Jax Taylor is “stepping away” from The Valley ahead of the show’s third season, and many fans of the Bravo series couldn’t be happier.
Jax Taylor quits ‘The Valley’ to focus on his sobriety
On Wednesday, Jax announced that he was leaving The Valley to focus on his health and personal issues, including parenting his son, Cruz, whom he shares with his ex-wife (and fellow The Valley cast member) Brittany Cartwright..
“After an incredibly challenging year and many honest conversations with my team and producers, I’ll be stepping away from the next season of The Valley,” he said in a statement shared with Bravo’s Daily Dish. “Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting. Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself — especially for our son, Cruz.”
Jax’s struggles with drugs and explosive anger were a major storyline in The Valley Season 2. He checked into rehab at the beginning of the season, after admitting that he “lost all control” during an argument with his wife. But he continued to communicate with Brittany, including sending her aggressive text messages and allegedly monitoring her via their home’s security cameras. Soon after he left rehab, Brittany filed for divorce.
Fans celebrate Jax Taylor’s Bravo exit
Fans were quick to respond once Jax confirmed he was leaving The Valley. Many suspected that his departure was not voluntary and that Bravo and the show’s producers had actually fired him.
“Good job Bravo! You’ve fired people for a lot less. Can’t believe it’s taken this long to cut ties with Jax Taylor,” one person wrote on Instagram.
“Stepping away = fired,” another commented.
This actually isn’t the first time that Bravo has cut ties with Jax. He and Brittany were let go from Vanderpump Rules in 2020.
Whatever the circumstances of Jax’s departure from The Valley, the consensus among viewers was that it was time for him to move on.
“We all know HE did not decide to step away,” a person wrote. “Good job Bravo because it was getting too much. The Jax of [Vanderpump Rules] is long gone and it’s too toxic now.”
“Thank you bravo for not giving abusers a platform!! A step forward!!” another commented.
In a recent interview with Variety, The Valley executive producer Alex Baskin pushed back against the accusation that Bravo was platforming an abuser by including him in the show.
“Our job is to tell the full story,” he said. “If we didn’t tell the story in its completeness, then we would be covering up something that really happened, and denying Brittany the chance to share what she had been through. I don’t think that’s really ‘platforming an abuser’ as much as that is platforming the story — which includes Brittany’s experience as well as Jax’s.”
While Jax’s time on The Valley is coming to an end, he will appear in the upcoming season 2 reunion, which was filmed in early May. Jax is in the hot seat to the left of host Andy Cohen, with Brittany on Cohen’s right. The dramatic breakdown of their marriage this season will surely be a major topic of conversation.
The Valley airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
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