public breakup rumors since the show premiered. Zac has no relation to actor Ben Affleck despite frequent public jokes regarding their shared surname.
Tension in their relationship formed a central storyline during the show's first season after Jen attended a Chippendales striptease show in Las Vegas. Although the couple reconciled, public speculation about their relationship status continued.
In November 2025, Jen addressed the scrutiny in an interview with E! News. "It can be tiring and draining, just because it gets old having to hear the same things," she said. "For me, I'm like, 'People will always talk and people will always have their opinions.' I think it is frustrating for him when people don't see what's happening behind closed doors and how much work and effort he's putting in."
She emphasized that they remain focused on their core relationship. "We're working on just tuning out the noise of the world," she said, adding that "it still is hard for him." Hulu paused production on season five of the series as cast dynamics evolve.
Taylor Frankie Paul and domestic investigation
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen ended their relationship following allegations of infidelity. The couple began dating in July 2022 and welcomed a son, Ever, in 2024.
During the season two premiere of the Hulu series, Taylor revealed the reason for their split. "Right after Ever was born, Dakota and I were living together and in bliss with our new baby, and I was even considering engagement," she said. "And then I learned that he was lying this entire time."
Taylor said a woman named Jenna informed her that she and Dakota had been intimate and that he "spent the night more than once." Dakota denied the claims in a September 2024 TikTok post, writing that he "never cheated."
In a show confessional, Taylor rejected Dakota's assertion that Jenna instigated the encounter. "No, it was him," Taylor said. "He said he had just kissed her on the couch. No, he went on the couch, they hooked up on the couch, and then they went to the room and they hooked up."
Taylor, a mother of three who shares two children with ex-husband Tate Paul, was subsequently cast on season 22 of The Bachelorette. However, news broke in March 2026 of an alleged confrontation between the exes weeks earlier.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed to People that an open "domestic assault investigation" was underway, stating that "allegations have been made in both directions." Days later, a 2023 video showing a physical altercation between Taylor and Dakota surfaced online, leading ABC to cancel her season of The Bachelorette.
Whitney Leavitt and vow renewal
Whitney Leavitt and Connor Leavitt remain married after tying the knot in 2016, when they were 23 and 22 years old respectively. The couple share three children: Sedona, Liam, and Billy.
In October 2024, former Dancing With the Stars contestant Whitney addressed rumors about her husband's sexuality during an appearance on the Off the Vine podcast. "Do I need to put out a sex tape, or something? Like, trust me," she said. "We're good. Everything's fine."
Whitney attributed the rumors to discussions on the show regarding past challenges. "I think it's because when we were going through our personal stuff, and I know you haven't seen it, but he struggled through a porn addiction," she explained. "There's a scene where one of my friends says something along the lines of how they could see how he was confused sexually."
The couple renewed their wedding vows in February 2026 for their 10th anniversary. Connor told Brides: "We got married really young. It felt like our wedding day, as much as it was for us, it really felt like it was for our families. So we really want to do something to make it ours, and this felt like a really fun way to do it."
Jessi Draper and divorce filing
Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura are divorcing after five years of marriage. The pair share children Jagger and Jovi, while Jordan also has a daughter, Peyton, from a previous relationship.
Marital issues arose after hairstylist Jessi admitted to an emotional affair with Vanderpump Villa cast member Marciano Brunette. In November 2025, Jessi told E! News that they were attempting to reconcile. "We are back together," she said. "We're trying to work on it. Relationships are not perfect. I think a situation like ours, it's going to take time. It's not going to something that's just amazing overnight."
The reconciliation ended when Jordan filed for divorce in March 2026. Days later, Jessi stated she was "blindsided" by the court filing, claiming he rushed to submit paperwork because "he wanted the headline first."
Jessi expressed disappointment over the timing, stating her "heart sunk" because "we agreed to tell our children together before filing and we haven’t done that." Representatives for Jordan did not respond to requests for comment.
Mayci Neeley and family memoir
Mayci Neeley and Jacob Neeley remain married after first meeting in 2016. Mayci had previously experienced the sudden death of her boyfriend Arik Mack in 2015 when she was 14 weeks pregnant with their son Hudson.
Mayci met Jacob at age 21 and married him two years later in 2018. In her memoir Told You So, she recalled her initial reluctance to date. "After everything I'd been through, I was very guarded, but Jacob was kind and we got on really well," she wrote. "For a long time, we remained just friends and because we weren't really dating, I was OK with him meeting my son."
She continued: "Jacob was amazing with him, which made him appear even more attractive. I was terrified of getting hurt again but, after four months, I couldn't deny my feelings any longer. He was kind and funny and made me feel safe." The couple later welcomed daughters Harlow in 2021 and Charli in 2025.
Demi Engemann and blended family life
Demi Engemann and Bret Engemann married in 2021, one year after Demi divorced Blake Corbin. Their relationship featured discussions of sexual exploration on screen after co-star Whitney gifted Demi a box of Fruity Pebbles cereal.
In November 2025, Jessi revealed on Instagram that "grandpa Bret likes to drink her piss like it's dirty soda and he gulps it down like water." Demi told Entertainment Tonight in December 2025 that she and Bret "have nothing else left to do other than own it and have fun with it."
The couple manage a blended family. Demi shares daughter Maude with her former husband, while Bret shares sons Rome and Cole with his ex-wife, former The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member Angie Harrington.
In a June 2024 Instagram post, Demi praised Bret's parenting: "I've never seen a dad so involved or love their kids harder, the most devoted step-dad to Maude, and future father to our own children one day." She added: "Your ability to remain consistently loyal to your role as father/step-father while navigating all that life throws your way, will never cease to amaze me!"
Mikayla Matthews and marriage separation
Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry are separated after marrying in 2018. The couple met in 2015 when Mikayla was 15, welcomed son Beckham two years later, and went on to have children Haven, Tommie, and Lottie.
In February 2025, Mikayla told People about her family plans. "When people ask me how many kids I want, I'm like, 'I've always wanted three or four, but I could see myself having six,'" she said. "I'm excited to hopefully move into a new house. I want a big lot for my herd of kids."
During the ninth episode of the show's fourth season, Mikayla confirmed their separation amid ongoing intimacy challenges. She explained that addressing trauma from teenage sexual abuse and managing a chronic illness had placed her nervous system in a state of high stress.
Speaking to Jace on the episode, Mikayla said: "I think it's hard anytime you bring up the stuff with the sex or the intimacy. I feel like it's hard on me 'cause I feel like, again, my nervous system's already in fight or flight and I'm already maxed out. My bucket is full."
Layla Taylor and relationship split
Layla Taylor and Clayton Wessel divorced in 2023. The former couple share two sons, Oliver and Maxwell.
In July 2025, Layla revealed a relationship with Mason McWhorter, the brother of Chase McWhorter, who is the ex-husband of co-star Miranda McWhorter. Addressing marriage rumors in November 2025, Layla told Us: "Right now, I'm kind of scared of marriage but I just want to get to know somebody very well before I even consider that. I'm just happy and content where me and Mason are. And if somehow that ever were to come up, then we would see."
In February 2026, Layla confirmed the couple had split. "I think we were just on two different paths right now, and he felt in order for him to grow, he had to be on his own," she said. "I respect his decision, and I truly hope that he gets what he wants in life."
Miranda McWhorter and co-parenting
Miranda McWhorter joined the series in season two and was involved in discussions surrounding the group's soft swinging scandal. However, she clarified on the Weekly Trash podcast in August 2024 that the scandal was not the reason for her 2024 divorce from Chase McWhorter.
"The reasons why we decided to split were things that were issues far before that," Miranda explained. "That might not have helped, for sure, but it definitely did not play a part in the decision process."
Miranda and Chase continue to co-parent their sons Brooks and Cohen. "With coparenting, you're always having to work on it," Miranda said. "The thing is that if we got along perfectly all the time and it was just rainbows and butterflies, we probably wouldn't have gotten divorced."
She added that their history supports their co-parenting relationship. "The thing with him and I, we've always had a pretty good foundation of a friendship prior to even having a romantic relationship," she said. "I feel like that's something that set us up for some level of success when it comes to co-parenting."
