Reality stars Jax Taylor and
Brittany Cartwright have had their share of scandal and drama in their
relationship, but are they really over? Brittany Cartwright confirmed her and
Jax Taylor's separation in February 2024 during an episode of their joint podcast, "When
Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany." Cartwright revealed that the pair took a time out in
their relationship and added that she had moved out of their shared Los Angeles home.
Immediately, online chatter accused the stars of participating in some sort of publicity stunt,
especially for their reality show, "The Valley." Fans took to social media to share their reactions
about the separation, with one user writing: "Seems a bit coincidental with the timing of their new show ... some fake drama? I don't
know... maybe I'm being too cynical." Another commentator seconded that notion, adding: "I know I'm being mean but sorry this
Jax Brittany separated seems so fake to promote the Valley and listen to the podcast." Taylor downplayed the rumors when
he caught up with the paparazzi, insisting that divorce wasn't in the
cards and Cartwright had moved back into their Valley Village home. He said:
"We're together. We're living in our home right now. She was in a house for
a while, but yeah, she's back now." However, after that paparazzi interaction,
Page Six's cameras caught Cartwright moving into a "rental," so it seems like the
couple isn't exactly on the same page. During his time on "Vanderpump
Rules," Taylor was a notorious cheater and single-handedly destroyed
his relationships and those of his castmates. He consistently maintained his
innocence before others proved him guilty. Fans may remember the Las Vegas scandal during
Season 1, which involved Taylor cheating on his former long-time girlfriend Stassi Schroeder. The
former bartender kept up his tirade of lies until he ultimately fessed up, admitting that the
woman had gotten pregnant with his child. He took things a step further in Season 2 when it
came out he slept with Schroeder's best friend Kristen Doute, who was dating Taylor's
best friend Tom Sandoval at the time. After falling for Cartwright, Taylor
wasn't out of the dog house just yet. After initially denying the rumors, he later
admitted to cheating on his girlfriend with coworker Faith Stowers. Taylor admitted it
wasn't his first time being caught out. While he previously denied for as long as he could, he
realized it wasn't working for him in the end. Taylor's affair with Stowers hurt Cartwright
for various reasons. After he confessed to hooking up with Stowers, Cartwright got
wind of a damning audio tape in which Taylor complains about their own relationship
and reveals intimate details to the other woman. While Cartwright initially told
her then-boyfriend to take a hike, he won his way back into her good
graces on good behavior. She said: "He was very persistent and just
did not give up. [...] I knew that I loved him still. I was
trying to act like I didn't." Viewers have seen the couple navigate
a number of scandals on "Vanderpump Rules," and their separation just adds
to the list. In addition, Cartwright has consistently relied on her faith throughout
her ups and downs with Taylor. She said: "I was raised to be a good Christian woman, and that is all about forgiveness, and I
believe everybody deserves it. Even Jax." Fans are doubting whether Taylor and
Cartwright's separation will stick, given what the two have previously said
about their beliefs on divorce. Not only does Cartwright hail from a religious Christian
family, but Taylor himself has spoken about his family's aversion to calling it quits on
marital vows. On an episode of their podcast, he opened up about how exactly his roots
shaped how he looks at commitment. He said: "I don't believe in divorce. My parents
didn't get divorced. I don't believe in that. Marriage is work. I'm not
saying every day is amazing." The "Vanderpump Rules" star mentioned
that the bad days have helped make his and Cartwright's bond even stronger.
Taylor also emphasized how Cartwright is the only woman who can deal with his
difficult personality, which became the ultimate downfall in many of his relationships
while filming reality television. He said: "I'm a tough guy to be around, so
it takes a certain person to deal with my crap. Even through all this, and
even though my life is a lot better now, I'm still tough to handle. I think she's the
only one that can put up with me really." It's also important to note that their son, Cruz, helped fortify their relationship
in the past. Cartwright said: "I think becoming parents made us stronger
too because I love seeing him as a dad." It's hard to believe Taylor and Cartwright
would throw in the towel, especially since Taylor has admitted that the southern belle is
his saving grace. In an interview with Vulture, the reality star detailed the difficult aftermath
of his father's passing in 2017, explaining how the event left him in a fragile state and he
leaned on Cartwright more than ever. He said: "After my dad died, I was very close to
doing something really bad to myself, extremely close. And Brittany single-handedly
saved me and our relationship." While his father died just a few months after
Cartwright and Taylor weathered their split over his cheating scandal, the Kentucky native dropped
everything to help her partner. Taylor revealed that she did everything, even moving across the
United States to help him take care of affairs in Florida. Since then, Taylor has vowed to be
a better man for himself and his partner, which meant cutting down on drinking and partying to
step into his new role as a husband and a father. His ex-girlfriend Schroeder noticed
the change in him, too. She said: "It was almost immediate, this incredible change
and shift. I don't even know how to explain it; he isn't the same person he was before.
He got the sense smacked into him." With some of their toughest battles behind
them, some fans believe this separation will be as short-lived as the many breakups
they have already overcome in the past.
