By Maureen Lee Lenker
It’s time for the Book of Dancing With the Stars.
On Monday night’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Reunion Special, host Nick Viall revealed that not one, but two of the show’s stars are headed to the ballroom for season 34. Both Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt will be competing for a shot at the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
“We are almost out of time, but I promised you all a big surprise and I got it right here,” Viall teased to the cast. “Tonight, we are gonna be announcing who is gonna be on next season of Dancing With the Stars. I heard most of you auditioned recently while filming season 3. I mean, I gotta know who wants it the most.”
Leavitt then jumped in and said that she thought it was her and Affleck who wanted it most. Fellow cast member Taylor Frankie Paul added, “I think Jen just because it’s been her life’s dream since she was little.”
Indeed, Affleck has often shared videos of herself dancing, particularly around her home, on her TikTok — and she’s said since season 1 of the Hulu reality series that it’s her dream to appear on DWTS.
“But like out of anyone, Whitney was an actual dancer, like you’ve danced your whole life,” Paul added of Leavitt.
Viall then announced that Affleck would be joining the cast first. “This is like all she’s wanted,” Secret Wives star Jessi Ngatikaura said in response to the news, while Paul added, “She’s talked about this since day one.”
Leavitt was a good sport, saying, “I’m happy for Jen. Like, I’ll be there front and center rootin’ you on, girl.”
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But Viall shocked everyone when he then announced Leavitt would also be joining the season 34 cast.
“I have one more surprise announcement for you,” he said. As it turns out, because you women are so adored, they are gonna be sending two of you to Dancing With the Stars. Are you ready for that second announcement? Whitney Leavitt, you are going to Dancing With the Stars.”
Leavitt embraced her husband before locking hands with Affleck and jumping up and down in excitement. “We’re moving to L.A.! I hope you know you’re going down! Just kidding. Bring it on,” Affleck proclaimed, while Leavitt’s husband Connor quipped, “Well, know I’m not voting for you, Jen.”
Affleck, still holding Leavitt’s hand, then said that she hopes it’s her and Leavitt in the final two. Leavitt has often been perceived as the villain of Secret Wives, and her drama with many of the women was the inciting incident in the show’s first season.
Affleck recently welcomed her third child with her husband Zac.
Leavitt and Affleck join the previously announced social media star Alix Earle and conservationist Robert Irwin, son of famous Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Typically, the ABC series casts around 12 or 13 stars to compete each season, though it’s rare for them to reveal so much of the cast this far in advance.