Wat-Not Staff
Being Jennifer Lynn Affleck now is an intriguing experience. The 25-year-old star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives tells PEOPLE that people have always been surprised by her married name, but they have been more so lately after it was revealed that her husband Zac’s cousin Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were divorcing.
Jennifer Affleck jokes about being the ‘original’
Ahead of the Hulu series’ release on September 6, Jen talks to PEOPLE about how “interesting” it has always been to be Jennifer Affleck, even though she jokes that she’s the “original.” “Especially considering that my name is Jennifer Lynn Affleck, which is exactly the same as JLo, and not just Jen. She changed her identity from Jennifer Lynn Lopez to Jennifer Lynn Affleck, which is rather strange,” she says, alluding to the fact that the singer married Affleck in 2022 and adopted his last name. “People are very curious and wondering how we’re related and it’s so funny.”
“He’s my husband’s cousin, but we’ve never met him,” Jennifer explains of the Good Will Hunting actor and the familial relationship. Ben’s first cousin once removed is Zac. Ben and Casey Affleck’s father, Dave Affleck, is their first cousin. “Zac’s dad has [met them], when [Ben] was very little,” she continues. “I’m hoping to meet him one day, too!”
Jennifer talks about her relationship with the Afflecks
Jennifer talked more about her relationship with the Afflecks during the debut of the show, telling PEOPLE that Ben and his brother Casey Affleck are more “like distant relatives.” Having said that, she would be curious to hear their opinions about the Hulu series! “Hopefully they’ll tune in and hopefully we can do a meet and greet,” she continues. “They can tell me how the show is.”
In a recent TikTok, Jennifer can be seen making fun of the familial bond with no problem. The mother of two is shown in the video getting her hair done at castmate Jessi Ngatikaura’s salon while enjoying the hit song “Jenny from the Block” by Jennifer Lopez. In September 2022, not long after Ben and JLo were married in Vegas and she assumed the actor’s last name, Jennifer made the first reference of Zac’s family connection to the Gone Girl star on TikTok.
“When you believed you would follow in JLO’s footsteps. However, she took your name and you’re showing off to Ms. Rachel instead,” the TikToker remarked in reference to a video of herself dancing to “Wheels on the Bus.” On Friday, September 6, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will make its Hulu debut.
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