The tangled web of reality television drama is set to unravel as the highly anticipated third season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premieres, promising to reveal the truth behind the alleged affair between cast member Jessi Ngatikaura and Marciano Brunette, a star of Vanderpump Villa.
The Crossover Episode That Started It All
The controversy stems from a crossover event filmed in Italy, featured in the second season of Vanderpump Villa. An episode titled 'Momtoks and Mormons, Oh My!' saw the SLOMW cast—Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann, Jennifer Affleck, Mikayla Matthews, and Layla Taylor—visit the villa. What began as a light-hearted drinking game among the staff and guests quickly spiralled into a situation filled with deception and hurt feelings, laying the groundwork for the current scandal.
Speculation about a romantic link between Marciano and Jessi first ignited in 2024, when the pair were allegedly seen kissing in Los Angeles. This occurred just a month after the crossover episode was filmed, fuelling rumours that would dominate online forums.
Marciano's Shocking Confession
In the penultimate episode of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season two, Layla Taylor took it upon herself to confront Marciano directly about the events in Italy. During their conversation, Marciano made a series of startling admissions.
He confessed that he initially made advances towards fellow cast member Demi Engemann, but she rejected him. Marciano revealed to Layla that his actions were partly based on a misguided assumption. After hearing about the 'soft swinging' scandal involving another SLOMW star, Taylor Frankie Paul, he mistakenly believed all the Mormon wives were open to such encounters.
"I didn't really understand the boundaries," Marciano stated, adding, "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t at least try and kiss [Demi]."
The conversation then turned to Jessi, where his claims became even more explicit. Marciano insinuated that their interaction was far from innocent, suggesting they had not only kissed but also slept together. "It's not like this was just some freaking one-night stand," he told a stunned Layla, who summarised it as a "full-blown f***ing affair."
He further alleged that Jessi's husband, Jordan, "doesn't know the truth about how extensive it was" and claimed that he and Jessi had attempted to meet up on other occasions to continue their dalliance.
Jessi's Response and The Fallout
Jessi Ngatikaura has consistently denied the initial kissing allegations. In a previous episode, she defended herself by saying, "If I was dumb enough to do that, I wouldn’t do it in public."
While she has yet to directly address the more serious affair allegations made by Marciano, she tantalisingly teased her followers the day after the season two finale aired. In a TikTok video, the mother of three said, "I’ll speak when I can," leaving audiences wondering if her side of the story will be revealed in the new season.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season three drops in its entirety on Thursday, November 13, on Hulu and Disney+. Viewers can binge all ten episodes to discover the final verdict on this reality TV scandal. Marciano remains a main cast member and Lead Server on Vanderpump Villa, ensuring his presence will continue to stir debate among fans.
