A tense argument during The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion between Jen Affleck and Demi Engemann over sexual misconduct claims against Marciano Brunette led to a startling revelation.
During the Thursday, December 4, special of the hit Hulu series, Demi, 30, tried to tell her side of the story concerning Marciano, 31, allegedly crossing the line by putting his hands on her when cameras weren’t rolling.
“We have to separate the two because you can be sexually assaulted — and then also continue a relationship [with that person]. So one doesn’t have to take away from the other,” Demi said about the accusations, which Marciano has continued to deny. “Why I did that honestly just boils down to a trauma response, having a lack of boundaries and feeling like I needed to make excuses for what happened.”
Demi wanted to “keep what happened quiet,” which led to her remaining in contact with Marciano. Jen’s husband, Zac Affleck, interjected to explain how Marciano standing by the fact that he kissed Demi twice made the group question who was telling the truth.
Season 2 of Vanderpump Villa, which aired in April, made headlines when star Marciano seemed to form a connection with Demi — who is married to Bret Engemann. While nothing happened between Marciano and Demi on the show, he leaned into speculation that there was more that took place off camera.
Thursday’s reunion escalated the situation when Jen, 26, claimed she knew something romantic — and consensual — happened between Marciano and Demi.
“Jen, when you say things like a married woman was talking to another single man with boundaries, did you see anything happen off camera? Answer the question. Did you see anything happen?” Demi urged Jen, who fired back, “No, I didn’t.”
Jen didn’t answer why she was so sure that Marciano was telling the truth. Instead, she cut Demi off to ask why she previously threatened her with a cease and desist.
“Because of the s*** I’ve gone through for the past year. Jen, you don’t f***ing understand because you’ve never been sexually assaulted.”
Jen shut Demi down, saying, “Yes, I have.” Zac, 29, stepped in to defend Jen by reminding Demi to “talk respectfully” to his wife.
“I will talk to her how I feel like she deserves to be talked to,” Demi stated. “You’ve bullied me. You told me, ‘We’re here for you, we know what happened and we’re on your side.’ Five seconds later, you turn to Mikayla [Matthews] and go, ‘If she comes for me next season, I’m exposing this.’ What the f*** is wrong with you? What the actual f*** is wrong with your brain?”
As the conversation escalated, Demi tried to get Mayci Neeley, who has been outspoken about her own history with sexual assault, involved.
“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be insensitive but Mayci [what if you said] you got raped by your abuser or you got slapped or whatever. Then afterwards, you’re like, ‘I love you.’ Then later, the group is like, ‘Mayci, it’s really weird that you said that,’” Demi argued, which didn’t land well with the rest of MomTok.
Mayci’s loved ones jumped in to point out that she suffered abuse at the hands of an unnamed ex-boyfriend. Demi, meanwhile, stood her ground that her costars questioning her account affected her life.
“I just don’t appreciate the lies. The lies piss me off so bad because it’s affected my life for the past year in a very negative way. Jen is off living her married life on Dancing With the Stars and raking in dollar bills but I’m a lying villain,” she countered. “You don’t think bullying me affected me?”
After MomTok was moved to sit backstage, Demi kept airing out her issues, which led to her breaking down in front of everyone.
“It sucks especially when you’ve been in that situation and it brings up old stuff,” she added. “It’s more painful to not be believed … I’d rather something f***ing happened at this point. It’s excruciating and it’s ruining my reputation.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion is currently streaming on Hulu.
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