Mormon Wives Star Marciano’s Dad Died of Brain Damage Before Demi Drama

Marciano Brunette revealed the shocking circumstances of his father Johnny Montantes‘ death after The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Demi Engemann’s alleged dig.

The drama originated on Vanderpump Villa and subsequently Mormon Wives when Marciano, 32, claimed he formed a romantic connection with Demi, 30, which she denied. Demi subsequently accused Marciano of sexual misconduct but he has maintained his innocence.

When Marciano announced his plans to appear on the Tuesday, November 25, episode of the “Juicy Scoop” podcast, Demi allegedly posted — and deleted — a shady comment, writing, “OOP. Looks like HE deleted it. Found his weak spot … looks like he’s not so tough after all. Was your daddy this big of a [p****] too? I’m sure he’s looking down so disappointed.”

Marciano put Demi’s alleged comment on blast in an Instagram video, where he referred to her response as “beyond sickening.” He said he planned to make Demi “regret every lie she’s ever told” by taking legal action that would guarantee viewers would “never have to see [Demi] on TV ever again.” (Us Weekly has reached out to Demi for comment.)

The Vanderpump Villa star then encouraged the public to look into his late father’s death. Montantes, who died at 28, was a lightweight professional boxer from Minnesota who began his career in 1990 with a win against Norberto Riviera. He went on to have a string of 22 straight wins and his final record was 28 wins and 4 losses.

In September 1997, Montantes was fighting James Crayton in Las Vegas when he was knocked out violently in the fifth round. Montantes suffered a brain injury and never regained consciousness. Doctors removed him from life support two days later.

“Johnny died for what he believed in,” former professional boxer Will Grigsby said of Montantes’s final round at the time. “He believed he could be the world champion, and he knew the consequences, like we all do.”

Marciano, who Montantes named in honor of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano, made a name for himself when he appeared in season 1 of Vanderpump Villa. He returned in season 2 but his interactions with Demi — and shocking emotional affair with Jessi Ngatikaura — led to a rocky road on reality TV.

During a November episode of the “Simplistic” podcast, Marciano made it clear he only had true feelings for one of them.

“Jessi all day. That’s the easiest decision of all time,” he revealed. “Because Jessi was a real person where I didn’t have to question her motives — especially after everything came out. She was such a good person. It was way deeper.”

Marciano said he thinks he was in love with her, adding, “I will always have feelings for her. But she’s married so I shouldn’t be saying that. … I wish I went for Jessi first.”