She says he bragged about workplace policies created just to contain him.

She says he bragged about workplace policies created just to contain him.

She says he bragged about workplace policies created just to contain him. Demi Engemann, star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, is fighting back against a defamation lawsuit filed by Marciano Brunette, asking a judge to dismiss what she calls a “sham” legal action designed to punish her for exercising her First Amendment rights.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Engemann, 31, filed a motion to throw out Brunette’s lawsuit, claiming he’s retaliating against her for speaking publicly about his alleged misconduct. The filing includes explosive allegations about Brunette’s past behavior, claiming he previously boasted about workplaces creating “special policy prohibiting him from sleeping with other employees” because he allegedly “slept with an ‘extraordinary’ number of employees.”

Engemann is also requesting that Brunette be ordered to pay her attorneys’ fees and costs associated with defending against the lawsuit. The legal battle represents the latest chapter in a conflict that began when the two met in 2024 during a crossover between Mormon Wives and Vanderpump Villa in Italy.

Brunette has maintained that he shared a consensual kiss with Engemann, who is married to husband Bret Engemann. Engemann’s account has shifted over time. In May 2025, she told Us Weekly that Brunette was “lying” about her and characterized him as “the predator.” By November 2025, during a season 3 confessional for Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, she claimed any physical contact was “unwanted,” stating, “Everyone is going to handle these kinds of situations different. You never deserve unwanted touch. No matter what it looks like, no matter what your relationship was like before or after, unwanted touch is unwanted touch.”

Brunette responded forcefully, denying the accusations on the “Juicy Scoop” podcast. “It is unfortunate to see everything that is going on now, because everything that happened [on Vanderpump Villa] was consensual,” he said. “I will just flat-out say that the accusations she’s making against me are 100 percent false.”

In December 2025, Brunette filed his defamation lawsuit, alleging Engemann falsely described him as a “sexual predator.” His legal team laid out their version of events: “The truth is straightforward. Engemann and Marciano met while filming in Italy. They flirted. They spoke privately. They shared a consensual kiss. They separated.” They noted that Engemann stayed in contact with Brunette for months afterward through calls, FaceTime, texts, and even location sharing, arguing that behavior contradicts someone reacting to sexual assault.

Brunette claimed the allegations caused “severe” damage to his reputation, describing lost professional opportunities, harassment from strangers, and lasting harm. “They accuse Marciano of criminal sexual conduct he did not commit. They were published broadly, republished repeatedly, and framed to harden into ‘truth’ in the minds of viewers,” the lawsuit stated.

After filing, Brunette shared an emotional Instagram video describing the toll the past year had taken. “This past year has been one of the hardest of my life — honestly maybe the hardest ever,” he said. “I know if you have seen me, on TV or on the internet, you know I like to joke around and have fun and always keep the energy high. But behind the scenes, I’ve been dealing with a lot mentally — it’s really f***** me up.”

Engemann’s latest filing introduces new allegations about Brunette’s workplace history, attempting to establish a pattern of behavior. The claim about a “special policy” created specifically because of his conduct with employees, if true, would support her characterization of him. Brunette has not yet responded to these specific allegations.

The legal battle now rests with a judge who must decide whether Engemann’s statements constitute protected speech or actionable defamation. Her motion to dismiss argues that speaking out about alleged misconduct falls squarely within First Amendment protections. Brunette’s lawsuit argues that false accusations of criminal behavior cross that line.

Both parties wait. Engemann seeks to have the case thrown out entirely. Brunette seeks vindication and damages. The truth of what happened in Italy, and what happened in workplaces before, will ultimately be decided not by social media or confessional cameras, but by a court of law.