Kristen Doute Shares That Jax Taylor’s Silence Has Been ‘Quite Enjoyable’ (Exclusive)
Kristen Doute has distanced herself from former The Valley costar Jax Taylor following his departure from the show prior to season 3.
“I had him blocked for some time because I wanted to avoid the possibility of receiving any rage texts,” Kristen, 42, shared exclusively with Us Weekly on Saturday, November 2025, during BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas. “I decided to unblock him just in case I needed to step in as a buffer for Brittany [Cartwright]. I haven’t heard from him in months.”
Jax, 46, stepped back from The Valley, a spinoff of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules, due to his struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and the ongoing divorce from Brittany, 36. (Brittany filed for divorce in 2024 and mentioned during BravoCon that it’s nearly settled.)
“He’s been quite silent, which is honestly a relief,” Kristen told Us regarding Jax’s communication with the group. “Not having him around was like a breath of fresh air. It had been a dark cloud for many years, especially last year. I think Brittany really needed that break — we all did.”
Kristen’s fiancé, Luke Broderick, remarked that “everything felt lighter” without Jax on set.
“It was much easier to enjoy ourselves without him here,” Luke, 33, said to Us on Saturday, while discussing the potential for Jax’s return to the show. “I would bet that he’ll return at some point. … I just don’t think he can stay away.”
Kristen, however, expressed her desire for Jax not to come back to The Valley right now.
“I would like to see significant changes, and I don’t think that can happen in just one year, possibly in two,” she stated.
While Jax won’t be featured in season 3 of The Valley, the cast will see new faces with fellow VPR alums Tom Schwartz and Lala Kent.
“I loved it. Thank goodness we patched things up a few months before. Having another mom on the show with young kids—as well as someone I’ve known for 10 years—has really deepened our friendship,” Kristen, who welcomed daughter Kaia earlier this year, said about her new co-star Lala, who became a mother of two in 2024. “We’ve had some challenging conversations, especially since she’s friends with Janet [Caperna], someone I don’t get along with.”
She added, “Lala has very strong opinions, as do I, but her approach is much gentler with me. When she stands firm on something, I’m willing to hear her out.”
Lala, 35, also expressed her joy in reconnecting with Kristen in a separate interview with Us.
“I’m thrilled for everyone to see friendships rekindle,” Lala said during a Saturday interview. “It’s enjoyable. I don’t want to give too much away.”
Lala’s decision to join The Valley came after much contemplation following her experience in [VPR] season 11.
“I was very hesitant after that season. I can handle criticism, but it reached a new level that was a learning experience for me,” Lala shared with Us. “When the opportunity arose, I was unsure about participating, but ultimately I love being part of this, so it was an obvious choice. Once I settled in, I had a blast.”
