Brittany Cartwright Breaks Silence About Jax Taylor’s Cocaine Addiction

Brittany Cartwright broke her silence after estranged husband Jax Taylor revealed he’s been struggling with cocaine addiction for years.

“I’m glad that he finally admitted to what was really going on,” Cartwright, 36, said in a statement on Tuesday, March 4, to People. “For the first time, I can speak openly about the extent of trauma he’s instilled on our family over the years.”

She continued. “I’ve tried desperately to help him without success. I pray that one day he completely knocks this addiction, but I’m skeptical. His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.”

Cartwright’s comments come after Taylor, 45, opened up about his ups and downs with addiction on the Tuesday episode of Alex Baskin’s “Hot Mic” podcast.

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“I have substance issues primarily with cocaine,” Taylor revealed for the first time publicly, noting, “It’s hard to say out loud.”

The reality star explained that he’s been dealing with the addiction “on and off since I was 23.” Taylor recalled having “times where I would stop doing it, but then there were times where I’d go heavy on it.”

Taylor said that during his time on Vanderpump Rules — he exited the show in 2020 after eight seasons — he kept his struggles under wraps.

“Everything I was doing is on my own, but I was just on that train, and I couldn’t get off,” he shared, adding that he doesn’t think he has an “alcohol problem” but said that drinking and doing drugs “go hand in hand” for him.

Taylor confessed, “I can’t do cocaine without drinking. So I just gave up both. And I’m proud to say I’m 82, 83 days sober right now.” His sober streak is the “longest” Taylor has gone since he was 21 years old without any addictive substance.

He noted that he’s been “lying about it forever,” but wanted to share his story because addiction is a “really tough disease” to overcome.

“This year, it was probably the hardest year of my life. I would say my father’s death was the hardest year until this year,” Taylor reflected. “I’m going through a divorce right now, which is extremely difficult. And that’s when Brittany and I separated. That’s when the addiction got worse.”

The Valley star pointed to his and Cartwright’s 2024 separation as a catalyst to more unhealthy behaviors. (Cartwright announced in February 2024 that she and Taylor split after nearly five years of marriage.)

“I literally lost control. I think at a point [I] hit rock bottom and I had to go to rehab,” Taylor said. “That’s where we’re at right now. And then I got out. Obviously here we are. But yeah, that’s a lot.”

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Taylor explained that he entered rehab twice. While he said he “got a lot out of it” the first time, there was an incident where he caught himself yelling in the car where his and Cartwright’s son, Cruz, was in the backseat that motivated him to do a second round.

“I turned my head, and I see my son back there. I’m just like, this was just utter disgust,” he recalled. “And Brittany was like, ‘You need to go back’. And I didn’t even put up a fight.”

Since getting out of rehab and becoming clean, Taylor said his “No. 1 driver” to stay healthy is his son. “He’s my drive,” he added.

“For many years I’ve depended on alcohol and drugs as a way to cope and mask many deeper issues. This past year has been the hardest year of my life but also the most eye opening and transformative,” Taylor said in a statement on Tuesday. “Coming to terms with my many mental health challenges and being honest about my addiction — both with myself and others has been a crucial part of my healing. It’s been a day-by-day process, but I’m committed to my recovery and working towards a healthier future in order to be a better person and someone my son will be proud of one day.”

Taylor also gave podcast listeners an update on his relationship with estranged wife Cartwright, who filed for divorce in August 2024.

“One day she’s happy. One day she’s mad. One day she’s happy. One day she’s mad. I never know what I’m going to get with her,” he claimed. “I walk on eggshells constantly every day as I should. I just want her to know that I’m really, really trying. I’m doing everything she’s asked.”

Taylor reiterated that he’s done rehab and is in therapy and is “getting help” and doing drug testing to regain her trust.

“I take care of my son as much as she allows me to. I don’t know what else she wants from me. I’m doing everything that she’s asked for,” he continued. “And just because I respect her and I want to make her happy, I don’t want to be like, ‘Well, you’re not even trying.’ I’m going above and beyond to show her that I do care and I want to be in my son’s life, and I also want to be in [her] life to some extent.”

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Cartwright, for her part, exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2024 that she “really thought we would be able to get back to a place where we could probably get back together.” However, she called the divorce a “roller-coaster” but something she feels “confident” about now.

Last month, Cartwright revealed that she even has a “couple crushes” now and is starting to think about what type of man she’d want to date when it feels right.

“Obviously, I’m a single mom, so [my son] Cruz always comes first in my life, so I got to find somebody who fits in with that and my crazy lifestyle as it is,” she told Us in February.

She revealed that her ideal partner is someone who “makes an effort” and can make her laugh.

“I don’t feel like I have to put too many boundaries on it from here on out. But it’s all just going to depend on feelings, because if I’m not feeling it, then it’s obviously not going to happen,” Cartwright concluded. “But I feel like you just never know what kind of connection you’re going to have with somebody.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).