The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives couple Demi Engemann and Bret Engemann credited the affair scandal with Marciano Brunette for strengthening their marriage.
During a joint interview with Entertainment Tonight that was posted on Thursday, December 5, Demi, 30, and Bret, 47, were asked what their bond means to each of them.
“I’m going to get choked up again,” Bret gushed. “She’s my best friend. That’s why this is so hard for me — to watch her go through what she’s gone through. Because I see how kind she is day in and day out, how selfless she is and what a great friend she is.”
Bret was grateful for how the drama brought them even closer together.
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“The thing that I always say is that she’s the most magical person that I’ve ever known,” he continued. “I’ve fallen more deeply in love with her through this process — as hard, gut-wrenching and as unfair as it has been. My level of respect and admiration has only increased watching her navigate these things the way that she has.”
Demi was on the same page as her husband.
“To me, it’s everything. It’s the foundation of our life. It’s the No. 1 priority. He’s been my best friend through all of it and just my rock,” she added. “I’m so grateful. I love you. Thank you for saying that.”
Before season 2 of Mormon Wives premiered earlier this year, Demi and Bret’s marriage was already a major topic of conversation on Vanderpump Villa. A visit to Lisa Vanderpump‘s villa took a turn when Marciano, 31, found himself smitten with Demi. They ended the season on good terms, but Demi later called out Marciano for perpetuating rumors that she was unfaithful.
“Nothing happened with Marciano. At the expense of sounding rude, there wasn’t even a remote attraction to him. It sucks that women can’t be kind and friendly and even playful with men in this world without it being taken as like you’re open. I had a rock on my finger the entire time I was there,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in May. “I brought up my marriage multiple times and they were told that we were married women — so it sucks that we couldn’t just go and have a good time and that he couldn’t respect that.”
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Bret, for his part, defended Demi’s version of events as well.
“I’m so proud of this beautiful human. She’s the most incredible woman I will ever know,” he wrote via Instagram before season 2 of Mormon Wives also brought up claims Bret cheated on Demi, which he denied. “The amount of nonsense she’s had to endure at the hands of disingenuous and deceitful fools is astounding. She’s conducted herself like a graceful lioness amongst a bunch of yipping hyenas.”
The season 3 reunion, which aired on Thursday, allowed Bret to elaborate on his thoughts on the scandal.
“The biggest problem I think I have with everybody is the knee jerk reaction to Demi saying that she was a victim was to not believe her,” he told DadTok. “She wasn’t building a relationship with them and was not flirty at all.”
