Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright share separation
Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright, once cherished for their roles on “Vanderpump Rules,” have publicly announced their separation.
Jax Taylor is opening up about his “substance issues” – and celebrating his sobriety.
The “Vanderpump Rules” star revealed on Bravo’s “Hot Mic” podcast on Tuesday that he has been dealing with addiction issues, primarily abusing cocaine, “on and off” for the past two decades.
He’s approaching three months of sobriety, including abstaining from alcohol, which he said went “hand in hand” with his cocaine habits.
“I can’t do cocaine without drinking,” Taylor, 45, said. “So I just gave up both.”
Taylor said he has been “waiting a long time” to make this admission, but felt with the new season of “The Valley” – a “Vanderpump” spinoff – coming up later this month, it was a good time to do so.
“I wanted everyone to know, this is what happened,” he said, adding production on the show did not know. “I think a lot of people who watch ‘Vanderpump Rules’ over the years, could kind of tell that I was on something.”
He continued: “This is the longest I’ve gone since I was 21 without anything. This is a really, really tough disease. I’ve been doing it for so long, and you can say hiding it, lying about it, forever. And I just had it, enough’s enough.”
In response, Taylor’s ex, Brittany Cartwright, told People that she was “glad that he finally admitted to what was really going on.”
“For the first time, I can speak openly about the extent of trauma he’s instilled on our family over the years,” Cartwright, 36, added. “I’ve tried desperately to help him without success. I pray that one day he completely knocks this addiction, but I’m skeptical. His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Taylor and Cartwright’s reps for comment.
Cartwright filed for divorce from her “The Valley” co-star in August after five years of marriage. The couple share a 3-year-old son, Cruz. Cartwright petitioned for legal and physical custody of Cruz and asked for Taylor to be granted visitation.
“I’m trying to navigate this as best as I can for my son and I, but every day is still a challenge and very difficult,” Cartwright continued. “Jax has caused an enormous amount of damage and I have very little trust in him at this point. My only hope is that one day, he will be a better person for his son.”
Cartwright announced their separation on their podcast, “When Reality Hits,” in February 2024, a month after the separation date stated in her filing.
“Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health,” Cartwright said in the episode. “Yes, marriages in general are very hard and I’ve had a particularly rough year this past year.”
Noting the situation was “still very hard to talk about,” Cartwright said, “I’m taking one day at a time.”
News of their separation came a month before their latest TV venture, “Vanderpump” spin-off “The Valley,” made its debut with a cast that also includes Kristen Doute, Luke Broderick, Danny and Nia Booko, Janet and Jason Caperna and Jesse and Michelle Lally.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).
Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY
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