Yahoo Lifestyle A Handy-Dandy Timeline of Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s Split
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ICYMI, Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor’s ’ship recently came to an end. The reality stars, who first started dating in 2015 after meeting in Las Vegas (yes, the whole thing was filmed on Vanderpump Rules, and yes, you can fully rewatch it right TF now), first announced that they’d separated after four years of marriage back in May. However, TMZ just dropped the 🤯 news that Brittany officially filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Obvi, all of this ^^ means the time is nigh to have a timeline of their breakup all in one place! Let’s get into it, shall we?
February 22, 2024
Brittany first discusses her and Jax’s marital issues during an episode of the duo’s podcast When Reality Hits. “I think that we will have to address some rumors—just a little bit. I’m not going to go too hard on this because, you know, some people do deserve to have their privacy. But I will say—marriage is hard and people go through ups and downs all the time and it’s completely normal,” she begins before adding, “Sometimes people might need their space [and] sometimes they won’t.”
She also hints at bumps in the road after they filmed The Valley (a show alongside the couple’s friends and other people from the Vanderpump Rules Cinematic Universe™️) “months ago.”
“I just want to make one thing clear and that is that my life is not a publicity stunt for anything,” the reality star states, noting that there have been “so many changes” since cameras turned off. “I just want to make that very clear: no publicity stunts here.”
February 29, 2024
During the following week’s When Reality Hits episode, the Vanderpump Rules alum confesses that she’s moved out of her and Jax’s home. “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,” she says. “I don’t know what the future holds but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz. I love you guys and pray for us. Everything will be just fine.”
Oh, and btw, fellow The Valley castmate Michelle Lally makes a cameo during the episode and gets Brittany to open up a lot about the details of her breakup: “I’m taking one day at a time. I don’t know what the future holds, but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz and I love you guys. Pray for us and everything will be just fine. We’re good.”
That Same Day...
Jax opens up to Page Six while leaving the gym and claims that separation “is not divorce” and that although Brittany *was* living somewhere else for a bit, she’s “back now.” “We’re actually living together, living in our home right now. We’re trying to figure it out. It’s all fresh and new,” the celeb adds.
The Valley star also notes that “of course” there’s a chance for him and his wife to reconcile and, “We’re just taking some time apart. Just trying to reassess our situation. We have a child involved and we just want to do what’s best for our kid.”
As for the fact that they’re still costarring in a show together? Jax insists the project won’t “tear us apart.” “It’s just two people that are hitting a 10-year mark in their marriage and could go one way or another.”
No-ted!
March 12, 2024
On the Vanderpump Rules After Show (via People), Brittany confesses that she can relate to the issues playing out in former costars Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval’s own ’ship on Vanderpump Rules.
“I can kind of get how you get into this, like, friendship, like, roommate-type situation and then you just feel like you are kind of stuck a little bit—not that I am—but like I feel that way sometimes if me and Jax are going through our hard times,” she says.
March 14, 2024
At the premiere of The Valley, Brittany dishes to People that she and the duo’s son Cruz have been living at an Airbnb, and, moreover, that she feels “a little bit of relief” with the distance.
“Once a woman hits her breaking point, it's like ‘Done.’ Something like clicked in my head, and I was like ‘I need to step away from this situation. This is not not healthy. This is not a good situation. My son deserves better. I deserve better,’” she confesses.
“It’s been hard because a lot of people think our timing is weird because the show is coming out. But I can’t control the freaking timing. I wish I could. If people have actually watched me and know my personality, they should understand this is not something I would do for a show,” the Vanderpump Rules alum also mentions.
Jax, meanwhile, tells the outlet that this solution is the “best for [their] family” because they have “been going through some things for a while now.” Regardless the two still see each other every day.
“We decided to take a little bit of a breather. I’m not sure what the future holds for this. But as of right now, this is just the best-case scenario, but this is not a publicity stunt,” he adds.
That Same Day...
Despite the rumor mill b-u-z-z-i-n-g that cheating was the cause of the two separating, Brittany drops the news to Page Six that it was actually a lack of sex that led to her decision to leave.
“We’ve been together nine years, and people stop appreciating and take you for granted after some time—and that should never happen in a marriage,” she tells the outlet at The Valley premiere party at the former couple’s bar, Jax's Studio City in Los Angeles. “And if [intimacy] doesn’t come back, then we won't get back together.”
She also tells the mag that she’d asked Jax to do “four little things,” including go to therapy, but he “hasn’t done that yet.” Also on the list of things that have driven a wedge in their ’ship? The fact that they don’t agree on whether they want to have a second child.
April 2, 2024
During the April 2 episode of Watch What Happens Live, Brittany reveals the argument that led to the veil being “lifted” following a night out.
“We just had a horrible fight, and it was like the veil was lifted and I noticed everything wrong. You know, they always say [that] a woman can hit her breaking point, and then it's hard to come back from that.”
As for what the fight was about? “He kind of woke up one morning [and] was mad that I went out with Kristen the night before and kind of like made up a story in his own head and started a fight over something that never happened.”
April 4, 2024
During a convo with People, Brittany gushes that she and Jax are “doing a really good job” parenting Cruz since their split. “And I’ll also take him to the house and play and we’ll swim one day or have him play on his play set and we'll do different things.”
She also reveals that her estranged husband often takes their son to the park or Sky Zone.
“I think it’s honestly been better because we aren’t fighting in front of him,” she chimes. “And for me, I think that’s what is most important right now. Because that’s why I had to get him out of that situation in the first place.”
April 14, 2024
The reality stars come together for Cruz’s 3rd birthday and the content is simply too cute:
April 23, 2024
On the April 23 episode of Vanderpump Rules, which, for reference, was filmed *right* before the former couple announced their decision to separate, Brittany mentions that she and Jax are “officially trying” for another bb to costar Scheana Shay.
May 7, 2024
During an episode of Watch What Happens Live, Jax tells host Andy Cohen that there was no cheating involved in his and Brittany’s relationship, but rather, the reason for their split was “strictly a communication thing. And until I can fix myself and get to where I want to be, I can’t be good for her.”
He also opens up about the allegation that their sex life had dwindled and takes the blame for it: “I’m just going through a lot of things with my mental health right now, it’s a real tough process.”
During the show, The Valley star notes, “Being married is not easy...Going through what we went through, with Covid, and then obviously losing our job on Vanderpump [Rules], and then going through all that and then having a baby, there was a lot of stuff that was just piling down on me and it was crushing me—it would crush anybody.”
As for where the two stand today? They are amicable but “currently separated.” “She lives down the street, we see each other every single day, we take our son to school every day together, we go to swim class, we go to soccer. We do everything. We're just not sleeping in the same bed,” he adds.
May 21, 2024
During the May 21 episode of The Valley, the former couple gets into an argument over drinking habits. While on a cast trip to Big Bear, California, Brittany falls ill and Jax blames it on alcohol, saying, “How much was she drinking on the boat? I’m going to ask one time. Answer the damn question” to the group of friends.
Costars Nia Booko and Jasmine Goode then tell the former Vanderpump Rules star that his then-wife didn’t have anything to drink, and Brittany then confronts him. “Jax, I can f*cking hear you. Everybody here has my back and you’re my f*cking husband and you’re trying to make me look like I’m a bad person. You think I want to be in here not feeling good? F*ck you,” she says before adding, “I’m your wife and you’re trying to make me look bad in front of all these people? F*ck off! Everybody knows that I did not drink. Was I drunk? No. I had two f*cking drinks today.”
In a later confessional, Brittany opens up about Jax constantly questioning her drinking habits, and how it’s just one of the many marriage problems they have.
“I feel like Jax is sucking the life out of me and sucking away all my sparkle,” she shares. “How much more of this can I possibly take? I’m starting to realize all the little things that I have put up with for all nine years of my life.”
May 25, 2024
Per pics obtained by People, Jax stepped out for lunch with model Paige Woolen at the Granville Café in LA amid his separation from Brittany. According to the outlet, he was spotted with Paige at the Oaks Bar in Sherman Oaks the day before.
May 26, 2024
After Jax and Paige’s outing makes headlines, Brittany posts a message on her Instagram Stories alongside a video of her friend, who appears to “be horrified” by Jax on the show. “Watching The Valley With Someone Who Is Shocked by Jax Taylor,” Brittany pens, per Us Weekly.
May 31, 2024
Jax writes a veeeeeery 👀 message amid all the rumors about his rumored new romance.
Ahem: “I am not dating anyone and I wish you all knew the full story of this situation.. its not what you think. 😔”
I am not dating anyone and I wish you all knew the full story of this situation.. its not what you think. 😔
— Jax (@mrjaxtaylor) May 30, 2024
June 4, 2024
On the June 4 episode of The Valley, Brittany and Jax have a heated exchange, and the former tells her now-estranged husband, “You’re not just gonna get away with the way you’ve treated me for all these years.”
During a later segment, Jax assures Brittany he’s finally seeking help for his anger problems. “Jax has been saying that he’s gonna go to therapy for years now,” the Kentucky native recounts in a confessional. “The day before we pick cameras back up, he all of a sudden has an appointment to go see the doctor. This is all a front. This is what he wants everyone to see and believe that he’s actually gonna do these things to change. I bet you money he will not do it.”
Ultimately, Jax admits that he never actually made it to his therapy appointment because “it was really far” away in Malibu. The two then have a back-and-forth and Brittany suddenly has a moment and reveals, “I’ve come into my own. I make a lot of money and I just feel like I have woken up. I feel so much stronger now. I know I'll be okay because I know my worth and I know I don’t deserve to be in a relationship like this. What was I thinking staying with him this long?”
July 30, 2024
Jax reportedly seeks in-patient treatment for his mental health. According to a rep for the Vanderpump Rules star, he “has always been candid about his mental health struggles, especially during the past few months on his podcast.”
August 19, 2024
The celeb’s representative confirms that he is set to leave his in-patient treatment center. “Jax has spent the last 30 days in treatment and will be heading back home later this week,” the rep shares in a statement to People. “It’s been an emotional month for him and he’s most looking forward to spending time with his son [Cruz].”
August 27, 2024
According to TMZ, Brittany has officially filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. Per the outlet, the reality star “also wants to block the ability of the court to award spousal support to either of them,” and the docs list the date of separation as January 24.
August 28, 2024
TMZ reveals that Brittany served Jax divorce papers (via a third party) while filming The Valley Season 2. Soooo...stay tuned for next season.
September 19, 2024
During an interview with People, Brittany says she’s open to co-parenting her 3-year-old son, Cruz, with Jax, although “it’s going to take some time” to adjust. “He’s a great dad. Great dad, terrible husband,” Brittany tells the publication. “I’m not ever going to take Cruz away from him. We will always put Cruz first and we are going to work toward a healthy co-parenting relationship.”
“It’s going to take some time,” she continues. “Still, things are very raw between us, but for the most part, I do know if I needed something, if Cruz needed something, I could call him and he would be there for us.”
November 11, 2024
The Valley star gets candid about her dating life amid her divorce from Jax on Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast, even dishing that she hooked up with one of his friends. And, yes, she iconically defends her decision!
“We did not have a no dating in the friend group policy,” the celeb begins before adding, “We never spoke about that because why would we? First off, I didn’t think I was going to hook up with his friend. It wasn’t planned. I wasn’t trying to go after one of his friends. That’s not how it happened.” “It was somebody that I felt like I knew and in our world. It’s so crazy because, like, how do you trust people? And I was single for the first time in L.A.,” Brittany continues.
During the convo, the Bravolebrity also sets the scene for viewers and maintains that the man in question actually slid into her DMs first: “I could tell this guy was flirting with me. I was always flirting with him. He is very much my type and just kind of flirting through DMs, and one time, I was just like, ‘Come over,’ slip in the DM. I always thought he was hot. And also, I was just so mad at Jax.”
“I was just so mad at Jax, so I didn’t care if I hurt his feelings. Why should I care? He never cared about how he hurt my feelings for years. You didn’t give me attention, affection or anything for years,” she then notes, which fair!
November 14, 2024
Jax enters the chat on all this ^^^ during his own Hot Mic interview and takes us through the ordeal from his POV: “We were sitting in my house, and her phone was on the coffee table. And a message popped up, and I looked at it, and it was a simple message from Julian. But it was at night, and it was just a very weird message, and I called her on it. I caught her in a couple of lies, and then I got it out of her an hour into the conversation. She finally broke and told me.”
The reality also claims the exes actually *did* have a no-friends rule, saying, “I don’t think I would have been bothered by it if it was somebody else that I didn’t know. There was a whole five or six months where I wasn’t seeing anybody, but this was going on.”
He also apparently “saw red” upon finding out and “kind of had an out-of-body experience, I'm not gonna lie to you. I went crazy.” That! Said!!! He also realized he “got a taste of my own medicine. I want her to meet somebody. Just not somebody I know.”
During a separate portion of the convo, Jax says he was actually the first to initiate the split: “The second weekend of rehab, I emailed Brittany and said, ‘I'm getting a mediator.’ People don't realize that I'm the one that initiated this.”
According to the celeb, his message prompted Brittany to seek out an attorney. “She was like, ‘Oh, no, I'm getting a divorce lawyer.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, whatever.’ I think she wanted to be the first one to serve me papers publicly,” he maintains.
*Le sigh* And the saga continues!
That’s all for now—make sure to check back in for any updates on Jax and Brittany’s ’ship!
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