Jen Hatmaker and Brandon Hatmaker Break Silence on Infidelity Scandal in New Memoirs

The 2020 separation of HGTV personality Jen Hatmaker and her former spouse, Brandon Hatmaker, garnered significant media attention, fueled by allegations of infidelity on his part. Half a decade on, Jen has now delved deeply into these cheating claims within her new memoir, Awake, coinciding with Brandon's own decision to address the controversy publicly, confessing to having been unfaithful to Jen during what he describes as the “lowest moment” of his existence.

Within Awake — scheduled for release on September 23 — Jen recounts a pivotal moment in July 2020 when she awoke at 2 a.m. to the sound of Brandon engaged in a hushed phone conversation with an unknown individual.

“I just can’t quit you,” she distinctly overheard him utter before he drifted off to sleep, as reported by The New York Post.

Jen characterized this revelation as “the end of my life as I [knew] it.”

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“I experienced a degree of disassociation,” she confided to the publication. “It lay so far beyond the scope of anything I would have ever envisioned for our life, our marital bond, our shared narrative.”

Following a search of Brandon’s computer, which unearthed a “trail of betrayal,” Jen promptly removed Brandon from their residence, culminating in the dissolution of their 26-year marriage.

Brandon addressed Jen’s memoir in a September 22 entry on his Substack platform, articulating, “The nadir of my existence was my highly publicized affair five years prior. I inflicted profound pain, immense humiliation, and introduced significant confusion into the lives of numerous individuals I held dear. It represented the climax of a three-year personal decline during which I had lost my grounding, perceived no hope, and endured an unparalleled sense of loneliness.”

Jen and Brandon exchanged vows when she was merely 19. Together, they raised five children and subsequently featured on HGTV’s My Big Family Renovation.

Continue below for further insights into Brandon and the infidelity scandal:

Who Is Brandon Hatmaker?

Brandon was pursuing studies for the ministry when he wed Jen, and the erstwhile couple later established their evangelical Austin New Church in Oklahoma in 2008. Beyond this, Brandon serves as the founder and CEO of The Legacy Collective, described by Google Books as “a giving community focused on partnering, pioneering, and funding sustainable solutions to systemic social issues around the world.” Furthermore, he has authored several books: Barefoot Church Primer (2009), Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture (2011), and A Mile Wide: Trading a Shallow Religion for a Deeper Faith (2016).

Jen Hatmaker Accused Brandon Hatmaker of Cheating

Within Awake, Jen disclosed that following the discovery of Brandon’s clandestine phone call, she learned his affair had spanned a “devastating time span.” Brandon, it is alleged, even purchased “expensive and lavish gifts” for his paramour, plunging their family into “financial chaos.”

“The revelation was profoundly shocking and stunning; I could barely process it,” she recounted to The Post. “I found myself unable to even shed tears.”

She further elaborated, “Numerous absences went unexplained, and his phone was perpetually, without exception, clasped in his hand or within his immediate gaze. All the clear warning signs were present, yet I consciously avoided confronting them.”

Brandon Hatmaker Addressed Jen Hatmaker’s Cheating Claims

In his Substack dispatch, Brandon articulated the profound difficulty of reliving his past transgressions.

“While that represented the absolute nadir of my life, a very close second is the necessity of reliving it today. Even more challenging is observing those I cherish undergoing the same experience. I have accepted accountability for my errors, offered reparations, persist in my personal efforts, diligently worked to mend relationships, and embarked anew,” he penned.

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He proceeded, “The launch of Jen’s new literary work has, predictably, stirred considerable discussion. Many among you are unfamiliar with our narrative, encountering the promotional material, reviewing the articles, and viewing the interviews for the first time. I’ve observed several assertions disseminated that offer only a partial account. Devoid of proper context, numerous statements have been made, compelling the reader or listener to infer the missing details.”

Brandon further elaborated that he “did not simply awaken one morning and choose to engage in an affair. My affection did not wane instantaneously. Our marital bond was experiencing a gradual and agonizing decline. I privately grieved the demise of our marriage several years prior to our divorce.”

“Allow me to clarify: I fully comprehend the ramifications of my conduct. Under no circumstances do my personal situations serve to vindicate my actions,” he asserted. “This piece is not intended to offer justifications or rationalizations. Its sole objective is to provide additional context regarding a few specific points that the majority, and indeed almost every new follower, lacks.”

Brandon additionally refuted suggestions that he neglected to strive for their marriage, elaborating on his three years of individual counseling preceding his affair, and dismissed claims that Jen was solely the principal parental figure, stating he “will always fulfill parental duties as appropriate.”

Is Brandon Hatmaker Still a Pastor?

Through his Substack, Brandon disclosed that he “resigned from church staff” in 2015.

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“While I presently contend with finding my role within it — I retain my affection and optimism for the church. Indeed, if any vestige of my dignity endures, it stems from having relinquished my position in church leadership literally years before my infidelity,” he clarified. “Leading a church can be exceptionally demanding. I consistently endeavored to impart lessons with candor, integrity, and compassion. However, following a particularly arduous year of leadership, coupled with challenging health concerns, tragic family circumstances, and a deeply traumatic event in which I was involved where a dear friend passed away (for which I felt responsible), I discovered myself delivering a sermon on stage one Sunday morning in 2017, experiencing for the very first time a profound lack of hope.”

Is Brandon Hatmaker Married?

Following the dissolution of his marriage to Jen, Brandon embarked on a new relationship with a woman named Tina.

“From that juncture [post-divorce], my entire focus shifted to my children and my forthcoming life. It wasn't long thereafter that I encountered Tina. She may have, quite literally, saved my life, not merely figuratively. That is a distinct narrative I aspire to share eventually. … Some have speculated that Tina, my current wife, was my affair partner. This is unequivocally false,” he articulated in his Substack entry.

Brandon publicly lauded Tina on Instagram in April 2025.

“Life feels quite extraordinary at this moment, and I am overcome with gratitude. Genuinely, I could not envision a more exemplary partner — for the present, for future triumphs, and for every interval in between,” he captioned an image featuring himself and his wife, attributing the post to Tina’s account, which remains private.