Reality‑television star Marciano Brunette has taken legal action against two members of the Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, alleging defamation after a personal encounter with cast member Demi Engemann was portrayed as a sexual assault. The producers, Jeff Jenkins Productions, have responded by filing a motion to throw the case out, arguing that Brunette knowingly signed a participant‑release that bars him from suing the show.
Background of the Defamation Claim
In early 2024, Brunette filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing Engemann and the production company of defamation. According to the complaint, Brunette and Engemann had a consensual sexual encounter that was later depicted in the series as an assault. Brunette contends that the edited footage and accompanying narration misrepresented the facts, damaging his reputation and causing emotional distress.
The lawsuit also alleges that the producers deliberately edited the scene to create a sensational storyline, a common practice in reality‑TV editing but one that, Brunette argues, crossed the line into false representation. He seeks compensatory damages, a public retraction, and an injunction preventing further broadcast of the contested segment.
The Participant Release and Its Legal Implications
Shortly after the episode aired, Brunette was approached by his friend and fellow cast member, Chase McWhorter, who invited him to appear on the show. Brunette says he was asked to sign a document he believed was a standard payment agreement. The paperwork, however, turned out to be a “Participant Release” that expressly waives the right to sue the producers for any claims arising from the participant’s involvement.
In the court filings, Jeff Jenkins Productions points out that Brunette signed the release voluntarily, without coercion, and that the language of the document is clear: participants relinquish the right to bring legal action against the show for any alleged wrongdoing. The producers argue that Brunette’s claim that he “didn’t understand” the release is insufficient to invalidate it, especially given that he signed it after being fully briefed on its contents.
Legal experts note that participant releases are routinely used in reality‑TV productions to protect producers from lawsuits stemming from on‑camera events. While courts sometimes scrutinize releases for fairness, they generally uphold them when the signer had an opportunity to read and understand the terms.
Producers’ Motion to Dismiss and Their Arguments
In a filing obtained by TMZ, Jeff Jenkins Productions moved to dismiss the entire case, asserting that the release bars Brunette’s claims. The motion includes several key points:
- Voluntary Execution: Brunette signed the release of his own free will, with no one forcing him to participate or to sign the document.
- Clear Language: The release explicitly states that participants waive any right to sue the producers for claims related to the show.
- Assumption of Risk: By appearing on a reality series, Brunette assumed the inherent risks of being filmed and edited.
- No Coercion: The producers emphasize that no one “held his head” or threatened him, countering Brunette’s claim of undue pressure.
The production company also argues that the defamation claim fails on substantive grounds. They contend that the episode’s portrayal was based on factual events and that any editorial choices fall under the protection of the First Amendment, especially given the genre’s reliance on dramatic storytelling.
Judge John M. Doe has not yet ruled on the motion, but a decision to dismiss could set a precedent for how aggressively reality‑TV participants
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