Trigger Warning: This article contains a discussion of sexual assault allegations.
Vanderpump Villa alum Marciano Brunette met Demi Engemann while she was visiting Castello Rosato in Italy. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member filmed for Vanderpump Villa, along with some of her co-stars. Demi and Marciano flirted, but what happened next is heavily disputed.
Allegedly, Demi was “groped” by a male member of the Villa cast. Later, she accused Marciano of “unwanted touch.” This was a major storyline in SLOMW Season 3, as Demi’s co-stars struggled with why she kept in contact with Marciano.
Marciano Brunette is suing Demi Engemann for defamation
Marciano previously denied Demi’s allegations in a statement. Now, he is taking legal action against her. TMZ reported that Marciano is suing Demi for defamation. In court documents, Marciano alleged that Demi falsely accused him of being a “sexual predator,” as well as of sexual assault. According to Marciano, the kiss that he and Demi shared off-camera was consensual. In the legal papers, Marciano claimed that Demi “reframed the obviously consensual interaction as one of sexual misconduct and then as sexual assault.”
And Marciano is also suing Jeff Jenkins, who is a producer on SLOMW. The former Villa server claimed that the show had “obvious reasons to doubt Engemann’s account, including inconsistencies, delay, and facts known to Production that undermined the claims.” The documents claim that SLOMW “amplified the same accusations for profit.” In addition, Marciano claims that Demi’s allegations resulted in “lost professional opportunities, harassment by strangers, and lasting harm to Marciano’s reputation.”
Plus, Marciano is asking for damages in the lawsuit against Demi and Jeff, and he wants a “narrowly tailored injunction” that would ban “repeating and republishing” of any “statements” that the court rules are “defamatory.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is now streaming on Hulu.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or access RAINN’s online chat service.
TELL US – IS MARCIANO’S DECISION TO SUE DEMI A SHOCK? DO YOU BELIEVE HER ALLEGATIONS WERE DEFAMATORY?
