Jen Affleck Reflects on Postpartum “Dancing With the Stars” Experience

Jen Affleck is looking back on her time on “Dancing With the Stars” with gratitude, despite the intense pressure she faced just weeks after giving birth.

The “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star spoke with Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” about her experience on Season 34 of the dance competition, including a viral moment involving host Julianne Hough.

Affleck, 27, joined “Dancing With the Stars” only eight weeks after welcoming her third child with her husband, Zac Affleck. During her first performance with professional dancer Jan Ravnik, Hough asked how she felt after “clearly” giving birth and returning to the dance floor.

The comment quickly drew criticism online, with some viewers questioning Hough’s choice of words.

Affleck, however, said she did not believe Hough intended to offend her.

“There [are] a lot of nerves when it comes to being on national TV in front of millions of people, so I don’t think she had any ill intent whatsoever,” Affleck said. “I think it was just a comment in the moment that was just perceived the wrong way.”

At the time, Affleck said she was focused mainly on getting through the competition while adjusting to life as a new mother.

“There’s a lot of things that I don’t think I processed during ‘Dancing With the Stars,’” she explained. “Looking back, I’m like, ‘Oh, that happened? Oh, that happened. Oh, yeah, I was postpartum. Oh, yeah, I was breastfeeding.’”

Affleck was eliminated during Week 7, but she now looks back on the experience as one of the most memorable periods of her life.

“Now, looking back at ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ I am full of gratitude,” she said. “I’m still trying to process all of that because it was the craziest time in my life.”

Affleck and Zac are parents to three children: Nora, 4, Luca, 2, and Penelope, 1. The couple announced in June that they are expecting their fourth child.

As for the current state of their marriage, Affleck is keeping details private for now. She confirmed that viewers will get a closer look at their relationship on Hulu’s upcoming “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County” spinoff.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” she teased.

For now, Affleck appears focused on the next chapter of her life while preparing to welcome another baby and continuing her reality-TV journey.