- - Marciano Brunette Sues Demi Engemann for Defamation Following 'Sexual Predator' Claim

Amy McCarthy, Sara BelcherDecember 6, 2025 at 5:22 AM

0

Amanda Edwards/Getty; Savion Washington/WireImage

Marciano Brunette (left); Demi Engemann (right) -

Vanderpump Villa's Marciano Brunette is suing Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Demi Engemann for defamation, according to court records viewed by PEOPLE

In the suit, Brunette claims that he and Engemann shared a "consensual kiss," which he alleges Engemann "reframed" as sexual assault

The suit also names the production company behind Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, claiming it had "reason to believe" Engemann's allegations were false

Marciano Brunette has filed a lawsuit against Demi Engemann, accusing The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star of making defamatory accusations of sexual misconduct, both on social media and in the hit Hulu TV series.

Attorneys for Brunette filed the suit on Friday, Dec. 5, alleging that Engemann used her platform as an influencer and television star to falsely accuse him of sexual misconduct, according to the complaint viewed by PEOPLE.

The suit alleges that Engemann and Brunette "shared a consensual kiss" while they were both appearing on the Bravo reality series Vanderpump Villa. The suit alleges that "as her storyline" on Mormon Wives developed, Engemann "reframed the obviously consensual interaction as one of sexual misconduct and then as sexual assault."

Throughout the Hulu series' third season, Engemann repeatedly accused Brunette of "unwanted touch."

In a statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE on Nov. 20, Brunette vehemently denied Engemann's allegations.

“I want to be absolutely clear: I am taking this matter extremely seriously. This is the most difficult situation I have ever faced, and the allegations against me are not only entirely false but profoundly damaging. I remain committed to addressing this issue fully and transparently," the statement to PEOPLE read.

Brunette's suit further alleges that he and Engemann stayed in contact "for months" via "calls, FaceTime, texts, invitations, and even location sharing." He also claims that he shared FaceTime calls with one of Engemann's children, and the complaint includes screenshots of friendly text messages allegedly sent between the two.

In one message, Brunette claims that Engemann encouraged him to "come out and do ketamine," before sharing that 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!!"

In a statement provided to PEOPLE, Brunette thanked his supporters for their "love and support during this time."

"Sexual assault is an incredibly serious matter, and I will not hesitate to pursue legal action against anyone who harms me or attempts to damage my name in pursuit of fame or fortune," the statement read in part.

Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Demi Engemann in November 2025

Also named in the suit is Jeff Jenkins Productions, the production company behind Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. It alleges that the company had "reason to believe" that Engemann's claims about Brunette were false, and that it aired them anyway.

"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," the complaint alleges. "Production did so despite obvious reasons to doubt Engemann’s account, including inconsistencies, delay, and facts known to Production that undermined the claims."

PEOPLE has reached out to Engemann and Jeff Jenkins Productions for comment on the suit.

The suit claims that Engemann didn't begin characterizing the incident as sexual assault until "months later," shortly after he shared an Instagram Stories post seemingly referencing the incident. In the video, he claimed that he had been "uninvited" from a Hulu event "cus a 30yo mormon wife's scared I'll tell her husband the truth."

As was depicted in an episode of Mormon Wives, Engemann fired back, alleging that Marciano wasn't invited because he's a "sexual predator that can't keep his hands to himself."

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Christopher Willard/Disney

Marciano Brunette on 'Vanderpump Villa'

The suit also alleges that Engemann "lied and suggested that Marciano had sexually assaulted others," 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."

In the suit, Brunette is seeking unspecified financial damages, along with a "narrowly defined injunction" that would prohibit Engemann and Jeff Jenkins Productions from "repeating and republishing" any statements found by the court to be defamatory.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”