Whitney Leavitt addresses status of friendship with Jen Affleck after feud

Whitney Leavitt has clarified where she stands with Jen Affleck following months of speculation about their friendship.

The two stars of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives have been the subject of ongoing rumors after competing against one another on the 34th season of Dancing with the Stars. 

Their complicated dynamic is now playing out in the show’s fourth season, which began streaming March 12 on Hulu.

In the latest season, viewers get a closer look at how Leavitt and Affleck’s relationship evolved during their time on the reality competition series.

Early in the season, Leavitt describes their relationship as “great.” However, tensions emerge after she learns that Affleck did not immediately congratulate her for landing a Broadway debut in Chicago, leaving her feeling hurt.

Affleck later voices doubts about the authenticity of their connection.

“To be honest, I have been hesitant to get close to her because I feel like her being nice to me on Dancing with the Stars is transactional,” Affleck said in a confessional during the season. “I do think at the end of the day, Whitney only cares about Whitney.”

The disagreement eventually leads to a heated confrontation between the two. During the exchange, Affleck says she does not believe their relationship is a “genuine friendship,” while Leavitt accuses her castmate of being manipulative and unsupportive.

Speaking to People ahead of the new season’s release, Leavitt addressed the current status of their relationship.

“Things are definitely cordial,” she said, noting that while they may not be close friends, they continue to interact professionally.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a huge friendship there,” she added. “But we definitely work together, and we’re in this experience together.”

Leavitt previously hinted at the strained dynamic during an appearance on Ziwe Fumudoh’s satirical YouTube show You’d Be an Iconic Guest.

When asked to rank her Mormon Wives castmates, she placed Affleck last, though she clarified that it did not stem from hatred.

“Not hate,” Leavitt said with a laugh. “Just not as close to.”

Affleck has also spoken openly about the challenges in their relationship. In a confessional during the show’s third season, released in November, she admitted feeling “conflicted,” explaining that she never heard from Leavitt after stepping away from MomTok temporarily.

She also said Leavitt’s close friendship with fellow cast member Demi Engemann, who faced accusations of bullying during that time, added to the tension.

As season four unfolds, fans are seeing the complicated relationship between the two reality stars play out in real time.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season four is now streaming on Hulu.