Brittany Cartwright nearly walked away from her role on Vanderpump Rules. And, during an interview on Monday, while admitting she considered getting back together with Jax Taylor amid their separation and confirming if she’ll change her mind about their divorce, she explained what set her off.
As she looked back on her past regrets from the show and confirmed she’s opening a new bar in West Hollywood, The Valley cast member, 35, clapped back at those accusing her of staging a breakup for the show and noted that she almost quit Pump Rules amid season six.
“One of the times that I got really upset was when, it was after Jax cheated on me [with Faith Stowers] and we were like, trying to figure out if we were gonna be together, what was gonna happen, and he tried to act like he was breaking up with me on camera,” Brittany recalled on the November 11 episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast. “I got so mad because we had just had a conversation. I think we had slept together again that day and then as soon as the cameras came, he acted like he was breaking up with me and I was so shocked because that had not been how we acted, how we were talking, he just did it whenever the cameras come on.”
Brittany was “so mad” that she ripped off her mic, stormed out of the house, and went to a hotel.
“Jax was calling me a million times over and over, ‘I don’t really wanna break up … where did you go?’ I was so angry with him I stayed at the hotel and did not tell production,” she explained. “I felt so embarrassed that Jax had cheated on me. I was finally getting ready to take him back and then he tried to act like he was breaking up with me. I was just mortified and I was like, ‘I gotta get myself out of this situation.’”
Looking back, Brittany said it was a “rollercoaster” season, but not one that would outdo what is coming on The Valley season two.
“That whole season was crazy [but] that’s not even close to how crazy this new season is,” she teased.
As fans well know, Brittany and Jax, 45, separated prior to filming. And, amid production, Brittany filed for divorce.
“My goal was to ultimately get back together, eventually, but I needed to see some big changes. And also I wanted to see if I wanted to date other people. I was very open and honest about that. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I’m leaving,’ it was, ‘We are separated and if I want to date other people, I will. If you want to date other people, you will. We don’t need to talk about it,’” Brittany explained of her mindset going into their separation.
“I was very quiet. I wasn’t running around, calling paparazzi on myself, doing all these crazy things in public like he was,” she added, seemingly giving a nod to the photos and stories that came about after Jax stepped out with Paige Woolen, 32. “Anytime he found out something about me, he just wanted to one-up me and make me upset. It was just playing games with another toddler. He would go out to eat or something and I would get pictures and people send me DMs the entire time. And that’s so painful to see, but it kind of made me be like, ‘What am I doing?’ It got too bad throughout the separation.”
That said, Brittany noted that reconciliation talks did happen.
“There was times whenever we might get together and then other times where we wouldn’t talk for weeks. It was very up and down,” she noted. “I never in a million years thought that Jax and I would not be together forever so I tried everything I could possibly do. Yes, [I wanted] the separation, but ultimately, I thought it would wake him up and make him start trying and start changing, doing the simple things I ask. Go to therapy, stop partying so much, be nice to me. I just asked simple little things that I was hoping he’d make a grand gesture, do something big, try to change, and he just never pulled through.”
Looking back at her many years on reality television, Brittany said she did have some regrets.
“There’s times where I might have like, yelled at people or did different things that wasn’t really my character and I hate it when those moments go through,” she admitted. “I think I yelled at [James Kennedy] one time and was like, ‘I am a sweetheart you dumb*ss motherf*cker.’ But I look back at that now and it’s funny. I’m a normal person no matter what. I’m gonna blow up sometimes but I think I was kinda put in that country nice girl category to where if I did have those moments I got like, hated on really bad for sticking up for myself.”
“There were times wherever I didn’t stick up for myself that I wish I would have and been harder on Jax times that I wish I would have been a lot tougher on him but it’s all part of my journey,” she continued. “There are definitely times I wish I maybe didn’t get as drunk or I would’ve yelled at Jax more … But at the end of the day, I’m like, it is what it is. I can’t change it now. You can learn a lot.”
Months after filing to end her five-year marriage to Jax, Brittany said she’s “not changing [her] mind.”
“I’m happy with my decision. My friends would die. My family would die. My mom, she’s always been such a team Jax person and after she saw everything that happened leading up to this season, she’s like, ‘You need to get away.’ And for her to say that is a big deal,” Brittany reasoned.
During their time together, likely due to Jax’s past infidelity, Brittany did her best to keep tabs on her husband by checking his phone and social media accounts — and allowed him to do the same with hers.
“I had all of his passwords. I was logged into his Instagram accounts. I had everything. He had mine too. [But] now that’s changed,” she shared. “I changed every single password … kicked him off. I checked everything. He’s got a burner account. It’s kind of obvious.”
While she and Jax teamed up with their friends, including Kristen Doute, Danny and Nia Booko, Jesse and Michelle Lally, Jason and Janet Caperna, and Kristen’s boyfriend, Luke Broderick, for The Valley in 2023, Brittany revealed that Jax isn’t convinced it is an ensemble cast.
“Jax definitely still calls The Valley his show, for sure, he’s always gonna be like that even though he was in a mental health facility for 30 days,” she stated. “He’s still gonna act like he did everything.”
Jax is also having ego issues because Brittany will soon open her own bar.
“The partners came to me and asked me if I would want to take over the Culver City location and turn it into Britt’s. And I was like, ‘Hell yes, let’s do it.’ [But] Jax apparently told them that they weren’t allowed to ask me for a whole month,” she shared. “Finally, he was like, ‘Okay whatever.’ I did so much for [Jax’s Studio City]. So they know what I did. I’m like, ‘Jax, I didn’t care it was called Jax’s. I didn’t care about any of that stuff. I supported you. I helped you. They’re wanting to do this with me now, relax.’”
Ultimately, however, rather than take over Jax’s Studio City, it was decided that Brittany would “[take] over West Hollywood.”
“We’re starting to redecorate. He wants it open fast, like within a couple months. It’s gonna be Britt’s. So Pump closed down, Britt’s is opening up, all in the same location,” she proclaimed. “I’m so excited. Jax is like, ‘I want everyone to know that I’m a part of this.’ I’m like, ‘You have no say in anything.’ He was throwing a fit about it.”
Also, during the interview, Brittany fired back at those suggesting that she’s only pretending to divorce Jax.
“It drives me crazy because I feel like I’ve always been so honest and real. All my time on Vanderpump and The Valley, I’ve been very open and I believe I’m a nice person and I’m not a liar. So whenever people were judging my character in a way that was not true whatsoever, that was really hard for me. It bothers me,” she admitted. “I’m going through one of the hardest times in my life right now and I’ve got people doubting me… I’m like, this is insane.”
“I’m spending thousands and thousands to go through with this divorce just for a storyline? It’s crazy,” she added.
The Valley season two is expected to premiere on Bravo sometime in early 2025.