Shivangi Sinha
In season 3 of Hulu’s ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ one of the most prominent storylines centered on Marciano Brunette’s claim that he had an affair with Jessi Ngatikaura. The latter firmly denied the accusation, but the allegation sparked major turmoil within the group. What followed was a wave of drama and tense confrontations. The situation also placed intense strain on Jessi and her husband Jordan Ngatikaura’s marriage, contributing to a significant breakdown in their relationship. The fallout from the claim became one of the season’s most discussed and emotional arcs.
Marciano Brunette is a Beloved Reality TV Star from Vanderpump Villa
Marciano Brunette’s early years were far from easy. Coming from a boxing family, he lost his father when he was only five and the loss shaped much of his childhood. Growing up in Las Vegas, he eventually found work in the city’s high-profile hospitality scene and spent nearly ten years serving in some of its most renowned restaurants. His reality-TV breakthrough came after this period. In 2023, he relocated to France, where he became a lead server at Lisa Vanderpump’s French countryside estate, Chateau Rosabelle and the experience earned him a spot on the series ‘Vanderpump Villa.’
Marciano met the cast of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ in August 2024 while they were filming in Italy for his reality series. During this time, he interacted closely with Jessi Ngatikaura and Demi Engemann, and the show later hinted at an alleged affair between him and Demi. It was a claim she denied, but one that still stirred significant drama within the MomTok circle. Not long after, Marciano and his ex-girlfriend and castmate, Hanna Fouch, became involved in an argument with another cast member, leading to his dismissal from both his job and the series. By May 2025, he hinted at a possible return for season 3, insisting that he had only been defending a friend.
Alongside his rise on reality television, Marciano has also built a strong online presence. With around 43.9k Instagram followers, he continues to grow as a social media influencer, while posting content about reality TV drama as well as his everyday life. In season 3, Demi alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by Marciano and confided in her castmates about it. They pointed out that she had continued speaking to him after the alleged incident, and her husband, Bret Engemann, had even ordered him food through a delivery app. This led them to question her claims, and many of them have since expressed doubt about the allegation. Marciano has also denied the accusations and has released screenshots of his messages with Demi. He has alleged that he has done nothing wrong and asserted that he has proof that she is allegedly lying.
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Marciano Brunette and Jessi Ngatikaura Are Not in Contact With Each Other
Jessi and Marciano first met in August 2024 when she traveled to Italy for filming. Soon after, Demi alleged that Jessi and Marciano were having an affair, and rumors emerged claiming they had been seen kissing at a local pub. Marciano even told Layla Taylor that he and Jessi had slept together, but Jessi denied this. She acknowledged that she and her husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, had been secretly separated and that she had an emotional affair, but nothing physical. When questioned, Marciano said he only lied because Demi told him to, which reignited old MomTok drama and led Jessi to distance herself further from Demi.
Jessi shared in an interview that she continued speaking with Marciano even after the rumors surfaced, explaining that she only kept in touch to gather more information about Demi’s involvement. However, she soon realized that maintaining contact with him was hurting her marriage, so she decided to cut ties. By November 2025, Jessi stated that she had not spoken to him in over six months and had blocked him on all social media and personal platforms. Since then, the two have had no communication at all.
