Brittany Cartwright Sheds New Light on Her Decision to Divorce Jax: "I Had to..."
The Valley's Brittany Cartwright admitted she was even "holding out hope" for a reconciliation during her separation.
Brittany Cartwright is opening up about why she decided to file to divorce Jax Taylor after about six months of separation.
During a recent interview, The Valley cast member admitted that when she first separated from Jax in February 2024, she was optimistic that the two would ultimately reconcile.
"Even through our separation, I still was holding on hope that we could work things out," she told PEOPLE in September, about a month after she formally filed for divorce.
"I think it's been very obvious much I loved him and how hard I tried to work on our relationship," Brittany explained about why she held on to the relationship for so long. "I wanted to make sure I did every single thing I could possibly do to give it a chance and to try for my family, for my son [Cruz Michael Cauchi], for my future, but I couldn't do it anymore. I had to put myself first."
The mom of one noted that she finally feels sure in her decision, and that she's grateful that she has "all these people in [her] corner."
"And I'm not going to disappoint," she continued to the outlet. "I'm going to stay strong and do what's right. I finally broke the cycle."
She added that, it "would've been easier for [her] to stay in this house from the beginning, stay with him, [and] continue fighting."
"I wouldn't have to change my house, I wouldn't have to change my family, but it would've been so toxic,” she said. "And at the end of the day, that's just not good for my son. I feel like I did the harder thing and I'm being strong and I'm just going to keep moving forward."
Do Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright still live together?
Brittany is officially back in the couple's Valley Village house after months of renting Airbnbs.
"I'm finally back home," she said in a September interview. "It feels good to be back where I was meant to be and not have to move around anymore for a while."
Though Jax had been living at the Valley Village property in the early months of his and Brittany's separation, Jax is now the one who has moved out.
Jax has moved into a townhouse that happens to be in the same building as his former Vanderpump Rules castmate (and best friend), Tom Schwartz.
"He is my best friend at the end of the day," Jax shared on an episode of When Reality Hits. "And if I need help with something, if I need help with Cruz, he's right there."
Jax was so proud of his new spot that he was looking forward to having Brittany take a look at it.
"I'm really happy here," he concluded. "And I honestly can't wait for Brittany to see this place. I know it's going to take time for her to come here, but I really can't wait for her to see it."
Is Brittany Cartwright dating anyone?
The Kentucky native is slowly dipping her toes back in the dating pool.
"I'm being flirty,” she said in a September interview. "I don't need a relationship right now. I have a lot of healing to do from this relationship. I never thought that I would be going through a divorce. I always thought Jax was my forever, so this is something I'm going to have to navigate. I am having fun, but nothing is serious."
Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor's relationship timeline
Brittany tied the knot with Jax in front of the Vanderpump Rules cameras in Kentucky back in 2019. The couple had been together for about four years before formalizing their union.
After their wedding, Jax and Brittany moved to a home in Valley Village, and they welcomed their son Cruz in April 2021. The couple showcased their marriage and their lives as parents on the debut season of The Valley, though the cracks in their relationship became clear as the season progressed.
Brittany announced their separation during an episode of their podcast, When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany, in late February.
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