Jen Affleck said joining season 34 of Dancing With the Stars will help stave off postpartum depression and provide a much‑needed outlet as she returns to work weeks after giving birth.
Affleck, 26, told The Post she welcomed daughter Penelope, known as Penny, in July and quickly moved her family from Utah to Los Angeles to begin rehearsals. She said the physical activity, structure and creative focus of the show are likely to protect her mental health during a period when many new mothers experience a low mood.
"Something I’ve dealt with throughout all my pregnancies, and after my pregnancies, has been depression — so I’m grateful to have this opportunity, because I think it’s going to distract me from what I could be experiencing," she said. "It’s a win‑win because not only am I doing something I love, but I’m also exercising and avoiding those baby blues and everything you experience postpartum."
Affleck, who appears on the reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and recently partnered with Bio‑Oil on its Labor of Love campaign, said she is juggling family responsibilities while preparing for live television. She and her husband, Zac, also share two older children, Nora and Lucas.
"When you feel good, you do good," Affleck said. "I feel like you can’t show up as the best version of yourself if you personally aren’t feeling good. It should be every mom’s priority to take care of themselves, to get that rest. It’s so important because you can’t pour from an empty cup. And I think it’s very important to fill your cup because then you’re able to give more. Feel good, do good — that’s my motto."
Affleck will be partnered with professional dancer Jan Ravnik on the ABC competition. She said she was excited to join the cast with her friend and former costar Whitney Leavitt, whose partner on the show will be Mark Ballas. Both Affleck and Leavitt learned they had been cast for season 34 during a reunion episode of their show, when host Nick Viall announced the news.
Affleck called the rivalry with Leavitt more supportive than adversarial and described the possibility of them competing against each other in the finale as a "dream scenario." She noted differences in dance background: Leavitt has formal training and a degree in dance, while Affleck joked that she brings a "Latina background." She said she would be open to a duet with Leavitt if the opportunity arose.
"Having Whitney, knowing that she’s already a friend of mine and we work together — I think it’s just gonna make the experience even more exciting," Affleck said. "I think it would make this season even more legendary. And I think no matter what, at least for me, if we both make it far, no matter who wins, it’s still a win‑win."
Affleck’s schedule required an early return to public life: the family’s move to Los Angeles and the start of rehearsal came at a time when many mothers are still on maternity leave. She acknowledged the challenge but emphasized adaptability and a focus on family and self‑care.
Dancing With the Stars season 34 will feature a mix of celebrities and professional partners as usual; ABC has not released the full lineup or premiere date. Affleck’s comments add to a growing public conversation about postpartum mental health and how new parents balance recovery, identity and work in the weeks after childbirth.
Affleck framed her participation in the live competition as both a personal remedy and an example for other parents who are juggling health and family needs. She said she hopes to model prioritizing self‑care while meeting the demands of parenthood and a high‑profile television schedule.