In a jaw-dropping revelation that’s sending shockwaves through the reality TV world, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Demi Engemann has been accused of betraying her former best friend and co-star Jessi Ngatikaura by leaking details of Jessi’s alleged affair to producers—all in a desperate bid for a bigger paycheck. The explosive claims come straight from fellow Hulu personality Marciano Brunette, who spilled the tea in an exclusive video interview with The U.S. Sun.
Marciano, 32, a guest star on “Mormon Wives,” didn’t hold back, insisting that Demi, 30, threw Jessi, 33, under the bus to boost her own contract negotiations. “She ended up going to production, even though she promised me she would not,” Marciano revealed, painting a picture of calculated betrayal amid the glitz and drama of the hit Hulu series.
The saga traces back to a glamorous getaway in the summer of 2024, when the “Mormon Wives” cast, including Demi and Jessi, descended on Lisa Vanderpump’s stunning villa in Italy. The trip was captured for “Vanderpump Villa,” which streamed on Hulu earlier this year. It was there that sparks flew between Marciano and Jessi. After filming wrapped, the two met up in Los Angeles, sharing a kiss that Jessi later described as the start of an “emotional affair.” Marciano initially bragged to friends about taking things further, claiming they had sex—but he now admits that was a lie, one he says he felt “pressured” into by Demi.
Recounting the tense aftermath, Marciano explained how Demi grilled him for details once they reconnected. “It was the first question she asked me: ‘Well, can you tell me the whole story?'” he said. Though hesitant at first, Marciano eventually opened up, insisting he never claimed they had sex—just that they “hooked up.” But Demi, he alleges, twisted the narrative and ran straight to production with exaggerated tales of Jessi’s infidelity to her husband, Jordan.
Why the backstabbing? Marciano believes Demi saw the scandal as leverage during her Hulu contract talks. A juicy plotline like a co-star’s cheating scandal could amp up the drama and justify a fatter salary. “She believed that having a salacious plot line—such as Jessi cheating on her husband Jordan—would help her negotiate a better contract,” Marciano dished. But the plan backfired spectacularly. Instead of shelling out more cash for Demi, producers called in Marciano himself, turning the tables on her scheme.
Jessi isn’t staying silent either. Echoing Marciano’s bombshell, she fired back on social media: “Demi’s upset that I’m outing her bedroom activities when she took my affair to production to leverage more money?” The feud has fans buzzing, with the once-close friends now locked in a bitter rivalry.
For those catching up on the drama-filled series, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premiered in 2024 and is already deep into its third season, with a fourth renewal announced this week. The cast is a mix of intrigue, faith, and scandal:
- Taylor Frankie Paul: The TikTok sensation who kickstarted MomTok and blew the lid off the “soft swinging” scandal.
- Jen Affleck: The group’s most devout Mormon, navigating faith and modern life.
- Demi Engemann: Last season’s breakout villain, whose unconventional marriage sparked cheating rumors in Season 2.
- Jessi Ngatikaura: Now an ex-Mormon in the “sinners” subgroup with Demi, she too faced a cheating storm last season.
- Layla Taylor: The youngest cast member, a single mom who jumped into the heart of Jessi’s scandal.
- Miranda McWhorter: Taylor’s ex-bestie and MomTok co-creator, who’s clawed her way back into the fold.
- Mikayla Matthews: An original MomToker who got pregnant at 16 outside of wedlock.
- Mayci Neeley: A faithful Mormon who questions outdated cultural norms.
Reflecting on the fallout, Marciano expressed deep regret over how his fib impacted Jessi and her marriage. “I knew I cared a lot about Jessi, and I knew that it was going to be damaging to her,” he admitted. “I had to own that and take accountability because I wouldn’t feel good about myself if I didn’t.”
The drama doesn’t stop there. Marciano previously told The U.S. Sun he’s gearing up to sue Demi for accusing him of sexual assault during the Italy trip—a claim he denies outright. Lisa Vanderpump has backed him up, noting that cameras would have captured any such incident. Hulu has stayed mum on the allegations, but fans are speculating that Demi might have quietly exited the show amid the chaos.
As “Mormon Wives” gears up for Season 4, this tangled web of secrets, lies, and ambition proves that reality TV’s underbelly is as wild as ever. Will the cast reconcile, or will more skeletons tumble out? Stay tuned—Hulu’s got us hooked!