Updated May 26, 2026 to reflect current coverage
From Italy to Nashville — the full story of reality TV’s messiest almost-romance.
If you’ve been watching “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3 and trying to piece together exactly how Marciano Brunette and Jessi Draper got here, you’re not alone. The full story spans two shows, two seasons, a lie detector test, a divorce filing, a photo shoot involving berries, and a TMZ sighting that broke the internet. Here’s the complete timeline.
Summer 2024: The Italy Trip
It started when the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” cast traveled to Vanderpump Villa’s Season 2 location — Castello Rosato in Orvieto, Italy — for a crossover episode. Marciano was still on staff at that point, and what happened during that trip became the defining scandal of two separate shows.
Jessi Draper, who was married to Jordan Ngatikaura at the time, developed a connection with Marciano. Both Jessi and fellow castmate Demi Engemann got tangled up in the drama, but Jessi took things further. She later admitted to an emotional affair and confirmed they kissed twice. She was emphatic that they never had sex, and she took a lie detector test on “SLOMW” to back that up.
Marciano initially claimed otherwise — that the relationship had been physical. He later walked that back entirely, alleging that Demi and Scheana Shay had pressured him into saying it. As he explained to Stassi Schroeder in Vanderpump VillaSeason 3, Scheana three-way called him and Demi together, and the story about sex with Jessi came out of that conversation. He said he was hurt and believed what they told him — that Jessi was playing with his head. He later said it was the one thing he most wished he could take back.
Demi’s groping allegation against Marciano — made on Nick Viall’s podcast without naming him directly — added another layer. Marciano denied it categorically, calling it entirely false and profoundly damaging.
SLOMW Seasons 3 & 4: The Fallout Goes Public
The affair became a central storyline across multiple seasons of “SLOMW.” Jordan revealed on camera that he and Jessi spent close to $100,000 in therapy trying to work through the fallout. Jessi walked a careful line in press appearances, acknowledging things were “tricky” while noting there was more she wanted to share when she could.
Mikayla Matthews and Mayci Neeley famously drove four hours to confront Marciano face-to-face to get answers and try to clear Jessi’s name — a moment that became iconic in the “SLOMW” fandom. Back on “Vanderpump Villa,” Marciano was fired mid-Season 2 following a separate confrontation with another staff member, which only added to the chaos surrounding his name.
Season 3 of Vanderpump Villa: Jordan Comes to Rosecroft
When “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3 was announced, viewers already knew DadTok would be coming as guests — including Jordan. Lisa Vanderpump facilitated a sit-down between the two men in her office and left them to talk.
Jordan told Marciano he had his number and could have called at any time, but instead Marciano had continued trying to communicate with Jessi. He said the apology was hard to accept because the affair hadn’t ended when he found out — Marciano kept trying. He also said he and Jessi had spent close to $100,000 in therapy.
Marciano apologized and said he felt terrible about what he had done to Jordan, to Jessi, and to their children. But in confessional, he was biting his tongue — because he was sitting on a secret of his own.
The next morning, he went to Lisa. He told her that Jessi had cheated on her first husband, Zach Gish, to be with Jordan — the same pattern Jordan was now holding against Marciano. Lisa’s response was immediate: “What an absolute example of f—ing hypocrisy.”
Stassi confronted Jordan directly. He acknowledged that he and Jessi had gotten together before her first marriage was fully over but framed it as a technicality. He walked away muttering under his breath. Stassi was unconvinced. In confessional she said she felt confused, like he was putting on a front, and that she wasn’t any closer to the truth after speaking with him.
Jordan’s own behavior during the DadTok visit raised eyebrows among the cast. He talked more about Demi and Bret than about his own wife’s situation. Dakota and the other guys clocked it. Stassi clocked it. Even Hannah, listening in from outside the office during the initial Marciano sit-down, came away with her own conclusions — saying she didn’t think Marciano actually knew what love meant, which made her question her own choices.
At the end of the DadTok visit, Jordan pulled Marciano aside and asked him to stop talking about it publicly, delete photos with Jessi, and let it die — for the sake of his kids. Marciano agreed. He then, in a now-infamous move, posted very sexual photos of himself and Jessi — feeding her grapes, holding hands — shortly after.
March 2026: Jordan Files, Marciano Posts
Jordan filed for divorce from Jessi in March 2026 after five years of marriage. They share two children: son Jagger and daughter Jovi.
On March 26, Marciano posted a cryptic Instagram video that included a clip of Jessi’s “Call Her Daddy” interview. “Listen, I know what everyone is thinking,” he said. “But I want everyone to know that now that Jessi is single, I have no plan to…” — and cut himself off. The internet immediately lost its mind.
April 9: The Photo Shoot
Photographer Rachel Cook shared images of Marciano and Jessi together that left very little to the imagination about the vibe between them.
In one photo, Marciano hovered above Jessi on a picnic blanket, feeding her berries. In another, Jessi poured lemonade over him while resting her foot on his leg. Jessi’s comment on the post was two words and a fire emoji: “Uh oh.”
Neither confirmed anything. Jessi also posted a TikTok lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s “Fresh Out the Slammer” — a song about moving on after a relationship — captioned “Been hearing some rumors.”
April 19: TMZ and the Name Correction
TMZ published photos of Jessi and Marciano out together at Red Door Saloon in Nashville — hugging, laughing, taking root beer float shots, Marciano kissing her on the cheek. TMZ’s caption referred to her as “Jessi Ngatikaura.”
Jessi’s response was two words: “Jessi Draper*” — a correction back to her maiden name post-divorce. That comment hit 17,000 likes. She did not deny a single thing about Nashville.
SLOMW castmate Mikayla Matthews responded on Instagram with a reel tagging Jessi, captioning it: “ILY but you’re way too hot for this.” A loving but pointed reminder that Mikayla once drove four hours to confront this man on Jessi’s behalf.
April 21: The Nashville Carousel
Marciano posted a full Nashville photo carousel — solo shots and group photos, no Jessi in the images themselves. Jessi jumped into the comments: “What happens in Nashville stays in Nashville” with a smiling face with hearts emoji. That comment pulled 250 likes. Marciano replied with monkey and gorilla emojis. Someone commented “cutest couple.” Another fan wrote “you can’t deny the chemistry.”
Neither confirmed a relationship. Both kept showing up in each other’s orbit.
Also on April 21, Jessi posted something much more raw — a video breaking down what people don’t see behind the fun nights out: panic attacks, therapy, bathroom floor breakdowns, stepping away from abuse while still questioning her reality every day. The post hit 102,000 likes. Taylor Frankie Paul left a lengthy comment of support. Marciano commented: “Block out the hate! You deserve the best!!!” with a red heart.
April 23: The Hulu Get Real Event — Are They Done Pretending?
Four hours before the kiss was posted, Jessi put up her own get-ready photo from the Hulu Get Real event. White floral strapless mini dress. Caption: “Get Real 💚.” Marciano was in her comments within minutes: “Oh my lord 😋🤤” — 612 likes. JWoww dropped four fire emojis. Mayci Neeley — the woman who once drove four hours to confront this man on Jessi’s behalf — commented “You’re so hot 🔥” with 138 likes. Gabriella Sanon commented “So gorgeous.”
Then Marciano posted the kiss — her face covered by a green heart, the same white floral dress, captioned “Hulu Gets Real 💚.” Jessi jumped into his comments within five minutes: “Who’s the girl 👀👀.” The comment section did not need further convincing.
May 2026: The American Music Awards
If the Hulu Get Real event kiss left any room for interpretation, the American Music Awards did not.
Eight hours ago, Jessi posted a carousel from the AMAs in Las Vegas captioned simply “A night was had ✨🧡 @amas.” The post has already pulled 36,300 likes — liked by Marciano and tens of thousands of others. The carousel includes multiple slides with Marciano, the most striking of which are a blue carpet shot of the two of them side by side in front of the American Music Awards backdrop — Jessi in a black dress, Marciano in a dark suit — and a second shot of them on the blue carpet together, her leaning into him. A third slide shows them inside the venue during the show, this time with a third person, all three laughing. There is nothing ambiguous about any of it.
Marciano commented “YOU ARE PERFECTION 🤤🤤😍” with 353 likes. Stassi Schroeder wrote “My favorite look on you yet!!!!!!” with 70 likes. Taylor Frankie Paul commented “You just keep shining brighter and brighter. Keep going my girl ✨” with 83 likes. Get Real Hulu’s official account wrote “a look was served 🔥.” Torrero Collective added “Hell yes, Jessi!!! 🔥.”
From Italy to Nashville to a Hulu press event to the American Music Awards blue carpet. Jessi Draper and Marciano Brunette have not confirmed a relationship in so many words. They have also not left much for anyone to wonder about.
The ‘Vanderpump Villa’ Season 3 reunion has streamed on Hulu. All episodes are now streaming. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is now streaming on Hulu. Season 5 is now back in production.
Read next:
- Jessi Draper Corrects TMZ — and Sends the Internet Into a Spiral Over Marciano
- Did Marciano Just Confirm His Relationship With Jessi? Fans Think So After Viral Post
- Jessi Draper Voice Memo Explained: Timeline, Court Fallout, & What It Means
- Jessi Draper Posted What You Don’t See — and the Internet Responded With 102K Likes
For more “Vanderpump Villa” content click here.
For More “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” content, click here.
Want the daily reality TV drama — no spam, just the good stuff?
Subscribe