[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Marciano Brunette is now suing Demi Engemann for defamation over those sexual assault allegations.
According to TMZ and People, the reality star’s attorneys filed the defamation lawsuit on Friday, claiming The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star falsely accused him of sexual misconduct. The suit alleged the two “shared a consensual kiss” while filming Vanderpump Villa in Italy in August 2024, but “as her storyline” on Mormon Wives developed, Demi “reframed the obviously consensual interaction as one of sexual misconduct and then as sexual assault” online and on the show.
Throughout the most recent season of the Hulu series, Demi repeatedly accused Brunette of “unwanted touch.” It’s part of what started the massive beef between her and Jessi Ngatikaura, who had an emotional affair with the Vanderpump Villa star. Marciano vehemently denied Demi’s allegations several times, previously saying to People that it is “not only entirely false but profoundly damaging.” And he is providing what he feels is proof of her lies in the lawsuit…
Related: Demi Breaks Silence On Fruity Pebbles!
The server alleged that he and Demi remained in touch “for months” afterward via “calls, FaceTime, texts, invitations, and even location sharing.” Marciano also claimed he FaceTimed one of her children, and she invited him to visit her in Utah and California. He stated:
“That behavior confirms a continued relationship, not a person reacting to sexual assault.”
Marciano also included screenshots of their alleged text messages, including one of Demi encouraging him to “come out and do ketamine.” She also allegedly said she was “saying a prayer for you that any negative energy will leave you and your home and sending all the love and positive vibes your way!!” See (below):
Hmm…
Marciano also named Jeff Jenkins Productions, the company behind The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, in the suit. He claimed production had “reason to believe” that Demi’s accusations were false, but aired them anyway “for profit”:
“It built major storylines around Engemann’s claims, republished her ‘sexual predator’ statements, and aired the allegations in a way designed to maximize impact while cutting Marciano out and denying him any meaningful opportunity to respond. Production did so despite obvious reasons to doubt Engemann’s account, including inconsistencies, delay, and facts known to Production that undermined the claims.”
Demi allegedly didn’t start accusing him of sexual assault until “months later,” shortly after he referred to the drama on Instagram Stories. He claimed in a video at the time that he was “uninvited” from a Hulu event, “cus a 30yo mormon wife’s scared I’ll tell her husband the truth.” As seen on an episode of SLOMW, Demi fired back, claiming Marciano was not allowed to attend because he is a “sexual predator that can’t keep his hands to himself.” The suit further alleged Demi also “lied and suggested that Marciano had sexually assaulted others” by commenting on Instagram that she was “[a]nxious to see how many other women come forward, I know without a doubt I’m not the first.”
Because of her allegations, Marciano said he has “lost professional opportunities,” experienced “harassment by strangers,” and dealt with “lasting harm to” his reputation. He is now seeking unspecified financial damages along with a “narrowly defined injunction” that prohibits Demi and Jeff Jenkins Productions from “repeating and republishing” any statements found by the court to be defamatory.
At this time, Demi has not responded to the lawsuit. What are your reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via MEGA/WENN, Marciano Brunette/Instagram]