Brittany Cartwright Opens Up About Years Of 'Trauma' From Jax Taylor's Cocaine Addiction

Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor had a challenging year together in 2024. In addition to the ups and downs of parenting their three-year-old son, Cruz, the pair also announced they were divorcing.

Months later, Jax Taylor opened up on an even deeper level about some of the struggles in his life with "Vanderpump Rules" producer Alex Baskin and revealed that he's been addicted to cocaine for two decades. In a new interview, Cartwright shared her reaction to his statement and revealed that she's "skeptical" of her soon-to-be-ex-husband's recovery journey.

While chatting with Baskin, who's one of the brains behind some of Bravo's biggest hits, such as "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," "The Valley," and, of course, "VPR," Taylor revealed the shocking news that he'd be struggling with addiction since he was 23.

“I am an addict," Taylor said candidly. “I have substance issues—primarily with cocaine."

Taylor explained that since starting the drug, he'd go back and forth with his use, admitting there "were times where I'd go heavy on it."

He also shared more, including his belief that he didn't have a substance abuse problem with alcohol. However, according to him, his cocaine use came with drinking.

“I can’t do cocaine without drinking," the reality TV villain said before sharing he'd given "up both."

"I’m proud to say I’m 83 days sober right now, which is the longest I’ve ever gone in my life without either," he added.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Cartwright reacted to Taylor talking openly about cocaine addiction with the rest of the world.

The "Vanderpump Rules" and "The Valley" star said she was "glad" Taylor "finally admitted to what was really going on."

Cartwright explained that this marks "the first time" she could "speak openly about the extent of trauma he's instilled on our family over the years."

The mother of one said that she'd tried her hardest to "help him" in the past with no success, so she's "skeptical" of his recovery journey.

"His behaviors are still alarming, and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum," she added.

Cartwright officially filed for divorce from Taylor in August 2024, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split after five years of marriage.

She addressed their relationship during an episode of her podcast, "When Reality Hits," and said that she's "taking one day at a time."

"I don't know what the future holds, but right now, my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz, and I love you guys. Pray for us, and everything will be just fine," she said.

After Taylor's revelation began making its rounds on social media, many Bravo viewers chimed in and said they were already aware of the reality star's drug use.

“I thought, for the most part, that I was keeping a lot of it under the radar. But clearly, I wasn’t,” Taylor told Baskin elsewhere during their chat on "Hot Mic."

“When I watch back, I’m like, ‘How big are my f-cking pupils? I’m sweating and there’s no reason to be sweating in the scene. Why am I sweating?’” Taylor explained.

The "House of Villains" star clarified that no one on the production team supplied him with substances.

However, he did recall leaving the set in between takes to visit the bar next to SUR to "get lit" or "ripped" in the back alley.

“I would go off on my own. We would film a scene, and you have 30 minutes [of] downtime, so most people go rest. I would go to a bar, get lit, or go next door from SUR, and that’s where we all went because we weren’t allowed to drink during scenes,” he explained.

In a previous episode of "The Valley," Cartwright discussed the intimacy issues she and Taylor had faced in their marriage.

She shared about her sex life with Taylor, admitting they "didn't miss a day" when they initially tied the knot.

"And then it has just changed dramatically," she said. "I'm talking, like, twice in the past year. You know the old Westerns when the tumbleweed rolls around? That's our sex life. I am the old tumbleweed."

Following the initial news of Cartwright and Taylor's marital struggles, the former was spotted moving her belongings out of their shared home and into a rental.

The drama between the soon-to-be-divorced couple will be shown in the upcoming season of their new show, "The Valley," which producers and castmates alike have teased as intense.

"You will be absolutely gripped from the first minute, and it never lets off," Baskin said. "It is the craziest season 2 of any show I've ever made."