Jessi Draper sets record straight on her love life as she attends American Music Awards with Marciano Brunette

She recently expressed deep regret for how their 'emotional affair' played out. 

Yet Jessi Draper isn't closing the door on exploring a friendship with Marciano Brunette.  

The duo attended the American Music Awards together in Las Vegas on Monday - where newly-single Draper, 34, set the record straight on her relationship status following her divorce from Jordan Ngatikaura. 

'I'm single, going through a divorce and dating around, having fun,' she told E! 'I have Marciano here tonight, but I'm just casually dating and living life.'

Brunette, meanwhile, is 'having a lot of fun' with Draper.  

'I’m having a lot of fun,' Brunette explained to the outlet. 'I’m enjoying it every day. It's a blessing and I couldn’t be happier.'

The friendship comes as Draper begins her new chapter as a single woman after Ngatikaura filed for divorce earlier this year.

The former couple were married for five years and share two children together, but the cracks in their marriage were showing publicly before their filing. 

Draper admitted to having an emotional affair with Brunette on Vanderpump Villa, one she said 'shook up' her life. 

'Having an affair on-camera definitely shook up my life a little bit,' she told Vulture. 'But I hope to inspire and learn from my mistakes.' 

It's an affair she deeply regrets and an onscreen moment she wishes she could take back if given the chance.  

'I definitely would change having an affair. I definitely wouldn’t want to do that again, especially publicly. 

'Definitely a huge mistake. I have a hard time crying and showing emotion. I’ve been a little better at it recently, but I feel like it’s really hard to do that and be vulnerable on-camera. 

'Sometimes people don’t understand that the emotion runs deeper than what’s shown.' 

But her regret didn't overshadow her disdain for her husband. When asked who the villain of her show was, she replied, 'I think the villain on my show is my ex-husband, Jordan. Sorry.' 

Following the divorce filing, Ngatikaura issued a statement as he admitted the split was not 'easy' but the priority will be focused on their children.

'This has not been an easy decision and it comes with a heavy heart. I'm grateful for the shared memories and the lessons.'

The star continued, 'While our paths are now moving in different directions, my priority remains my children and ensuring they feel loved, supported, and protected through this transition.

'I am committed to handling this next chapter with kindness and respect. I kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we navigate this as a family.'

Draper and Ngatikaura had a 90-day separation in 2025 but seemingly reconciled later that same year.

Late last year in November, she claimed to People that she suffered 'emotional abuse' from her estranged husband.

'It starts off slow. It's not like one big dramatic thing happens. It's little behaviors over time, and then all of a sudden you look back and you're too deep in it and you can't do much about it,' she said at the time.

Ngatikaura later issued a statement to the outlet and expressed that he took 'full accountability for the pain I caused Jessi during our marriage.'

Following their separation, Draper told People earlier this month that both she and Ngatikaura were 'going to a lot of therapy' before adding that it has 'helped a lot.'

Draper further expressed that she has been open about the 'ups and downs' of her marriage to show that 'it's normal to struggle.'

'Even in a good relationship, you're gonna have ups and downs,' she said.

'So I just think it's good to show people that it's worth fighting for, it's worth working through and it's something that's always a work in progress.'

While the estranged couple share children Jagger and Jovi, Ngatikaura is also dad to daughter Peyton, 13, from a previous relationship.