Jen Affleck says she filed for divorce before giving birth to avoid repeating cycle

Reality television star Jen Affleck has said she decided to file for divorce from her husband, Zac Affleck, before the birth of their fourth child because she feared that the vulnerability of the postpartum period could lead her to remain in the relationship.

Reality television star Jen Affleck has said she decided to file for divorce from her husband, Zac Affleck, before the birth of their fourth child because she feared that the vulnerability of the postpartum period could lead her to remain in the relationship.

Affleck, who stars in Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”, discussed her decision in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. She filed for divorce on November 3, after seven years of marriage.

“I think I’ve known for a really long time. I think it sounds crazy to say, but because I’m about to be postpartum, I knew that I needed to make the decision now,” she said.

“Not being postpartum, because when you’re postpartum, it’s the most vulnerable stage of having children, and I was worried that if I waited until then, that I would continue the cycle,” she added.

Affleck said rewatching the reality show had also prompted her to reflect on her relationship and how she had dealt with difficult experiences.

“Rewatching the show, it made me realize: man, I have trained myself to forget,” she said. “I have trained myself to survive. And the show made me realize, no. I’m not forgetting this time.”

Asked whether Zac had been “blindsided” by the divorce filing, Affleck said she had discussed the possibility of separation with him for a long time.

“I’ve been telling him for a really long time,” she said.

She acknowledged that finalising the decision had been difficult, particularly while pregnant and considering the couple’s children.

“And obviously, being pregnant and being vulnerable, I mean, it’s been hard to finalize things. Especially when you see your kids, and you see how happy they are. I mean, it’s not an easy decision. But no, I’ve told him for a really long time,” she added.