Ben Affleck appears opposite social media influencer Jen Affleck in a new 60-second Dunkin' commercial that plays on a reality-show storyline in which Jen was presented as the actor's cousin.
In the spot, released Monday, the ad opens with a cashier calling out an order for "Affleck," prompting customers to expect Ben Affleck. Instead, Jen sashays in and introduces herself as "Jen Affleck. The Value Affleck," touting Dunkin's $6 Meal Deal and joking about being "twice the personality, half the price." The comedic beat escalates when the camera pans to Ben at the drive-thru window and he dryly responds, "Rude. [I'm a] totally average 53. Right down the 53 fairway."
The spot riffs on attention the duo received after Jen, a 26-year-old cast member of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, was portrayed on the series as a relative of the Boston Affleck family. The program's storyline — which included Jen's husband Zac being presented as Ben Affleck's distant cousin by marriage — has been disputed. A person familiar with the Utah Affleck family told People in September 2024 that the relationship to the actor's Boston family is "absolutely not true."
Dunkin's ad underscores the contrived premise for comic effect rather than asserting a genuine family tie. Jen, who joined the commercial doing an energetic on-counter dance the spot frames as a MomTok moment, is also slated to appear on the upcoming 34th season of Dancing With the Stars.
Jen and her husband Zac, 28, announced the birth of their third child, daughter Penelope, via Instagram in July. In that post, Jen said she had an unmedicated birth, calling it "the most painful but empowering experience of my life," and thanked Zac and her doula. The couple also share children Nora, 3, and Luca, 2.
The family-tree question was the subject of reporting in 2024 that examined both sides' ancestries. That account noted Zac Affleck's line includes names such as David Affleck and Gordon Affleck, with an Alan Burt Affleck among Zac's great-grandparents, while Ben Affleck's paternal line traces to Tim Affleck and earlier generations named Myron. The person familiar with the Utah family told People that those lines do not connect.
Ben Affleck has a longer public history with Dunkin', having appeared in multiple commercials for the Quincy, Massachusetts-based chain, including high-profile Super Bowl spots. The company has frequently used his recognizable name and image in national campaigns.
The new commercial attracted attention both for its playful invocation of the reality-show claim and for the cheeky interplay between the two performers. Media coverage noted the contrast the spot highlights, including Jen's references to Ben's age and appearance and his laconic comeback.
Outside the commercial, Ben Affleck was photographed recently in Hollywood appearing somewhat disheveled, wearing a loosely tucked white dress shirt and light brown trousers. The images were reported alongside coverage of the Dunkin' spot but do not relate to the production of the commercial.
Dunkin did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The commercial will air nationally as part of the brand's broader advertising schedule; Jen Affleck's participation marks her first appearance in an ad for the coffee-and-donut chain while Ben's association with the company continues to be a recurring element of his endorsement work.