Jen Affleck Eliminated from Dancing with the Stars After Postpartum Return, Sparks National Conversation on Motherhood

When Jen Affleck took the floor for her Foxtrot on Dancing with the Stars Season 34 on October 22, 2025, she wasn’t just dancing—she was redefining what it means to be a new mother on national television. At just eight weeks postpartum after giving birth to her third child, Penelope, in July 2025, Affleck, a star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, danced through pain, exhaustion, and the quiet ache of postpartum depression. Her performance, set to "As Long as You're Mine," left viewers breathless—not because of flawless technique, but because of raw, unfiltered courage. The ABC show, airing live from Burbank, California, became an unlikely platform for a deeply personal truth: motherhood doesn’t pause for dreams, but dreams don’t vanish just because you’re a mom.

"My Pelvic Floor Wasn’t Ready"

Affleck didn’t hide the physical toll. In a candid YouTube interview on October 22, she admitted: "My pelvic floor was not ready." That line, delivered with a tired smile, echoed far beyond the studio. For many women, it was the first time they’d heard someone on prime-time TV name the invisible wounds of childbirth—the weakened core, the disrupted balance, the body that no longer feels like your own. She spoke of "mom guilt" as if it were a third partner in every dance step. "I was working, I was dancing, and I was a mom," she said. "And I had to remind myself: my purpose here isn’t to win. It’s to show that our dreams as mothers matter too." Her partner, Jan Ravnik, a 28-year-old Slovenian dancer known for his work as a backup on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, became an unexpected pillar. Fans noticed how he adjusted routines to accommodate her fatigue, slowing transitions, offering extra support during lifts. "We can see in your eyes that it’s taxing on you," one Reddit user wrote. "Please, please, please take care of yourself first."

Scoring 32/40 on Halloween Night

The Halloween episode on October 31, 2025, was her last. Dancing to Taylor Swift’s "Look What You Made Me Do," Affleck and Ravnik delivered a hauntingly beautiful contemporary routine that earned 32 out of 40 points from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. The score wasn’t high enough to save them—eliminated that night, they finished in the bottom three. But the reaction wasn’t about rankings. It was about reverence.

Twitter exploded with hashtags: #JenAffleckIsAQueen, #PostpartumPower. TikTok clips of her interview racked up 8.7 million views. One comment, pinned by a user with 1.2 million followers, summed it up: "They’re judging her dance moves. We’re witnessing her reclaim her identity."

Another SLOMW Star Still Standing

While Affleck’s journey ended, another Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member, Whitney Leavitt, pressed on. Leavitt, who revealed on Season 3 of SLOMW that she auditioned for DWTS specifically to prove she was more than reality TV drama, remained in the competition with professional partner Mark Ballas, a three-time Mirrorball Trophy winner returning after a two-season hiatus. Scheduled to perform two Prince songs in the November 4, 2025 semifinals, Leavitt’s presence underscored a quiet truth: for some women, these shows aren’t just entertainment—they’re redemption arcs.

Why This Matters Beyond the Dance Floor

Affleck’s participation came at a pivotal cultural moment. The U.S. maternal mortality rate remains the highest among developed nations, and postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 new mothers. Yet, public discourse rarely connects those statistics to the pressure women feel to "bounce back"—especially in industries that value image over authenticity. Affleck didn’t just perform; she disrupted the narrative. She didn’t say, "I’m back." She said, "I’m still here—and I’m learning how to be me again." Experts in maternal mental health took notice. Dr. Lena Ruiz, a perinatal psychologist at Cedars-Sinai, told The Independent on October 28, 2025: "When a woman like Jen Affleck speaks openly about pelvic floor dysfunction and mom guilt on national TV, she gives permission to millions of women to stop pretending. That’s not just activism—it’s public health."

What’s Next?

Affleck has hinted at launching a podcast focused on "motherhood, movement, and mental health," with plans to collaborate with physical therapists specializing in postpartum recovery. She’s also in talks with a nonprofit to fund free pelvic floor assessments for low-income mothers—a direct response to the lack of care she encountered. Meanwhile, DWTS Season 34 continues. The finale airs November 19, 2025, from Hollywood, California. But for many, the real winner was already declared on October 31: a mother who danced while grieving her old body, while loving her new one—and refused to apologize for showing up.