Marciano Brunette Opens Up Following Demi Engemann's Claims of 'Unwanted Touch' on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Marciano Brunette Responds to Demi Engemann’s Allegations

Marciano Brunette is finally addressing the recent accusations from Demi Engemann, a star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. In a statement given exclusively to PEOPLE via the representative of the Vanderpump Villa personality, he reacted to Engemann's claims that he had participated in "unwanted touch" during the cast's trip to Italy earlier this year.

Demi Engemann attends the world premiere of Hulu's "All's Fair" at DGA Theater Complex on October 16, 2025;

"I want to be completely clear: I am taking this situation very seriously. This is the toughest challenge I have ever encountered, and the accusations against me are not only completely untrue but also deeply harmful. I am dedicated to addressing this matter in a full and transparent manner."

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Growing Tension on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

The recently launched third season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives features Demi in conflict with MomTok, as they persist in questioning whether she and Marciano had a physical connection during or after their trip to Italy.

When Marciano reveals to the women that he kissed Demi, it creates further confusion since Demi insists that any interaction between her and Marciano was "unwanted touch." In an Instagram post dated May 30, Marciano shared screenshots of their Instagram exchange, where Demi replied to his Stories, ultimately providing him with her phone number and engaging in a "multiple-hour conversation."

 

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Marciano then accused Demi of making "crazy allegations" against him. "But if that were true, why are you following me? Why are you DMing me? Why are you giving me your phone number and continuing to have multiple hours of conversation and maintaining a relationship after that?" he questioned. "Yeah, it doesn't make any sense to me at all."

Demi Engemann Speaks Out on ‘Unwanted Touch’

In a confessional segment on the show, Demi expressed, "Everyone will respond to these types of situations differently. You should never have to endure unwanted touch. Regardless of how it appears, or what your relationship was like before or after, unwanted touch remains unwanted touch."

 

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The Legal Angle: What “Unwanted Touch” Means Under U.S. Law

Although no lawsuit or police report has been filed at this time, the terminology used in Demi Engemann’s statement—specifically “unwanted touch”—has a clear meaning in U.S. law. In many states, any non-consensual physical contact can fall under the umbrella of civil battery or sexual misconduct, depending on the nature of the allegation.

Civil battery doesn’t require physical injury; the key legal question is whether a person intentionally made physical contact with another without consent. Even brief or non-violent touch can qualify if the person on the receiving end found it offensive or inappropriate.

If a case were to escalate into a civil claim, courts would typically examine the surrounding context: prior communication between the parties, the nature of the relationship, and whether there was any indication of consent—issues that both Marciano and Demi are now publicly disputing. Reality-TV environments often complicate things further, since filmed interactions, social media messages, and production notes can all become evidence in determining what actually happened.

For now, both parties are presenting conflicting narratives, and unless formal legal action is taken, the matter remains one of public perception rather than judicial determination.

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