The Vanderpump Rules cast always knew it was about the pasta for Jax Taylor.
On Wednesday night’s (March 5) episode of Watch What Happens Live, Tom Sandoval told host Andy Cohen that he and the rest of his former castmates on Vanderpump Rules were “aware” of Taylor’s decades-long addiction to cocaine, which he spoke out about for the first time earlier this week.
“I was somewhat aware of his problems with his addiction,” Sandoval said of Taylor. “I mean, I’ve been around him over the years.”
When Cohen asked if the other Vanderpump Rules stars knew as well, Sandoval responded, “Yeah.”
But with Taylor revealing that he’s more than 80 days sober from drugs and alcohol, Sandoval couldn’t be prouder of his longtime friend.
“I mean, I think that’s amazing,” he said. “I’m so proud of him. I think that’s so awesome. He really seems like he’s really been working on himself for real. For real this time.”
Taylor told producer Alex Baskin that he struggled with “substance issues — primarily with cocaine” on a recent episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast. “It’s hard to say out loud. I’ve been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now I’m 45. There was times where I would stop doing it but then there were times where I’d go heavy on it,” he said.
Sandoval might’ve praised Taylor for turning a corner in his life, but The Valley star’s estranged wife Brittany Cartwright was less convinced that he’d actually become a changed man.
“His addiction unfortunately has done irreparable damage to my son and I. I’ve spent years trying to help him,” Cartwright wrote on her Instagram Story, per People. “I wish more than anyone I could say how proud I am of him today but I’d be lying. His actions will speak for themselves.”
“You can’t help who you fell in love with. I’ve done absolutely everything in my power to get him the help he desperately needed. Unfortunately, I was naive and believed his empty promises and his pleads to change for years,” she continued.
Cartwright added, “Once you have a child with someone it’s not easy to leave. It took everything in my power to gather the strength to walk away. For those that have been through similar, you get it. For those that question me…that’s okay. I’m in a much better place now.”
Watch What Happens Live airs Sunday through Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
