Demi Engemann Files Motion to Dismiss Marciano Brunette's Defamation Lawsuit, Claims He Did It for 'Media Attention'
Demi Engemann Files Motion to Dismiss Marciano Brunette's Defamation Lawsuit, Claims He Did It for 'Media Attention'
Angela AndaloroWed, February 18, 2026 at 7:12 PM UTC
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Marciano Brunette (left), Demi Engemann
Amanda Edwards/Getty; Savion Washington/WireImage
In Dec. 2025, Vanderpump Villa's Marciano Brunette filed a defamation lawsuit against The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Demi Engemann
In a new legal filing, Engemann's team is asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed, citing social media arguments between the two and their roles as "public figures" as factors in what has been shared
The extent and context of the connection between Brunette and Engemann was a major storyline in season 3 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Demi Engemann is trying to put an end to her legal drama with Marciano Brunette.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, has filed a motion to dismiss the defamation suit, pursuant to Utah's Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, documents filed on Feb. 17 obtained by PEOPLE reveal.
Engemann's legal team has asserted that the reality star speaking out about "unwanted touch" from Brunette during MomTok's visit to Vanderpump Villa was protected by both her First Amendment rights and the fact that Engemann has spoken about it in relation to the two shows the action played out on, which made the situation "a matter of public interest."
In the filing, Engemann's legal team calls Brunette's suit "a lesson in hypocrisy," noting that the Vanderpump Villa personality, 33, "has gone to great lengths to tell the world about his sexual prowess, even bragging to a national television audience that a former employer had to implement a special policy to keep him from preying on female co-workers."
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The filing shares the belief that Brunette only pursued legal action to "get even" with Engemann over her accusations against him, calling him a "predator" for engaging in alleged sexual misconduct.
Engemann's team points to several incidents in which Brunette discussed his alleged encounters with Engemann and shared opinions about her, even calling on her to respond at certain times, responses that he then cited in his own lawsuit as defamation against him.
Brunette filed his suit on Friday, Dec. 5, alleging that Engemann used her platform as an influencer and television star to falsely accuse him of sexual misconduct, according to the complaint viewed by PEOPLE.
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Also named in the suit is Jeff Jenkins Productions, the production company behind Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. It alleges that the company had "reason to believe" that Engemann's claims about Brunette were false, and that it aired them anyway.
The latest filing also cites the performer agreement Brunette signed for his appearance on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
The agreement explains that during the show, information that is "of a personal, private, surprising, embarrassing and/or unfavorable nature" may be revealed. It continues to say that by signing the agreement, Brunette was to understand such information "may be embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature and may expose Artist, Artist’s friends, co-workers and/or family to public ridicule, humiliation, or condemnation."
"Artist acknowledges that Artist is voluntarily participating in the Series and related activities with full knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the personal risks involved, and hereby agrees to accept any and all risks of participating in the Series," the section concludes.
Of the filing, Engemann's attorney, Roger N. Behle, Jr., tells PEOPLE, “We will litigate this case fully before the court. The case raises some serious issues."
"Women cannot fear being sued for reporting sexual misconduct," he continued. "A suit like this could have the effect of deterring victims of sexual misconduct from coming forward. That simply cannot happen.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Brunette for comment on this filing.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
