Claiming the title of the “original” Jennifer Affleck, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star has made headlines with her assertion that her husband, Zac Affleck, is related to Ben Affleck. However, a genealogist suggests that she may want to revisit her family’s ancestry.
On September 15, genealogist Dr. Adina Newman took to Instagram to cast doubt on the alleged family connection between Zac and Ben. She stated, “So there seems to be some renewed interest in whether Zac Affleck is really a first or second cousin once removed to Ben Affleck. Last week, I learned the answer is no.”
Reports suggested that the couple was experiencing difficulties long before the filing, with insiders stating that Ben was focusing on his work and family post-separation
Dr. Newman elaborated on the relationship breakdown, explaining that a first cousin once removed would imply that Ben and Zac’s father, Dave, are first cousins, which would mean they share grandparents.
She noted that Ben’s grandfather, Myron Hopkins Strong Affleck Jr., was born in Rhode Island, while Zac’s great-grandfather, Allan Burt Affleck, was raised in Utah. According to Dr. Newman, if they were second cousins once removed, Ben’s grandfather and Zac’s great-grandfather would have to be brothers.
She further stated that Myron Hopkins Strong Affleck Jr. “appears to have been the only child, the son of Myron Hopkins Strong Affleck Sr. (1884-1958), born in New York.” Dr. Newman concluded, “Ben’s tree reliably goes into the early 19th century, while Zac’s appears to go centuries further. I see no place where they cross at all. Would be interesting if y-DNA was done for both, but as I said, they aren’t closely related on the Affleck line.”
In a September 5 interview with the New York Post, Jen, 25, who debuted on Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on September 6, made her claims about Zac’s connection to the Good Will Hunting star.
She stated, “Ben and [brother] Casey is Zac’s dad’s second cousin. So, Zac’s dad has probably met him [Ben] once in his whole entire life. But when I was dating him, he’s like, ‘Well now if you get married to me, you get to say you’re related to Ben Affleck.’”
Adding a humorous note, the TikTok star remarked that the situation was “kind of a joke, but also like, kind of real.”
Additionally, Jen shared that her name was inspired by Ben’s estranged wife, Jennifer Lopez, due to her mother’s fandom. “What’s crazy is I was named after J. Lo because my mom was obsessed with J. Lo,” she explained. “Jennifer Lynn Lopez, my name is Jennifer Lynn Affleck. I’m like, ‘OK, Jenny From the Block is here.’”
In light of the ongoing divorce between Ben, 52, and J. Lo, Jen has humorously referred to herself as the “new Jenny From the Block.” The “On the Floor” singer, 55, changed her last name back to Affleck after marrying Ben in July 2022, but requested a judge to restore her maiden name when she filed for divorce on August 20, as confirmed by In Touch.
Documents obtained by In Touch reveal that J. Lo cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for her separation from Ben, listing their date of separation as April 26, 2024. She did not indicate that a prenuptial agreement was in place. Interestingly, the divorce paperwork was filed on the second anniversary of their second wedding ceremony at Ben’s estate in Georgia.
The filing came just three months after In Touch reported that the couple was “headed for a divorce,” revealing that Ben had already moved out of their Beverly Hills mansion.
An insider shared at the time, “He’s focusing on his work and his kids now,” emphasizing that Ben was “not to blame” for the breakup. “They’ll never stop loving each other, but she can’t control him, and he can’t change her. There’s no way it could have lasted.”
