After five years of marriage, The Valley stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright announced their separation.
Despite showing the hardships of their relationship while on Vanderpump Rules, the pair made things work.
They had their first child (a son, Cruz Cauchi, 3), bought a home in Los Angeles’ Valley, started a podcast, and starred in a Vanderpump Rules spinoff.
However, the positive things they have going on in their professional lives weren’t enough to save their personal lives.
Since the split, Bravo fans wondered if their separation was a publicity stunt to get viewers for their new show. As time went on, however, it became clearer that Brittany had moved on to live her best life, and Jax had a hard time accepting his new reality. Despite a successful reality TV career, Jax’s life has spiraled since his separation.
Jax Taylor’s Life Seems More Chaotic Than Ever Following His Split From Brittany Cartwright
According to People, in February 2024, Brittany Cartwright revealed on her podcast, When Reality Hits, that she and Jax were no longer living under the same roof and were separating.
I don’t know what the future holds, but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz.
Brittany asked for prayers and affirmed her separation was anything but a stunt. “Marriage is hard and people go through ups and downs all the time and it’s completely normal,” she said. “I just want to make one thing clear and that is that my life is not a publicity stunt for anything.”
That same month, Jax told the paparazzi that Brittany was back in their marital home and that separation did not mean divorce. He explained they needed “some time apart” to “reassess our situation.” In the end, they wanted to do what was best for their son.
Brittany was pregnant at the same time as their Vanderpump Rules co-stars, Lala Kent and Scheana Shay.
Once Season 1 of The Valley aired, fans saw just how toxic Brittany and Jax’s marriage was, and the downward trajectory Jax was going on.
| Public Dates With An OnlyFans Model | Although Jax and Brittany were trying to work on things, fans questioned his intentions when they saw him on a few dates with OnlyFans model Paige Woolen, as reported by US Weekly. Although Jax said he wasn’t dating Paige, fans questioned his sincerity in his marriage. Dating other women while still being with Brittany was something the old Jax would do during his time on Vanderpump Rules. Public dates had fans wondering if Jax matured at all. Reality Blurb reported that on an episode of Brittany’s podcast, she told Tom Schwartz that Jax was not respecting her boundaries during their separation. |
| Issues With His New Bar | In May 2024, The US Sun reported that Los Angeles health inspectors raided Jax’s restaurant (Jax Taylor’s Studio City) after a video emerged on social media of him changing his son’s diaper on top of the restaurant’s bar where drinks were being served. The inspection didn’t last long and Jax was warned about cleanliness in his restaurant. |
| Admitted A Midlife Crisis | Bravo TV shared that in June 2024 Jax joked with his social media followers that he was experiencing a “midlife crisis” after playing around with his hairstyle. Although the post was made in jest, he did say on the Vanderpump Rules After Show that he knows a midlife crisis is “coming.” “I’m just trying to keep my marriage intact right now,” he shared. |
| Time At A Mental Health Facility | In July 2024, Entertainment Tonight shared that Jax Taylor admitted himself to a mental health facility to become a better man for his son. On Instagram, he shared a photo of himself and his son, writing, “Working on getting better for you buddy, I love you.” Jax’s rep confirmed he was at an in-patient facility for his well-being. The rep continued, “This is a particularly sensitive time for him and his family. They ask for privacy and respect until he is ready to speak more on this matter.” |
| A Fake Donation | Despite going to a mental health facility to become a better version of himself, he found himself in some hot water with Brittany and The Valley co-star Kristen Doute. TMZ reported that Jax shared on social media that he was making Cameos (the app that allows you to buy personalized messages from celebrities) and donating all the proceeds to a charity for cancer research. The good deed was tainted when Brittany reposted the video, writing “Just realized Jax has this on his Cameo and it’s disgusting because he hasn’t donated a dime. FYI @Cameo.” As of this article’s publishing, Jax has yet to respond to the backlash. |
Between the midlife crisis, not accepting the realities of his failing marriage, and lying for public attention, Jax Taylor appears to be deteriorating.
This Is Not The First Time Jax Taylor And Brittany Cartwright Broke Up
One of the biggest moments in Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s relationship was on Vanderpump Rules when he cheated on her with their friend, Faith. Bravo fans expected Brittany to end the relationship, but she instead took a few days to herself and decided to “forgive but not forget,” according to People.
A year later, however, Jax broke up with Brittany. On an episode of Vanderpump Rules, Jax told Brittany “It has nothing to do with you, and I need to make some changes.” Distraught, Jax reminded her, “You deserve to be happy, you deserve to get married, you deserve to have kids, you deserve to have someone treat you like the princess that you are, and I just am not that person.”
Brittany was devastated, but by the time that scene aired on television, the couple had reconciled. Jax told People in 2019, “We’re still going through it … [but] we’re in a great place now — probably better than we’ve ever been. I can say the last eight months have been better than when we first started dating.”
After breaking up, Jax proposed to Brittany with a 3-carat diamond ring.
Five years later, Jax and Brittany are back to having relationship woes, and Jax appears to be on the same downward path he was on during Vanderpump Rules. With Season 2 of The Valley filming in the summer of 2024, it’ll be fascinating to see what changes he has made for the betterment of himself and his family,
