'The Valley' Cast Wasn't Expecting Jax Taylor's Sudden Exit From The Show

Jax Taylor's sudden departure from "The Valley" has sent shockwaves through the Bravoverse, and it appears his co-stars were just as blindsided as the fans.

According to a report from The Blast, Taylor announced his exit from the Bravo series on July 16, 2025, stating that he had made the decision to focus on himself.

"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 father of one said.

"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," he explained.

The cast of "The Valley" was reportedly unprepared for the news. According to a source close to production who spoke with PEOPLE, the entire cast was "absolutely blindsided by this news."

"They were not given any advance notifications about his exit," the source shared. "Most of the cast were notified that filming was going to begin at the end of the summer, and they expected Jax would be a part of the new season because — even as lately as yesterday — he hadn't said otherwise. This is a huge surprise."

Taylor's departure from "The Valley" follows a difficult year for the "House of Villains" star, both on and off camera.

Prior to season 2 of "The Valley" airing on Bravo, Taylor opened up about his decades-long addiction to cocaine, later labeling himself "an addict."

Taylor further stated that admitting to his addiction is "hard to say out loud," considering he had been using "since I was 23 and now I'm 45."

"I've never said this in my life," he said. "So, to come out and say that I have an addiction [and] that I have a sickness that I have to work on the rest of my life is a really big deal for me."

Since then, Taylor checked into a health facility and has been on a public journey toward sobriety.

In a previous interview, he celebrated a sobriety milestone of 100 days without drugs and alcohol. Taylor also shared that the driving force behind his decision to get help was his son, Cruz.

"I just needed to do it for myself, and I needed to do it for my son," he said. "Everyone's like, 'You should do this for you first.' I did this for my son first and then I did it for me."

He added, "I want my son one day to be like, 'My dad....there was something wrong with him, and he fixed himself; this is why he's here today."

This departure also comes after a tumultuous few months for Taylor professionally, which included significant fan backlash.

In May 2025, The Blast reported that Taylor's podcast tour, "In The Mind Of A Man," was abruptly canceled after multiple venues decided to cut ties with him.

For example, a staffer at the Blueprint Underground Cocktail Club in Nashville, Tennessee, confirmed they canceled the reality star's stop "at the last minute."

They added that it was "the club's decision" to sever ties with him.

Another establishment, the Wanderlust Wine Company in Austin, Texas, also confirmed that they weren't working with Taylor because his behavior on the show "does not align" with their values.

Following those initial announcements, Taylor's tour experienced further cancellations in various parts of Florida and Texas.

And if all of this wasn't enough, Taylor is also navigating a divorce from his estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright.

During a previous episode of his podcast, Taylor, who has experienced numerous relationship troubles during his time on reality TV, admitted that he shouldn't have gotten married in the first place.

“I think about it now, and I just don’t personally think I am supposed to be in a relationship,” the Bravo veteran said. “I just don’t think I’m supposed to be married. You know, I’ve known this my whole life.”

"I’m the problem," he said. "I get bored being in relationships. I don’t wanna be in a relationship. I just don’t like it.”