In the world of reality TV, social media drama is often just part of the script. A flirty comment here, a cryptic post there—it’s all part of building hype. ButVanderpump Villabad boy Marciano Brunette may have taken things too farby draggingThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesstar Demi Engemann into a messy post-show narrative that’s spilling into real life.
What started as harmless banter during Demi’s brief appearance at the villa has turned into a full-blown online campaign, with Marciano hinting at off-camera secrets and making pointed claims that seem aimed at shaking up Demi’s carefully curated image. Now fans—and Demi’s husband—are leftwondering whether Marciano is just clout-chasing or threatening to ignite a scandal no one signed up for.
What Prompted the Conflict Between Demi and Marciano on ‘Vanderpump Villa’?
Demi and fellowMormon Wivesappeared as guests onVanderpump VillaSeason 2. Marciano was immediately smitten, and although the chemistry was clearly one-sided, producers leaned into the flirtation, positioning Demi’s marriage as a potential source of scandal. Demi and her husband, Bret Engemann, are no strangers to reality TV. Bret was briefly cast onThe Bacheloretteduring the COVID era and shares children withRHOSLC"friend of" Angie Harrington.
Despite that experience, Demi may have underestimated how far things could go. A joke she made to Marciano—about almost leaving her husband “27 times”—got spun into something much spicier on-screen. And while her interactions with Marciano mostly stuck to small talk, he was quick to blur the lines between reality and reality TV. From an unsolicited kiss on the crown of her head to cryptic social media posts about being “uninvited” from events due to a mysterious Mormon wife, Marciano seems to be leveraging the moment to stay in the spotlight.
I’m Loving the Shady Captions in ‘Vanderpump Villa’ Season 2
The chyrons that pop up under each star are absolute comedy gold.
What may have been abrief flirty exchangeis now being weaponized online. In recent Instagram posts, Marciano insinuated that Demi—or someone like her—had tried to keep him away from upcoming events to avoid potential fallout from their time in Italy. It’s textbook clout-chasing, and Demi agrees. When asked about it at a recent event, she dismissed Marciano’s antics as just that — antics.
But withThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesbuilding a massive online following and a new season just around the corner, Marciano’s thirst for attention could bring more than internet drama. The May 15 season trailer hints at a rift between Demi and fellow wife Jennifer Affleck about what “really” happened in Italy. If Marciano continues to stir the pot,Demi could face backlashnot just online, but possibly at home. He may be offVanderpump Villaafter being fired for inappropriate behavior, but Marciano’s audition for his next role is already underway. With his flair for theatrics and love of manipulation, he’s basically campaigning for a spot onThe Traitors—if only it didn’t air on a rival network.
Vanderpump Villais currently streaming on Hulu.The Secret Lives of Mormon WivesSeason 2 premieres on May 15 also on Hulu.
Vanderpump Villa
