“One Tree Hill” alum Jana Kramer is voicing her opinion on the ongoing controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul and her two reality shows, “The Bachelorette” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”

For those unfamiliar, Paul has been the center of negative attention over the last week after a video of her appearing to assault her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, was shared online. Before that, Paul’s “Secret Lives” co-stars reportedly went on strike, refusing to film with her over her alleged involvement in another domestic dispute in 2026.

ABC cancelled Taylor Frankie Paul’s upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” earlier this week; however, Kramer believes the network waited too long to pull the plug.

Trigger Warning: This content includes discussions of domestic violence, which may be distressing or triggering for some individuals.

Jana Kramer Seems To Slam ABC For Waiting To Cancel Taylor Frankie Paul’s Season Of ‘The Bachelorette’

“Abuse is never great TV,” Kramer said during a recent episode or her “I Do, Part 2” podcast. “Where it’s being physical, that is not something that our children need to see. … When you have to grab someone, hurt someone, push someone, verbally, physically, that is not something to get viewership for.”

Kramer went on to discuss ABC’s decision to pull what would have been Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette.”

“DV is not something to joke about [or] to get viewership,” she said. “It’s just not at all, and if it was a guy, they would have shut it down immediately.”

Kramer References Taylor Frankie Paul Appearing To Assault Her Ex-Boyfriend In A Shocking Video

ABC addressed its decision to axe the previously filmed season of “The Bachelorette” in a statement, saying the company’s focus “is on supporting the family.”

According to a previous report from The Blast, Paul was observed in a horrifying video released earlier this week, appearing to assault her ex and the father of her son, Mortensen.

In the video, Paul seems to strike Mortensen, pull his hair, and choke him. She also hurled two heavy metal chairs at him, one of which hit her daughter in the head.

“This is called physical abuse. This is all you do,” Mortesen cried out in the clip. “It’s the only thing you know how to do is hurt me. You think this is OK? It’s not OK. Holy sh-t.”

Kramer Sounds Off On ‘Secret Lives’ Co-Stars Refusing To Film With Taylor Frankie Paul

On her podcast, Kramer also commented on the reports that Paul’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” co-stars have refused to film season 5 with her.

A source told Us Weekly that the cast has met with Disney, Hulu’s parent company, about pausing production.

“The girls know they can continue without Taylor and want to keep going,” the source said. “This has brought them closer in a way, and they all have been leaning on each other, checking in. They want to make it work and finish out season 5 on a high note.”

Regarding their reported decision, Kramer said she was “proud” of the women for standing up to Disney, adding that filming with her is “just enabling a situation that is not healthy and is not safe for anybody.”

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Some Believe Paul Has ‘Tainted’ The Bachelor Franchise With Abuse Allegations

Kramer is not the only public figure with strong feelings about Paul’s controversy.

“I think it’s over,” former “Bachelor” star Rachel Lindsay said, according to The Blast. “I was trying to think of a scenario where it could be different, because this isn’t just, ‘Oh, we put it all on a person. This person did this.’ This is the system that allowed this to happen.”

According to Lindsay, Paul’s situation has “tainted” the franchise like never before.

Paul Breaks Silence After ABC Pulls ‘The Bachelorette’

While Paul has not spoken publicly since the video surfaced, a representative for the reality star issued a statement, slamming Mortensen’s “desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard” for their minor child, Ever.

“Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior,” the rep continued.

Despite the drama, the rep said Paul is “grateful for ABC’s support” as she navigates the heavy situation.

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“After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” they said.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 13 seconds ago

Most of the time, it’s a kiss of death for a genre TV show when the writers try to make big changes. True Blood went off the rails when it abandoned its small-town, Southern gothic drama in favor of nonstop supernatural slugfests. Dexter went from being a taught procedural with a killer twist to being an endless melodrama, culminating with arguably the worst finale in television history. Even Riverdale transformed its grounded adaptation of Archie Comics into supernatural storytelling that felt like an endless fever dream.

However, would you believe that one of the most iconic genre shows ever made created a thrilling episode by completely abandoning its entire premise? The X-Files is famously about Mulder and Scully investigating government conspiracies, aliens, and various monsters of the week that go bump in the night. But the episode “Irresistible” was written by showrunner Chris Carter without any paranormal elements whatsoever, creating a fan-favorite thriller of a story that feels like it belongs to a different show altogether.

He’s Scarier Than Any Alien

In case you somehow don’t know, The X-Files was a show shaped almost entirely by Agent Fox Mulder’s quest to prove the existence of aliens and other paranormal phenomena. His partner, Agent Dana Scully, is a skeptic, and most episodes of the series feature a tug of war between their very different perspectives. Mulder will always argue that their latest case is proof of his wild theories, while Scully will offer a more grounded and scientific explanation for otherwise fantastic phenomena.

However, X-Files showrunner Chris Carter threw the show’s formula out the window when he wrote “Irresistible,” an episode where Mulder and Scully have to stop a murderous necrophiliac (although, thanks to network censoring, they had to refer to him as a “death fetishist”). Despite how different this episode was, fans really loved it. A large part of that came from the great characterization in this episode, which Carter thought would have been impossible without ditching the show’s trademark supernatural elements.

Scully Was Never Closer To Death

“I think I was able to explore the character of Scully in a way I wouldn’t have been able to with a supernatural theme,” he told X-Files Confidential. “Sometimes even more scary than the things we can imagine are the things that are unimaginable, which is that the man standing next to you could be this kind of guy.” Basically, the showrunner of the world’s spookiest series acknowledges that some viewers aren’t going to be all that scared of intangible threats like aliens and far-reaching government conspiracies. However, they might be absolutely terrified at the thought that a random stranger could be a secret killer with a fetish for dead bodies. 

What did we learn about Scully from this X-Files episode? Chris Carter wanted to explore “what she is most afraid of,” which turned out to be “dying at the hands of someone—creature or not—and she is helpless to do anything about it.” This refers to the heart-stopping climax of “Irresistible,” in which she is kidnapped by Donnie Pfaster, who has awful plans for her body, both before and after he murders her. She escapes and is ultimately saved, but she uncharacteristically breaks down in Mulder’s arms, which is evidence of how deeply this trauma affected her.

The Banality Of Horny Evil

Interestingly, the closest thing to a supernatural element in “Irresistible” is that a captured Scully sees Pfaster transform into the Devil. Carter based this on some grim accounts from surviving Jeffrey Dahmer victims who reported that he shape-shifted in front of them. “Sometimes the face of evil can become frighteningly real and distorted through a prism of your own unconscious fears,” Carter said. “That’s what we were playing with.”

In retrospect, “Irresistible” was a huge gamble: it completely abandoned The X-Files’ paranormal formula and put a beloved character in mortal peril, where she had to face her greatest fear. But the gamble paid off, as this is one of the fandom’s favorite early episodes of this iconic ‘90s show. It fleshed out Scully’s character and introduced a chilling new villain, all while fleshing out this fictional universe. Showrunner Chris Carter wrote an episode unlike anything fans had seen before, and its success effectively validates Mulder’s personal philosophy: sometimes, you have to break all the rules in order to achieve greatness!

If you ask for a good rom-com to watch, you’ll probably end up with a lot of the same suggestions.

Movies like Clueless, When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman and You’ve Got Mail are certainly fantastic classics, but it can be refreshing to watch something totally new to you.

Since the Watch With Us team are experts in all things movies, we’ve got just the list for you.

We compiled four romantic comedies we’re pretty sure are almost perfect, but you’ve probably never even heard of them, let alone watched them.

That ends now. Prepare to believe in love again with these four underrated love stories.

Related: Best Rom-Coms to Watch When You’re Stuck at Home

Romance for all! Whether you’re stuck at home due to inclement weather, or simply want a night in, Us Weekly has the perfect must-watch movie list for indoor viewing. While some fans may opt for social media quizzes or binge-watching a new show, others choose to break out their go-to romantic comedies during a long weekend […]

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‘Down With Love’ (2003)

In this homage to “no-sex sex comedies” from the early 1960s, Renée Zellweger stars as Barbara Novak, an aspiring author who touches down in New York City to promote her anti-romance, how-to book Down with Love. When she arrives at Banner Publishing, the executives don’t appreciate the book’s subject matter, and when Barbara attempts to use playboy author Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor) to help her out, he rebuffs her. Instead, Barbara gets an unexpected boost from a Judy Garland song, and sales skyrocket. Angering Catcher, he decides to trick Barbara into falling in love with him to prove the fallacy behind her success.

Before Peyton Reed directed the Ant-Man movies for the MCU, he helmed this vastly underappreciated romantic comedy pastiche that is enlivened by screwball humor and a visually ravishing, energetic style. Though Down with Love whiffed with critics and audiences at the time, the movie has since developed a cult following and critical reappraisal for its smart subversion of rom-com tropes. It doesn’t hurt that both McGregor and Zellweger are also absolutely dazzling, putting on their best campy ’60s Hollywood acting performance like they were born for it.

‘Stardust’ (2007)

In England, the quaint village of Wall resides just next to a stone barrier that acts as the divide between the world of humans and the world of magic in Stormhold, and it is guarded to ensure no one ever crosses. When a young man named Dunstan (Nathaniel Parker) manages to get across, he spends the night with an enslaved princess — nine months later, a baby named Tristan is delivered to Dunstan’s doorstep. As an adult, Tristan (Charlie Cox) finds himself at the center of a hunt for a fallen star (Claire Danes), forcing him to cross back over into Stormhold to find her and discover his destiny.

Stardust is perhaps not a typical rom-com, but it is a wonderfully charming fantasy-adventure romance with an undeniable sense of humor that mixes tongue-in-cheek humor that appeals to kids with some racier jokes that will go over their heads. The movie is broadly appealing but not in a bad way; it’s a spirited, lively and exhilarating yarn that is a must-watch for fans of The Princess Bride. Stardust’s fantastic ensemble cast also includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro and Sienna Miller.

‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ (2012)

High school sweethearts Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) get married young, but their passionate early romance starts losing its spark just as quickly. While Celeste is a successful trend analyzer who runs her own company, Jesse is an unemployed artist who seems in no rush to find steady work. When Celeste finally gets the courage to tell Jesse that she’d like a divorce, she promises him that they will remain friends. But the two former lovers seem unwilling to spend much time apart, and the arrangement raises the eyebrows of their friends — then, Celeste starts having second thoughts.

While Celeste and Jesse Forever isn’t terribly subversive or setting out to do much to differentiate itself from a packed rom-com genre, it excels effortlessly through the unique charms of Jones and Samberg. Ultimately, the movie also succeeds at feeling authentic to reality, capturing the messy, flawed and often incomprehensible behavior of people after they break up. The screenplay (co-written by Jones) does an excellent job of creating characters that are likable, with regard for their emotions.

‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ (1999)

High school student Megan Bloomfield (Natasha Lyonne) is your typical all-American teenager, a cheerleader who dates football player Jared (Brandt Wille). But when Megan seems to express a concerning interest in things like Melissa Etheridge, vegetarianism and her fellow cheerleaders, her parents are left with no choice but to send her to gay conversion camp True Directions. There, she meets fellow lesbians Graham (Clea DuVall), Hilary (Melanie Lynskey) and Sinead (Katharine Towne). But the camp seems to be having an opposite effect, as Megan finds herself falling for Graham.

Related: Rom-Coms You Forgot About and Need to Watch Right Now

Much like there are plenty of fish in the sea, there are also plenty of rom-coms to stream — and these forgotten gems are worth revisiting whether on Valentine’s Day or any of the other 364 days of the year. Throughout these underrated romantic comedies, you’ll spot several familiar faces. Long before he was appearing […]

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But I’m a Cheerleader is a highly stylized and hilarious satirical rom-com that explores heteronormativity, gender roles and feminine identity. While critics denigrated the film at the time for its content, colorful production design and similarities to the films of John Waters (Mink Stole, one of Waters’ primary collaborators, plays Megan’s mother), all these traits have helped to generate the movie’s passionate cult following. It is now beloved as an empowering lesbian love story that celebrates a queer perspective.

Multiple members of the Duggar family have reacted to Joseph Duggar’s arrest on child molestation charges.

Joseph, who rose to fame alongside his family on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting, was taken into custody after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl while on a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2020. He was arrested by the Tonitown Police Department in Arkansas on March 18, 2026, after the Bay County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant.

“The victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,” the Bay County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a press release at the time. “As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket.”

The statement continued, “During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.”

Related: Joseph Duggar Arrested on Child Molestation Charges: What We Know So Far

Former TLC star Joseph Duggar was arrested on Wednesday, March 18, after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020. Wednesday’s arrest marks the second child sex abuse case to hit the famous family following Joseph’s older brother Josh Duggar‘s child pornography conviction. Josh was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison in December […]

Joseph was ultimately charged with one count of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and a second count of lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.

Joseph appeared in court on March 20 and waived his right to an extradition hearing and ultimately agreed to be transferred to Florida to face the charges.

Days after his arrest, news broke that Joseph was also facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment alongside his wife, Kendra Duggar. Kendra was arrested on March 20, 2026, and released the same day on bond.

Many members of the Duggar family spoke out about Joseph’s arrest, including his siblings Jill and Josh. (Josh is currently in prison after being convicted for possession of child pornography.)

Keep scrolling to see what the Duggars have said about Joseph:

Jill Duggar

Jill Duggar released a statement on her family blog about Joseph Duggar’s arrest.

“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” the post began. “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020.”

Jill added that she and husband Derick Dillard are “shocked and heartbroken” over the allegations.

“We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved,” she continued. “Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”

Josh Duggar

Josh Duggar spoke out while behind bars about his brother’s arrest, sharing he was “deeply saddened” about the allegations against Joseph Duggar.

“Josh understands the stigma of being accused. He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life,” Josh’s lawyer said in a statement to The Daily Mail on the reality star’s behalf. “He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.”

The statement added that while “Josh and Joe are not in frequent communication” Josh “hopes and prays for his brother’s well being in this difficult time.”

Amy Duggar King

Joseph Duggar’s cousin, Amy Duggar King, broke her silence on his arrest.

“In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken, and deeply angry,” Amy said in a statement to Us Weekly. “My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected, and surrounded by people she could trust. The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.”

Amy added that she was “utterly shocked” by the allegations against Joseph but also addressed the family’s “toxic system.”

“For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability, and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family,” she continued. “Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children. When an image is protected over truth, and silence is chosen over accountability, it creates an environment where abuse can thrive.”

Amy shared that she has “worked hard to break cycles” in her family and has advocated “for the protection of children.”

“I am praying for the victim and her family as they walk through what is sure to be an incredibly difficult road ahead,” she shared. “Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children. I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.”

Amy was later seen crying in a social media video after news broke that Kendra was also arrested that week.

Jessa Duggar

Jessa Duggar issued a statement on behalf of herself and her husband, Ben Seewald, on March 20, 2026.

“We learned of this saddening news along with the rest of the world on Wednesday, and we are in complete shock,” the statement read. “Our hearts are grieving for this innocent young girl, and we know this is deeply grievous to God, who cares tenderly for children and the vulnerable. We are keeping her in our prayers.”

Jessa later deleted her upload that same day.

Bravo figurehead Andy Cohen recently opened up about the latest “Real Housewives” franchise set in Rhode Island, and teased that viewers will be more than entertained.

Bravo announced the new series during the summer of 2025 and released the season’s first superteaser just weeks ago.

As the “Real Housewives” franchise gears up to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Andy Cohen is reflecting on the milestone.

Andy Cohen Teases Upcoming ‘Real Housewives’ Franchise Set In Rhode Island

On a recent episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” Cohen got candid about the upcoming series.

“Your next show in the queue, by the way, is going to be The Real Housewives of Rhode Island because it’s going to hit you like a ton of bricks in the best possible way,” he said on the air. “You’re going to absolutely love it.”

Cohen echoed that sentiment in a Deadline interview, saying the group of women is “giving me everything that I love in Housewives.”

“The women are all stars. They’re so funny. They are the drama. You know, we were talking about Rhode Island backstage. It’s our smallest state, and they all seem to know each other, or be related, or went to high school together, or all of the above,” Cohen said.

Bravo, Andy Cohen Announced ‘RHORI’ In The Summer Of 2025

According to a previous report from The Blast, Bravo announced the “Rhode Island” iteration of the popular reality series in May 2025.

The show will reportedly follow a group of close friends “who have deep community roots and families that go back generations.”

“With aspirational lives, thriving businesses and tangled family dynamics, these decade-long friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past … or each other,” the show’s description read.

The series will feature Bravo newcomers Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson, and Jo-Ellen Tiberi. Dolores Catania from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will be featured as a friend.

Bravo Viewers Will See The Women Navigate ‘Murky Waters’ In Season 1 Of ‘RHORI’

The “Real Housewives of Rhode Island” season 1 trailer was shared in early February 2026. Based on the official announcement, the women will navigate the “murky waters of friendships, feuds, and shifting loyalities with Rhode Island’s tightly woven social scene.”

While Rhode Island is the country’s smallest state, “the drama is wicked,” the teaser continued. “In a place where everyone knows everyone and family names carry serious weight, nothing is ever truly forgotten. Friendships are built over decades, loyalties are deeply rooted, and secrets are guarded at all costs … until betrayal strikes and the cracks begin to show.”

‘Real Housewives Of Miami’ Put On Pause After Season 7

As one “Housewives” city comes, another goes. Earlier this week, Bravo confirmed to E! News that “The Real Housewives of Miami” had been put on pause after seven seasons. The reported cause of the pause is a “lack of viewers” and engagement.

The news of the show’s hiatus comes after Bravo rebooted it in 2021 following its original cancellation in 2013.

Season 7 featured newbie Stephanie Shojaee navigating her friendships with Bravo mainstays Alexia Nepola, Larsa Pippen, Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hocstein, Julia Lemigova, Adriana de Moura, Marysol Patton, and Kiki Barth.

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On social media, Cohen admitted he was bummed about the news, but shared a hopeful message for fans. “It will be back!” he wrote.

Andy Cohen Celebrating 20 Years Of ‘The Real Housewives’ With Bravo Legends

According to The Blast, Cohen is gearing up to celebrate 20 years of the “Real Housewives” franchise with over 60 of the biggest Bravolebs.

During BravoCon 2025, Cohen said the upcoming “Ultimate Girls Trip” honoring the milestone would be “iconic” and would feature the biggest OGs, including NeNe Leakes.

In an emotional video, Leakes opened up about her return following her five-year hiatus from the network.

“I am happy, overjoyed to say that I will be returning to Bravo,” she said in a video. “I almost can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth,” she said.

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Leakes went on to thank Bravo, Cohen, and the chairman of Bravo unscripted, Frances Berwick.

“[I want to thank] so many executives behind the scenes who have worked to make this happen,” she said. “So many people that have continued to throw my name in the ring. Thank you to everybody over at Bravo. Thank you to all the people over at Truly Original. Thank you, Shed Media. Thank you to the producers on the ground who are calling and texting me, wanting this to be an amazing thing.”

Just one day after the news broke of “Mormon Wives” star Jessi Draper’s divorce from husband Jordan Ngatikaura, “Vanderpump Villa” star Marciano Brunette, who has gotten himself successfully entangled in lots of MomTok drama, is adding fuel to the fire whether intentionally or just unknowingly. 

Marciano shared an Instagram Story that leads fans to believe that maybe he’s in Utah, and the timing certainly adds to the mystery of it. 

The moment comes on the heels of Marciano and Jessi previously admitting to an emotional affair, which reportedly contributed to the ongoing strain in her marriage. Now, with the divorce public, Marciano’s vague post just might be stirring some speculation, leaving followers wondering if there’s more to the story unfolding behind the scenes. 

Marciano Brunette Teases ‘Where Am I?’ In His Recent IG Story

Marciano, who resides in Las Vegas, shared an IG Story on Friday of a cocktail, tagging his location at Harry Reid International Airport. 

The very next IG Story is a photo of a Swig drink and asking the question, “Where am I?” Anyone following along with “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” knows that Swig is the MomTok crew’s drink of choice and Utah is riddled with the dirty soda shops. 

His next Story didn’t happen for many hours, but just further added to the speculation that he’s in Utah as it’s a photo he shared of him with a friend who’s listed as a “Utah based creator” in his IG bio. 

The Next IG Story Solves The Mystery…Mostly

Marciano’s Stories are spaced out a bit, giving fans time to really wonder just what’s going on. With Jessi’s divorce being fresh news, the timing is certainly curious. And perhaps Marciano knew just what he was doing to keep fans wondering and speculating.

The next IG Story pretty much explains it all – a photo of Marciano with Chase McWhorter, the ex and baby daddy of “Mormon Wives” star Miranda. And with it being Chase’s birthday, and a full-on celebration clearly underway based on both Marciano and Chase’s Stories, it seems the mystery may have just been solved.  

But is that the whole story? On the photo of Chase and Marciano, there’s a simple message written, “team Jessi.” 

Apparently Marciano Brunette And Chase McWhorter Are Now Best Buds

Social media posts show that Chase and Marciano have a pretty solid friendship. Knowing this makes sense as to why Marciano flew to Utah to celebrate Chase’s birthday with him.

In a video shared on Instagram a few weeks ago, the two friends are seen comparing their height and mention “red flags.”

“Mormon Wives” star Zac Affleck dropped into the comments to say, “You guys are cute together. Happy for you guys.” Another viewer wrote, “Whatta collab.” One other said, “The collab we all needed.”

‘The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ And ‘Vanderpump Villa’ Collided Last Year

When MomTok visited “Vanderpump Villa” last year, fans quickly learned that something happened between Demi Engemann and Marciano, as well as between Jessi and Marciano. 

Jessi told US Weekly in November 2025 about her connection with Marciano.

“I wouldn’t say I was in love with him. It only lasted about two weeks, so it was quick,” she told the outlet. “But I will say I confided in him a lot.”

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She also touched on her relationship with her husband Jordan.

“The dynamic with Jordan that I had had in my marriage, I hadn’t really talked to anyone about it. My family and friends had been aware because they’d seen things, but I tried to be like, ‘Everything’s fine,’” she added. 

According to Jessi, the “affair” with Marciano was quick and never turned into anything physical. 

The Real Drama Is Between ‘Mormon Wives’ Star Demi Engemann And Marciano Brunette

What looked to be some flirting between Demi and Marciano while MomTok was at “Vanderpump Villa” actually escalated to something much bigger.

Marciano hasn’t been shy online with his side of the story. For those not completely up on what happened at “Vanderpump Villa,” Demi has accused Marciano of “groping” her and she claims to have been “sexually assaulted” by him.

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Marciano told The U.S. Sun in November 2025 that there was a “very mutual connection” between the two of them and Demi was “very flirtatious” and “touchy-feely” with him. He further explained that there are “cameras everywhere” at the villa and he claims to have “never touched her, ever.”

Marciano eventually filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court in Utah against Demi, saying her allegations about the “Vanderpump Villa” filming are false and damaging to his career and reputation.

According to Parade, Demi filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in February 2026 under Utah’s Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. It’s now up to the court if Demi’s motion succeeds. If the judge grants it, Marciano’s defamation claims could be dismissed. If not, the lawsuit would enter discovery where both sides could be called to produce testimony and evidence.

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Nobody has ridden the wave of true crime documentaries quite like Netflix. The streamer has churned out hit after hit within the genre, utilizing the cost-effective documentary method to make some of its most popular titles, all the while highlighting some of the craziest and most infamous crime stories in recent history. It honestly feels like too much true crime most of the time, which makes one frustrating cancellation from almost a decade ago feel even more egregious. For two seasons, Netflix had a perfect true crime satire that was also one of the best — and most surprisingly touching — comedies on television, and it could’ve been an enormous hit had the streamer stuck with it.

American Vandal, first released in 2017, is one of the greatest American comedies of the 2010s. From creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, American Vandal was a mockumentary-style series that satirized true crime documentaries, taking its biggest influences from the podcast Serial and Netflix’s own Making a Murderer. Instead of following the story of a grisly murder, however, American Vandal follows a couple of high schoolers as they get to the bottom of mysteries involving spray-painted genitalia and widespread diarrhea. It sounds ridiculous on the surface, but American Vandal nailed its aesthetic so perfectly that it often felt like a better version of the things it was satirizing, and at its core, became one of the most honest and accurate depictions of high school from the last 20 years.

‘American Vandal’ Is Laugh-a-Minute Comedy Gold

Image via Netflix

The true crime genre is more than worthy of spoofing, and American Vandal did it brilliantly. That was when the genre as a whole was first taking off, so you can imagine how well this specific brand of comedy has aged. Yes, plenty of the humor comes from situations born from penis graffiti or an entire school pooping their pants on the same day, but there are also a lot of bits and gags that produce great laughs from simply playing up the true crime elements.

In Season 1, the young documentarians try to prove the innocence of a senior who is accused of spray-painting the cars of faculty members and is expelled just weeks before graduation. Jimmy Tatro, who recently appeared in Scream 7, starred in the season as the accused, Dylan Maxwell. He’s as hilarious as you expect, but it’s the seriousness with which the show approaches his situation that sticks with you and makes you laugh long after you’ve watched it.

American Vandal treats a crime like drawing a penis on a car as seriously as any other true crime doc treats an actual murder. That level of commitment ups the ante and makes for the kind of comedy we don’t see very often anymore. While they are still very different brands of comedy, HBO shows like Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal and Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company feel like American Vandal‘s closest modern relatives.

Related

4 Years Later, Cillian Murphy’s Netflix Comeback Shatters Expectations With Blockbuster ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie Debut

The film also stars Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan.

Getting High School Right

American Vandal‘s format and humor could carry a show, but the humanity and passion with which the series approached young people is what takes it to another level. Conceptually, this is a series that would’ve been funny enough had it just pointed the finger at these juvenile situations and laughed about how seriously the students took these kinds of stories. Instead, American Vandal empathized with young people and found the beauty in their journeys amidst all the hilarity and chaos.

As memorable as the first season is, it’s Season 2 that really unlocks this integral part of American Vandal‘s ethos. On the surface, the second season explores an event known as “The Brownout,” in which the students of a Catholic school all experience explosive diarrhea at the same time, likely due to some kind of laxative in the cafeteria’s lemonade. In the middle of such an outlandish premise, American Vandal manages to tap deeply into the issue of disconnection amongst students caused by social media, and the terrifying reality of the dangers that social loneliness can create. The final episode of the season is an absolute wallop that will bring tears to your eyes — both from laughing and crying.

American Vandal is a comedy masterpiece, and it’s one that arrived just a few years ahead of its time. Given the obsession with true crime that exists now — especially on Netflix — the show could’ve been an instant mega-hit had been released today. There’s a good chance it could also give us the big dose of community that we desperately need.