Days of Our Lives actress Jessica Serfaty appeared on social media to tearfully accuse her Italian billionaire fiancé of abuse – only to ‘revoke’ the allegation a day later.
Jessica, 33, made the shock claim about Ray-Ban heir Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, 29, in a brief clip posted to Instagram Sunday night.
‘This is the man who has abused me,’ she said in a faltering voice, pointing the camera at Del Vecchio, who is worth an estimated $4.6billion.
‘And let it be known … who has caused my head to have … bleeding,’ she added, turning the camera on her own face.
Arkansas native Jessica had tears in her eyes.
Actress Jessica Serfaty took to Instagram on Sunday to tearfully accuse her fiancé of abuse, causing her head to ‘bleed’
The 33-year-old, who became engaged to Ray-Ban heir Leonardo Maria del Vecchio last year, later retracted her claims
There was no blood visible in the short video, however, which appeared to have been filmed below deck on a luxury yacht.
Del Vecchio, wearing a cream military-style blazer and colorful Bedouin pants, simply stared back at Jessica without saying a word as she addressed her one million followers.
A second man, standing next to him, remained silent but looked uncomfortable with the confrontation.
By Monday, Jessica had posted a photo of herself on deck posing in a bikini along with a statement withdrawing the allegation and defending Del Vecchio.
‘Leo and I apologize for any who were triggered or affected by yesterday’s story.
‘Sometimes a family can have their own arguments and these should never be made public,’ it stated.
‘We ask that people respect our privacy at this time. I would never stay with an abusive man and which Leonardo Del Vecchio is not.
‘I revoke my words that were driven by anger and not in truth. I take back my words on a guy that will always be my companion, step father and family person to me.’
The statement was in white text on a black background. Underneath, Jessica posted Del Vecchio’s Instagram handle along with a heart emoji.
He reposted it to his own account and has not commented further.
Neither responded to requests for comment.
Serfaty claimed she was bleeding however there was no blood visible in the short clip
Del Vecchio appeared in the background of the clip, simply glaring at Serfaty silently as she accused him of abuse to her 1million followers
Hours later the actress-model posted a statement ‘revoking’ her claims which she said were driven by ‘anger and not in truth’
Mom-of-one Jessica is best known for playing Sloan Peterson in Days of Our Lives and starring in the 2020 movie, Wheels of Fortune.
In July last year the former ‘America’s Next Top Model’ contestant announced her engagement to Milan-based Del Vecchio, whose late father Leonardo Del Vecchio was the chairman of luxury eyeglass firm Essilor Luxottica.
He left the company – which owns Ray-Ban, Oakley, Sunglasses Hut and Persol – to his six children, with the younger Leonardo becoming the company’s chief strategy officer and one of the world’s youngest billionaires.
Jessica, whose former flames include Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick and the YouTuber Logan Paul, met Del Vecchio at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.
The pair were friends for several years but became romantically linked and got engaged last summer after the hunky Italian proposed to her at a five-star hotel on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
They enjoy an opulent lifestyle, travelling the world on luxury yachts and private planes, attending fashion shows, Formula One races and glitzy galas.
The couple, who met in 2017, announced their engagement in July 2023
The two were seen attending the 2024 Met Gala earlier this year
Del Vecchio’s previous 2021 marriage to the model Anna Castellini Baldisserra lasted only six months, according to Italian media reports.
‘The week before Leo asked for my hand, we had been laughing about one another’s past engagement stories,’ Serfaty told People magazine in July last year.
‘Poking fun at all the do’s and don’ts that come along with proposals. I was completely taken by surprise when he dropped to one knee.
‘I remember seeing the joy in Leo’s face when he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He teared up at the end. Sorry Leo, but I had to. It was spontaneous, exciting and beautiful.’
Jessica’s recent social media posts depict two people deeply in love.
On July 13 she was seen wrapping her arms around her handsome fiancé in an Instagram photo, joking in the caption: ‘If only you had a better personality.’
She stared adoringly into his eyes over a romantic dinner in another recent snap. ‘Can’t leave the table without a kiss,’ it said.
The couple were pictured at New York’s Met Gala in May, Jessica wearing a silk Dolce & Gabbana dress covered in flowers and Del Vecchio sporting a double breasted solaro suit. Both wore Ray-Bans.