Y’all, this is nuts!
Ever since The Secret Wives of Mormon Wives premiered, star Jennifer Affleck and her hubby Zac Affleck have been hyping up the fact they’re related to Ben Affleck. Considering her name is also Jennifer — like his exes Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner, it was a pretty wild coincidence!
Related: Jennifer & Ben Kissed But They’re ‘Still Moving Forward’ With Divorce!
While reality star Jennifer said she’d never met the famous actor before, the couple claimed Ben was Zac’s first cousin once removed. His dad Dave Affleck was reportedly Ben and Casey Affleck‘s first cousin. She told People earlier this month:
“Zac’s dad has [met them], when [Ben] was very little. I’m hoping to meet him one day, too!”
But, um, was this all a LIE?!
Pro genealogist Dr. Adina Newman attempted to set the record straight on Sunday by taking to Instagram to break down the family tree — arguing these two Affleck families aren’t related AT ALL! She claimed:
“So there seems to be some renewed interest in whether Zac Affleck is really a first or second cousin once removed to Ben Affleck. Last week, I learned the answer is no.”
No??? But they just went on national television and have been going viral online for saying so? What’s the truth? The expert explained:
“Let’s break it down. A first cousin once removed would mean Ben and Zac’s dad, Dave, are first cousins, so they would share grandparents. Ben’s grandfather is Myron Hopkins Strong Affleck Jr. (1918-2002), born in Rhode Island. Zac’s great grandfather is Allan Burt Affleck (1906-1994), born and raised in Utah. If they are second cousins once removed, Ben’s grandfather and Zac’s great-grandfather would be brothers. Except Myron Hopkins Strong Affleck Jr. appears to have been the only child, the son of Myron Hopkins Strong Affleck Sr. (1884-1958), born in New York. Ben’s tree reliably goes into the early 19th century, while Zac’s appears to go centuries further. I see no place where they cross at all. Would be interesting if y-dna was done for both, but as I said, they aren’t closely related on the Affleck line.”
Whoa!!!
The balls you have to have to make up such an easily fact-checked lie! Hah! Addressing this in a previous post, the expert added:
“Imagine claiming your husband is a first cousin once removed or a second [cousin] once removed to Ben and Casey Affleck when you are a member of the LDS and there are beautifully documented family trees readily available online to dispute this. As for distant cousins, maybe? Take a Y-DNA test? Ben Affleck’s tree goes reliably into the early 1800s, and even the speculative next couple generations back don’t cross paths with Jen Affleck’s husband’s tree. I haven’t even watched The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives yet, and I’m already fully invested.”
The embarrassment we’d be feeling right now to get exposed for such a silly, pointless lie like this. LOLz!! Reacting to this discovery, fans wrote on the ‘gram:
“the most insufferable aspect of this is Jenn/Zac are the only people on the show who include their last name on their chyron the THIRST is real”
“lol explains why ‘they are cousins but we’ve never met’
or so I saw her quoted”
“I feel like that may not be the only thing he’s lied to her about. Just sayin!”
“These rumors sometimes start at the family level, so now I’m imagining a family dinner with their parents & siblings being like ‘WHO STARTED THIS RUMOR THAT SOMEHOW BECAME FAMILY FACT’
“My fave was when she stated this she ‘Zac hates me bringing it up says it embarrassed him’ like no he’s just scared his lie will be exposed”
or so I saw her quoted”
”LMFAO!
This is so crazy!! We wonder if the couple will address this now that the answers are out there?? Like, has Zac’s dad even really met Ben? How did this family rumor get started? We have so many more questions!
But hey, there is one bright side even if they’re exposed as liars… Maybe they don’t have slave-owning ancestors??
Reactions?? Sound OFF (below)!
[Image via Jennifer Affleck/Instagram & MEGA/WENN]
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