The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives didn't simply sort out Marciano Brunette and Demi Engemann's alleged romantic connection — it additionally sparked a brand new revelation about an alleged affair with Jessi Ngatikaura.
The drama really began on one other Hulu present — Vanderpump Villa — when Demi, Jessi, Jen Affleck, Layla Taylor and Mikayla Matthews had been company on season 2 of Lisa Vanderpump's collection
Throughout their stint in Italy, Marciano insinuated that his reference to Demi prolonged past the footage that made it into the present. (What did make it into the present was an emotional dialog between the pair that ended with Marciano kissing Demi on the cheek.) Demi, nonetheless, shut down the rumors that she was untrue to husband Bret Engemann with Marciano.
“Nothing occurred with Marciano. On the expense of sounding impolite, there wasn't even a distant attraction to him. It sucks that girls can't be type and pleasant and even playful with males on this world with out it being taken as such as you're open. I had a rock on my finger the whole time I used to be there,” she completely informed Us Weekly in Might. “I introduced up my marriage a number of occasions and so they had been informed that we had been married girls — so it sucks that we couldn't simply go and have an excellent time and that he couldn't respect that.”
Marciano remained tight-lipped about his relationship with Demi throughout the season 2 reunion of Vanderpump Villa, which aired in Might 2025. He then hinted that the reality would come out on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives so think about Us‘ shock when the season 2 finale featured an look from Marciano — who revealed it was really Jessi that he had an intimate relationship with when cameras weren't rolling. (Jessi is married to Jordan Ngatikaura.)
“One factor led to a different. Oh, greater than [us making out],” he claimed to Layla. “As quickly as I noticed her, she jumps into my arms and wraps her legs round my waist. I believed we had been cool within the Villa however then she was extraordinarily ahead.”
Jessi beforehand denied nameless fan rumors that she was “publicly” making out with Marciano at TomTom, which serves as a crossover into Vanderpump Guidelines for Bravo viewers.
Hold scrolling for a timeline breakdown of the alleged affair and extra particulars about what was mentioned off display screen:
The Key Gamers
Vanderpump Villa, which premiered on Hulu in April 2024, launched Us to Marciano, who was initially known as the brand new Jax Taylor as a consequence of his messy relationship with now-ex-girlfriend Hannah Fouch. He remained within the Bravo sphere with a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo on Vanderpump Guidelines, which was an extension of his friendship with Scheana Shay.
Demi and Jessi, in the meantime, had been the primary forged members on season 1 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in September 2024. The Hulu collection provided a glimpse at Demi's marriage to Brett following her divorce from ex Blake Corbin. As for Jessi, she tied the knot with Jordan after beforehand being married to another person.
The Gist
In April 2025, Vanderpump Villa confirmed the Mormon Wives forged visiting Lisa's Castello Rosato. As quickly as they met, Marciano discovered himself drawn to Demi “not solely bodily” however emotionally.
“Demi taught me to dwell with that intent and the suitable companion is on the market,” Marciano informed the cameras after understanding Demi for 2 days. “I knew if I didn't say goodbye to her, I might remorse it.”
Demi didn't appear to be on the identical web page. “The deepest and most profitable marriages are confronted with, ‘The place will we go from right here?' It's all about how you're employed by means of on that collectively,” Demi, who's 16 years youthful than Bret, mentioned about her marriage. “We've got gone by means of a lot development and nothing scares him away. Nobody has made me suppose this manner about it. That is good for me.”
Demi did admit she “nearly divorced” her husband “27 occasions” as a consequence of their age distinction. However she was happy with the progress they made. In one other confessional, Marciano informed producers he positively deliberate to stay involved with Demi.
Whereas talking completely to Us Weekly about the place they stand now, he teased in April 2025, “You'll be able to see that all the pieces was very genuine and really actual. If it transitioned into something after [filming], you'll simply have to attend and see.”
Marciano elaborated on that throughout the Vanderpump Villa reunion particular.
“There was a rumor that got here out that we attached at TomTom. Demi and I had a really robust attraction within the citadel that led to one thing outdoors of the citadel,” he claimed within the Might 2025 episode of the present. “It wasn't simply Demi. It wasn't simply Demi I used to be concerned with.”
Hannah fired again that Marciano was additionally concerned with Demi's “finest good friend” and that's when he really useful viewers discover out the entire story when season 2 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on Hulu later that month.
The Vanderpump Villa forged reunited to deal with the season's largest drama however as an alternative there was a shocking forged absence and surprising revelations about offscreen hookups — together with with some Mormon Wives. After the second season premiered in April, Hulu launched a particular episode that reunited the forged with Lisa Vanderpump and Stassi Schroeder internet hosting the […]
Why It's a Large Deal
Effectively, there's a number of marriages being questioned. Bret appeared to clap again at Marciano's insinuations earlier than the season dropped by sharing a photograph of him and Demi, writing through his Instagram Story, “I'm so happy with this lovely human. She's essentially the most unimaginable girl I'll ever know. The quantity of nonsense she's needed to endure by the hands of disingenuous and deceitful fools is astounding. She's carried out herself like a swish lioness amongst a bunch of yipping hyenas.”
Throughout an interview with Us, Demi elaborated on the misinformation about her private life.
“That [experience] was a whirlwind and a lot went into that. My husband and I had really been in Italy for 10 days previous to leaping over and filming for Vanderpump Villa. So we had one of the best time ever [before that],” she shared in Might 2025. “I used to be really apprehensive about going into filming Vanderpump Villa. My husband was really the one which was pushing for me to go and we actually didn't actually know what we had been getting ourselves into.”
Demi clarified that her and Bret are “strong” regardless of the hypothesis.
“We're good. I talk with him and I'm trustworthy to a fault. So each step of the way in which, I've communicated from leaping out of Vanderpump Villa, going again to the lodge and Bret was the primary individual I known as and simply laid all the pieces out — the entire expertise,” she recalled. “Extra will come from that. There's a number of issues behind the scenes, so far as how I used to be mistreated and the way that state of affairs was dealt with.”
On the time, Demi admitted she didn't really feel supported by her costars. “Quite a lot of the ladies [on my show] and now Marciano bounce on the practice of taking issues out of context. To me, it's fully a clout tactic in my thoughts of attempting to experience the clout and experience the wave of the success of the present and confuse individuals. To me, it's manipulative and I don't roll that approach,” she added. “You'll see that I've mentioned little or no about something that occurs behind closed doorways or behind the scenes or that will give something away or battle with the women.”
What Folks Are Saying
The state of affairs between Demi and Marciano was briefly talked about on season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, together with her denial that something occurred. There have been additionally claims Bret slept with somebody whereas Demi was out of city. Whereas they laughed off the rumor on display screen, a sizzling mic second caught Demi questioning whether or not Bret's robust response was a touch that there was some reality to the rumor.
Later within the season, Jessi was requested whether or not a blind merchandise about her and Marciano making out at TomTom. “If I used to be like dumb sufficient to try this, I wouldn't do it in public,” she informed her costars.
Marciano had a distinct model of occasions when he sat down with Layla on the finish of the season, first talking about Demi.
“After I put myself on the market, I didn't actually know what was happening as a result of they mentioned, ‘Oh, we've these Mormon swingers [as guests],'” he informed Layla about his preliminary reference to Demi. “I didn't actually know what to suppose. This lady Demi is actually fairly and lovely so I need to attempt to entertain this. All the things began to transpire and it occurred actually quick. So I didn't perceive the boundaries.”
He continued: “It was a pleasant, flirtatious factor that I mistook for not the pleasant half. I might be mendacity if I mentioned I didn't not less than try to kiss her. I caught emotions for her fairly rapidly as a result of I used to be already consumed with the fantasy that she was open. If Bret wasn't round, would issues be completely different? I don't suppose so.”
Whereas Layla stored asking the place he stood with Demi, Marciano cryptically teased that it wasn't Demi they need to be discussing.
“It isn't even nearly Demi. It's a rumor — that wasn't a rumor,” he hinted earlier than elaborating on how the blind about him and Jessi at TomTom was true. “One factor led to a different. Oh, greater than [us making out].”
Marciano claimed he had intercourse with Jessi — and it wasn't a one-time association.
“We've got tried assembly up [to continue the affair],” he mentioned. “Jordan doesn't know the reality about how in depth it was. It was not only a one-time hookup factor. It was not some one night time stand.”
What's Subsequent
Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives ended with a “To Be Continued” message and extra footage from the fallout of Marciano's claims. Whereas he mentioned in a voiceover that the state of affairs is “a lot greater” than others suppose, Jessi's husband, Jordan, known as the rumors into query.
“That is going to be headlines. The reality at all times reveals itself,” he mentioned whereas in one other scene accusing the drama of being “Demi's doing” behind the scenes.
Jessi, in the meantime, appeared in charge Demi as nicely for spreading misinformation. “He is aware of that that is ruining my household and my life,” she shared earlier than saying Demi was “making it up” when it got here to the affair claims.
Throughout season 3, which premiered in November 2025, Jessi confirmed that she was concerned in a two week emotional affair with Marciano amid a separation from Jordan. She claimed they solely kissed earlier than she broke it off. After opening up concerning the emotional abuse she suffered in her marriage, Jessi and Jordan tried to work on their points. They ended season 3 in a hopeful place as they mentioned a reconciliation.
Demi, for her half, stood by her declare that she was “sexually assaulted” by Marciano, which he has repeatedly denied. She selected to not elaborate on their interactions off display screen.
