‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Stars Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt Join ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34

Reality television’s most buzzed-about duo is heading to the ballroom.

Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt — two of the breakout stars of Hulu’s hit docuseries The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — will officially join the cast of Dancing With the Stars Season 34, the pair revealed during the show’s reunion special Monday night.

The announcement comes amid skyrocketing viewership for the Hulu series, which has quickly become a cornerstone of the streaming platform’s unscripted content. Season 1, which debuted in September 2024, garnered immediate attention for its candid, often explosive portrayal of a tight-knit group of Mormon influencer moms. But it was Season 2, which premiered on May 15, that truly solidified the show’s cultural impact — attracting over five million views in its first five days alone.

Leavitt and Affleck have been front and center since the series’ inception. Leavitt, a polarizing figure among viewers, was initially cast as the “villain” of Season 1 due to her recurring exits from the group’s “MomTok” group chat — a symbolic move that alienated her from her fellow influencers. Season 2, however, presented a more redemptive arc. Leavitt made sincere attempts to repair her fractured relationships, succeeding in rebuilding trust with most of the cast — with the notable exception of Mikayla Matthews, who remained skeptical of her intentions.

Affleck’s storyline, meanwhile, took a more intimate and emotional turn during the second season. She opened up about a painful estrangement from her husband Zac, which became one of the early focal points of the season. After weeks of televised tension and off-camera rumors, viewers were stunned when Affleck revealed she was expecting the couple’s third child. The pregnancy appeared to be a turning point in their relationship — the couple reconciled, but Affleck soon withdrew from filming to cope with prenatal depression.

Though she hasn’t yet announced the birth of her baby, Affleck shared in a June 27 Instagram post that she was in labor — during a nail appointment, no less. Despite stepping away from the show, her presence and influence still linger. In a recent interview with Variety, series co-star Taylor Frankie Paul offered support for Affleck’s decision to prioritize her mental health.

“She stepped away for her mental health and is taking it step by step,” Paul said. “She’s been wanting to come back, and we’re very welcoming to her. And I of all people can resonate with her being in a low place. That was really hard to watch on the show, her struggling.”

Paul added, “For me, take as much time as you need for whatever reason, because we don’t know what goes on behind your closed doors. Jen, take care of yourself and when you’re back, we’re ready for you.”

Now, both Leavitt and Affleck are poised to bring their storylines into a brand-new spotlight — the glitzy, high-stakes world of Dancing With the Stars. The two reality personalities will join previously announced cast members Robert Irwin — the son of the late wildlife legend Steve Irwin and younger brother of Season 21 champion Bindi Irwin — and model/influencer Alix Earle.

Season 34 will once again be hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, with long-standing judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough returning to the panel. The competition will air on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu — a fitting home for Affleck and Leavitt’s fans.

With their deeply personal journeys already having played out before millions of viewers, the dance floor could serve as both a continuation and a reinvention of their public narratives. For Affleck, it’s a chance to reclaim joy after a season marked by vulnerability and retreat. For Leavitt, it’s a shot at full redemption, now under the spotlight of a national stage.

And for viewers, it’s a compelling collision of two wildly popular reality worlds — where the stakes are high, the sequins are blinding, and the next chapter is always just one dance away.