Brittany Cartwright is once again defending her relationship with ex, Jax Taylor. The Valley stars landed back in the news this week when Jax opened up about his longtime struggle with substance abuse during an appearance on Bravo's Hot Mic podcast. “I have substance issues—primarily with cocaine,” he revealed. “I've been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now I'm 45.”
Fans will recall that the former Vanderpump Rules stars first separated early last year after nine years of dating, with Brittany filing for divorce in August of 2024, after Jax checked himself into in-patient treatment for his mental health.
Jax, who claimed he was 83 days sober at the time of the interview, added that he was doing therapy and working hard on his relationship with Brittany, with whom he shares 3-year-old son Cruz. “I just want her to know that I'm really, really trying,” he said. “I'm doing everything she asked: the rehab, the therapy, the drug testing, the getting help. I take care of my son as much as she allows me to.”
Brittany issued a statement following Jax's interview, telling People that she was “glad that he finally admitted to what was really going on.” But despite his progress, she confessed she was “skeptical,” claiming, “His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.”
Without going into explicit detail, she expanded in a statement shared to her Instagram Stories. “His addiction unfortunately has done irreparable damage to my son and I. I've spent years trying to help him,” she wrote. “I wish more than anyone I could say how proud I am of him today, but I'd be lying. His actions will speak for themselves.”
She also took the opportunity to directly address fans who had been questioning why she stayed with Jax if she knew he was struggling with substance abuse. “You can't help who you fall in love with. I've done absolutely everything in my power to get him the help he desperately needed,” she wrote in part. “Unfortunately, I was naive and believed his empty promises and his pleads to change for years.”
The prospect of leaving the relationship got harder once she had their son, she said. “It took everything in my power to gather the strength to walk away,” she added. “For those that have been through similar, you get it. For those who question me... that's okay. I'm in a better place now.”
Still curious for more? Fans will be able to see more of their relationship when The Valley season 2 hits Bravo sometime this year.
