SLOMW’s Demi Responds to Rumor About Husband Bret Being Her Babysitter
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Demi Engemann set the record straight regarding the 16-year age gap between her and husband Bret Engemann, specifically addressing rumors that he was once her babysitter.
“I did not cheat on Bret, and we didn’t know each other when I was 9,” Demi, 31, stated in a joint interview during the Sunday, March 15, episode of the “I Do, Part 2” podcast, tackling various allegations about her relationship.
Demi noted that the speculation began when she joked about their age difference.
“I met Bret when I was 21 at a funeral for a close family friend. I partly blame myself for that rumor because it was during the TikTok era of satire, where people were scrutinizing our age-gap relationship,” she said. “So we just decided to roll with it.”
While the commentary around their marriage didn’t “bother” Demi, it posed an issue for Bret, 47.
“The age when I met her just keeps getting younger,” he remarked, to which Demi added, “And he was my babysitter and best friends with my parents. It just keeps getting distorted, and I take full responsibility for starting that whole narrative.”
Demi emphasized, “It’s my job to clarify. We met when I was a legal adult, and we were both married to other people. It’s far from what the internet depicts. … It’s wild because we have so many connections, but I genuinely didn’t meet Bret until that funeral.”
Prior to their debut on Us in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in 2024, Bret was previously married to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum Angie Harrington, with whom he has two sons. Demi was also married to Blake Corbin, with whom she shares a daughter.
Demi has often pointed out that she properly met Bret as an adult.
“For those who don’t know, my husband and I have a 16-year difference. I knew him through a family friend while growing up,” she explained in a February 2023 TikTok video. “He was much older than me. When I was 9, he was married with children.”
Demi reminisced about having a crush on Bret before they became friends in adulthood, saying, “He was incredibly kind and supportive, offering help during my divorce with Blake. We met a few weeks later. At that time, I wasn’t ready for a relationship; I just needed someone to help me navigate my divorce.”
The reality star maintained the integrity of their relationship timeline. “Out of respect for my ex-husband and the pending divorce, we held off on any official dates,” she noted. “We were casually hanging out while I figured out the situation with my ex and co-parenting.”
Demi concluded, “I definitely needed time to date other people and find my new normal. I eventually reached out to Bret, asking him to take me back. We dated for about 10 months before getting engaged.”
The couple has also dismissed infidelity allegations made by Marciano Brunette, who claimed he had an affair with Demi. Demi accused Marciano of sexual misconduct, and he later sued her for defamation.
“The fidelity issue is amusing because you won’t find a couple more devoted to each other, with no thoughts of being with anyone else,” Bret shared during the podcast episode, attributing the rumors to Hulu’s Vanderpump Villa. “It’s ridiculous that we even have to address this.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is currently streaming on Hulu.
