Jen Affleck has explained why she almost turned down filming The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County.

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"I almost wasn't even part of the OC show just because it got so bad. I was like, 'You know what? Maybe I need to take a step back,'" Jen, 27, told Us Weekly of her mental health at the time.

"But I felt honestly within me that I needed to share this time because with Season 2 -- when I did go through that -- I think it was the right thing at the time to exit and focus on my mental health."

Jen found fame when she starred on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and contributed to the viral sensation #MomTok.

After The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County was announced by Hulu on April 22, Jen confirmed her participation days later on social media.

Jen said she ultimately decided to join the Hulu spinoff because it's "important" to her to show viewers "what happens and how hard it is" to struggle with postpartum or prenatal depression.

"I hope that anyone who's gone through any form of depression watching the show can relate [to] me and can kind of feel seen because it was hard showing up," Jen shared.

"It was hard sharing and it's also really vulnerable having to share the darkest seasons of your life. But I think in doing so, as long as it's helping someone, that's all I care about."

Jen and her husband Zac Affleck announced in June that they're expecting their fourth child, and the reality TV star has since been open about her experience with prenatal depression.

However, Jen assured the magazine that she's been "feeling way better" lately.

"Definitely seeing more of the light at the end of the tunnel now that I'm not deathly ill and sick and on bed rest," Jen explained.

"I have always struggled, specifically the first trimester of every pregnancy. It's interesting because I never was a person to really struggle with depression throughout my life."

But the former Dancing with the Stars competitor noted that once she became a mother, it was "a different story."

"Like my body was just going through things that I just didn't know how to navigate, and I, unfortunately, with this being the fourth pregnancy, this was the hardest pregnancy out of all of them," she admitted.

"The only difference between this pregnancy and other pregnancies was I had a really hard time reaching out, really hard time talking about it and asking for help."

Jen noted that when a mother constantly serves her children and thinks about their needs, "it's hard to think of yourself."

Jen, who married Zac in 2018, is also mom to daughters Nora, 4, and Penny, 1, and son Lucas, 3.

Jen, however, said she's confident that she'll get through this challenging time in her life considering she's "gotten through this before."

Jen also said that finally asking for support and leaning on her loved ones "has been the biggest game changer" for her.

"It's given me the strength to be able to show up for other people. I hope through sharing my story, it's been able to help other people, or at least bring awareness," Jen shared.

In addition to Jen, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County will also star Ashleigh Pease, Aspyn Ovard, Avery Woods, Bobbi Althoff, Chandler Higginson, McCall DaPron, Madison Bontempo -- who also goes by her married surname, Madison Fisher -- and Salome Andrea.

McCall is the older sister of original SLOMW cast member Mayci Neeley.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County will introduce a "new group of dynamic young mothers" in the Los Angeles suburb, "where beliefs are not just their religion; they are their identity," according to a Hulu press release.

"While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo."

The press release added, "Scandals and secrets will be revealed, facades will crumble, and families and friendships will change forever on both sides of the battlefield as this group of strong, game-changing influencers comes together to build their answer to #MomTok."

Speculation Jen and Zac had signed on for the new Orange County spinoff began swirling in March.

That same month, People reported that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County would begin filming in Spring 2026 and air this fall.

The Orange County casting announcement came shortly after Hulu confirmed in April it would resume filming on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' fifth season.

The show halted filming in mid-March amid Taylor Frankie Paul's legal issues with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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