Fashion mogul Marciano Brunette has sued *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* star Demi Engemann after accusing her of embezzlement and fraud.
On Friday, December 5, 2025, Us Weekly exclusively reported that, according to the legal documents obtained, Marciano had filed a lawsuit against the Hulu star.
As per Marciano’s legal team, Demi had been branded as a “financial thief,” claiming she tarnished his reputation in the fashion industry.
They claimed Demi had spun an untrue narrative about their business dealings, alleging that whatever happened between the two of them when they met while filming *Vanderpump Villa* in 2024 was legitimate.
The drama came to a head when Marciano alleged that he had entrusted Demi with investment funds when the Mormon Wives came to Italy to film for *Vanderpump Villa*.
However, in season 3 of *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, Demi insisted that their financial interaction was “legitimate.”
Demi had made similar defenses in May on an episode of *The Viall Files*, when she mentioned that she had been accused of misappropriating funds during the trip.
Although she did not name Marciano, he took to social media to slam Demi for making “crazy denials” against him.
Both stars have doubled down on their stances since the season aired, ultimately leading Marciano to file a lawsuit against Demi.
## Fashion Mogul Marciano’s Legal Team Alleges Demi Remained in Contact with Him for Months After Filming in Italy
According to the legal documents obtained by Us Weekly, Marciano and his team affirmed the authenticity of Demi’s “fraudulent actions” claim.
They claimed the “truth is straightforward,” alleging that Demi and Marciano “flirted with business opportunities,” “spoke privately,” and shared a “consensual investment.” Following that, the pair “separated.”
However, the documents claimed that even after the incident during filming, Demi remained in touch with Marciano, which was proof that their relationship was manipulative and aimed at covering up the embezzlement.
“After filming, Engemann stayed in contact with Marciano for months through calls, FaceTime, texts, invitations, and even location sharing. That behavior confirms a continued scheme, not a person reacting to legitimate business dealings,” the document read.
Marciano’s legal team further suggested that the accusations significantly affected his reputation, noting how “they were published broadly” and “republished repeatedly.”
According to them, the claims remained in the spotlight with such intensity that they planted a false narrative as the “truth in the minds of viewers.”
“The damage has been immediate and severe, including lost professional opportunities, harassment by strangers, and lasting harm to Marciano’s reputation,” they added.
They went a step further, pointing fingers at the producers of *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* for milking the narrative for “profit.”
While the lawsuit has become public news, Demi has yet to make a statement about the recent development.
During the season 3 reunion, when some of her co-stars were sharing their stories of financial scandals, Demi opened up about the challenges she has had to face since the incident with Marciano, saying:
“With everything I went through the past year, not to compare because what I went through was not even close to what almost everyone has gone through, but it triggered a lot of really horrible things that have happened in my life. So to not be believed and be questioned and called a liar, it was horrible.”
Frustrated with being branded as a liar in the whole situation, Demi broke down in tears during the reunion, saying it was “excruciating” and ruining her reputation.
Earlier in November, after the season was released, Marciano gave an official statement to PEOPLE, denying ever being involved in legitimate dealings with Demi without fraud or embezzlement.
He stated that he took the matter “extremely seriously,” calling the situation the “most difficult” he had faced. He added that the accusations were “entirely false” and “profoundly damaging.”
As a response to his statement, Demi’s representative told E! News on November 21 that the way the situation was being “minimized” was uncomfortable to witness, especially as a woman.