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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives‘ Marciano Brunette opened up about the toll his affair scandals — and Demi Engemann’s allegations — have had on him.
In an Instagram video uploaded on Wednesday, December 10, Marciano, 32, addressed his mental state amid the ongoing drama.
“This past year has been one of the hardest of my life — honestly maybe the hardest ever,” he admitted. “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.”
Marciano pointed out the severity of the situation. “Everything that I have going on is no joke,” he added. “There’s no funny TikTok or IG reel that I could post that would take away from the severity of what’s going on.”
Hulu viewers were originally introduced to Marciano as a cast member on Vanderpump Villa, which premiered in April 2024. He became a crossover hit when season 2 aired this year and featured appearances from stars of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — specifically Jessi Ngatikaura and Demi, 31.
After the season wrapped, Marciano claimed he had an emotional connection with Demi and they maintained contact despite her marriage to Bret Engemann. Demi, for her part, denied the allegations and accused Marciano of sexual misconduct.
“Nothing happened with Marciano. At the expense of sounding rude, there wasn’t even a remote attraction to him. It sucks that women can’t be kind and friendly and even playful with men in this world without it being taken as like you’re open. I had a rock on my finger the entire time I was there,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in May. “I brought up my marriage multiple times and they were told that we were married women — so it sucks that we couldn’t just go and have a good time and that he couldn’t respect that.”
Marciano, who later went public about a separate affair he had with Jessi, 33, has maintained his innocence and recently filed a lawsuit against Demi for defamation. This month, he got honest about how the claims have affected his life.
“This has f***ing changed me as a person,” he revealed on the Tuesday, December 9, episode of Harry Jowsey’s “Boyfriend Material” podcast. “In my mind, people think I’ve sexually assaulted someone. You think that’s not going to f*** with my head and mentally traumatize me where I am so overly cautious of every word and everything I do with anyone?”
Marciano recalled recent run-ins with viewers while working in Las Vegas that left him “so uncomfortable.” He even alleged a married woman verbally berated him in public.
“I’m massively anxious and paranoid about anything I do or say because I don’t know what anyone will go out and say about me now,” he said. “I haven’t been on a date in years, let alone now. I’m so afraid. I’m enjoying myself, but from a serious standpoint, I’m too scared.”
Marciano concluded: “I’m way too scared because I don’t know how vulnerable I can get about all of these things because it’s so hurtful.”
In his social media upload on Wednesday, Marciano noted that public opinion has seemingly been working in his favor.
“The last couple of weeks, something has shifted. I finally feel like I am in a better place and it is all because of the support I have been getting,” he continued. “Seeing that support, seeing the messages, the love and the advice and the people who have stuck up for me publicly has really helped and I really appreciate that more than anything. All the love is literally bringing me back to life. I just want to thank all of you for hearing me out and having my back. I don’t take any of it for granted.”
