Jax Taylor will not return for the third season of Bravo’s “The Valley,” putting an end to speculation about his future with the series. In a statement provided by his representative, Taylor announced he is stepping away to prioritize his mental health and recovery following a tumultuous year.
“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,’” the statement reads. “Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting relationship. Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself — especially for our son, Cruz.”
Taylor’s decision follows a season that detailed his escalating personal crises, including a long-standing addiction to cocaine, which he revealed in March. By departing voluntarily, he sidesteps a likely dismissal from the network. Bravo has not commented on his exit.
The second season of “The Valley,” which concludes on July 22, has heavily featured the fallout from Taylor’s behavior. Just two days before production began, he had a violent outburst in his home with estranged wife and co-star Brittany Cartwright. Taylor flipped a coffee table, injuring Cartwright’s knee, before throwing furniture and punching a wall, all while their young son was in an adjacent room. Fellow cast member Nia Sanchez Booko recalled advising Cartwright after the incident, “I was like, ‘It’s not safe. You definitely can’t be around him.’”
This event, which became a central storyline in the season premiere, triggered a series of consequences. Taylor and Cartwright had already separated in January 2024, and after the physical altercation, Cartwright informed producers, castmates, and Bravo executives. In a subsequent episode, following encouragement from Cartwright, his family, and his management team, Taylor entered a mental health facility. Executive producer Alex Baskin noted that the decision had to be Taylor’s own, as his employers could not mandate treatment.
However, text messages Taylor sent from the facility, which were shown on screen, revealed his anger and refusal to accept responsibility. “You took my job away from me…I’ve worked so hard for two years for this and you took it from me,” he wrote to Cartwright. He also appeared to monitor her through household cameras, sending texts about her whereabouts and what she was wearing. During a meeting with a divorce lawyer, Cartwright shared messages from Taylor, prompting the attorney to call his behavior obsessive and unhealthy. Cartwright initiated divorce proceedings that day, and Taylor was served with papers on camera upon his release.
As the season aired, a vocal segment of the show’s audience on social media and podcasts demanded his removal. The backlash was palpable during Taylor’s appearance on “Watch What Happens Live,” where host Andy Cohen appeared visibly uncomfortable and a viewer poll showed Taylor had 0% support. In an essay for New York Magazine’s The Cut, writer Louis Staples argued that continuing to platform Taylor’s “abusive behavior patterns” was no longer defensible or entertaining.
A later episode captured a tense conversation where Cartwright confronted Taylor about his behavior post-treatment, accusing him of immediately resuming drinking and partying. “You’ve already ruined our family!” she said, adding, “I cannot let Cruz be anything like you. And you should feel the same way.”
This is not the first time Taylor’s conduct has led to his removal from a Bravo show. In 2020, he was dismissed from “Vanderpump Rules” after he, along with former castmates Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, made false accusations against Faith Stowers, a Black former cast member. While Doute expressed remorse for her actions, Taylor did not.
Taylor, Cartwright, and Doute returned to the network’s spotlight during the “Scandoval” phenomenon in 2023. Their commentary on the affair led to the creation of “The Valley,” a spin-off designed for aging “Vanderpump Rules” alumni. Despite his history, Taylor was central to the new show’s premise.
Reflecting on a potential third season, cast members Sanchez Booko and Daniel Booko acknowledged Taylor’s foundational role. “We wouldn’t have ‘The Valley’ if it weren’t for him, Kristen and Brittany,” Sanchez Booko said, while her husband noted Taylor’s frequent claims that it is “his show.” Yet, given that Taylor was absent for a significant portion of Season 2, during which the large cast generated ample storylines, his necessity was questioned.
“Do I think he’s needed in Season 3?” Sanchez Booko mused. “I feel like we did fine.”
