Jax Taylor Experienced ‘The Ick’ on The Valley: ‘I Feel Disgusting’
There’s no one more eager to see Jax Taylor on season 2 of The Valley than Jax himself.
“It’s pretty tough. I don’t recognize that person. I look awful,” Taylor, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, April 10, at the red carpet premiere of The Valley when reflecting on watching season 2. “Just looking at it makes me cringe.”
Taylor described himself as a “shell of a human” while filming the second season, sharing, “I was really disappointed with myself, filled with emotions, and quite sad. But that was a year ago. I’m in a much better place now.”
He added, “I’m healthier now. I’ve gained some weight — healthy weight. I’m focusing on my fitness and health and trying to take care of my body. I’m also working on my relationship with Brittany [Cartwright] and caring for our son.”
Despite having faced ups and downs publicly, Taylor and his estranged wife “set our issues aside” for their son Cruz, who is 3. “We just want our little boy to thrive. That’s the priority. It’s not about us; it’s all about him,” Taylor continued. “He’s attending school and receiving speech and occupational therapy. He’s involved in so much. It may take him a bit longer, but if he wants to live with me forever, I’m completely on board.”
Taylor confessed that his relationship with Cartwright, 36, hasn’t always been in good standing. “We talk every day. We’re okay today, but who knows what tomorrow holds,” he remarked. “Anyone going through a divorce experiences this. It’s a tough situation, but we’re going to be okay.”
The tensions between Cartwright and Taylor have unfolded as they returned to film season 2 of The Valley. By the time filming resumed in summer 2024, they were amidst divorce proceedings, and he later entered a 30-day treatment program to address his mental health challenges.
Taylor left the inpatient facility in August 2024, with his representative stating, “Jax has spent the last 30 days in treatment and will return home later this week. It’s been an emotional month, and he looks forward to spending quality time with his son.”
Recently, Taylor disclosed that he has been struggling with substance abuse issues, including cocaine use, for over twenty years.
“I’ve been in and out of cocaine use for some time. I wouldn’t use it daily; there were months I would refrain,” he shared with Us in a March cover story. “Then I would use it maybe once or twice a month. It escalated, especially when the divorce proceedings started [with my estranged wife Brittany Cartwright], and I felt like I was using it casually.”
Taylor emphasized that he is continually working on self-improvement. “I have so many other issues because I’m covering up loneliness,” he explained. “I’m distracting myself from texting women by using drugs and drinking alcohol. It’s a gradual process, which is difficult for me because I normally seek instant solutions. This is one of those situations in life that doesn’t offer quick fixes. You need to put in the effort. That’s something I’m not accustomed to.”
Taylor concluded: “It won’t work like that. Addiction, illness, and mental health don’t function that way. People say, ‘Jax, you’ve caused a lot of harm. A lot. This isn’t just going to disappear.’”
The Valley season 2 premieres on Bravo Tuesday, April 15, at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes are available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
With reporting by Amanda Williams
