“Vanderpump Villa” bartender Marciano Brunette is officially taking the fight to court, filing a defamation lawsuit against “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Demi Engemann over her televised and social-media accusations that he sexually assaulted her during a 2024 crossover trip in Italy.
According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, Marciano says Demi’s claims are flat-out false, alleging she has “reframed an obviously consensual interaction” into sexual misconduct — and then sexual assault — for storyline clout.
Marciano: The Kiss Was Consensual — And Demi Wanted More
Marciano insists the pair shared a mutual, invited kiss off-camera while their shows filmed at the “Vanderpump Villa” in August 2024. In the complaint, he says Demi’s narrative has “shifted over time,” growing increasingly dramatic as episodes aired and social-media buzz intensified.
He also submitted alleged receipts — texts he says Demi sent after leaving Italy, showing she:
Kept calling, texting, and FaceTiming him for months
Shared her location with him
Invited him to stay with her in Utah and California
Marciano’s argument: That’s not how someone behaves after an assault.
Producers Dragged Into the Suit Too
The lawsuit doesn’t stop with Demi.
Marciano is also suing executive producer Jeff Jenkins and the “Mormon Wives” production team, accusing them of:
Airbrushing him out of the storyline
Maximizing the shock value of Demi’s claims
Ignoring inconsistencies they allegedly knew would undermine her story
He claims the show “amplified the accusations for profit,” despite what he says were clear signals that Demi’s account wasn’t credible.
The Fallout: Harassment, Lost Work, Reputation Damage
Marciano says Demi’s accusations have wrecked his career, leading to:
Lost professional opportunities
Online harassment from strangers
“Lasting harm” to his name in the hospitality and entertainment world
He’s seeking damages and a narrowly tailored injunction preventing Demi or producers from repeating any statements deemed defamatory by the court.
Demi & Producers Haven’t Responded Yet
TMZ reports they’ve reached out to Demi Engemann and Jeff Jenkins for comment, but haven’t heard back.
Given how explosive this feud became on-screen — and how invested both fandoms are — this lawsuit could reshape not only both shows’ upcoming seasons, but also how reality TV handles cast-on-cast allegations.
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