About a year and a half prior to Brittany Cartwright’s divorce filing, Jax Taylor stated that he didn’t consider divorce to be a possibility in their marriage. The star of The Valley, 45, reflected on the challenges and triumphs of their relationship—including steering infidelity scandals and embracing parenthood together—during an interview with PEOPLE in March 2023.
“I don’t believe in divorce. It wasn’t something my parents ever did,” Taylor said at the time. “To me, marriage requires work. I’m not saying every day is perfect.” Taylor emphasized that marriages come with highs and lows, explaining that these fluctuations are what build a stronger bond. He added, “We love intensely, and we fight intensely, but it’s incredible.”
Cartwright announced their separation in early 2024, citing a particularly difficult year in their marriage
In the interview, Taylor called Cartwright his “best friend” and the only person capable of “putting up” with him. He elaborated, “We have a great time together. I genuinely can’t imagine being with anyone else. Like I said, she’s my yin to my yang.”
He acknowledged that he can be difficult to live with, saying, “I’m not the easiest person to be around, even though things have improved. She’s probably the only one who can really handle me.” Nearly a year later, in February 2024, Cartwright, 35, publicly announced that they were separating.
In a podcast episode, she opened up about the difficulties of marriage and their recent struggles. “Marriages aren’t easy, and this past year has been particularly rough for me. Jax and I are taking some time apart, and I’ve moved into a new home to prioritize my mental health.”
The reality star and mother, who shares a 3-year-old son, Cruz Michael Cauchi, with Taylor, admitted that the separation remained a painful subject. She expressed her commitment to focusing on being a great mom to Cruz, even though the future felt uncertain.
Around six months after the separation announcement, Cartwright officially filed for divorce from Taylor on August 27, per court records obtained by PEOPLE. The documents listed their separation date as January 24 and cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split.
In the filing, Cartwright requested both legal and physical custody of Cruz but also proposed that Taylor receive visitation rights. Additionally, she asked for the termination of spousal support for both parties. The news of their divorce came shortly after Taylor completed a 30-day stay in a mental health facility.
Earlier this month, a source revealed to PEOPLE that Taylor would be returning to film season 2 of The Valley—which also stars fellow VPR alum Kristen Doute and new cast members like Luke Broderick, Jesse Lally, and others—following his mental health treatment.
