Was Jax Actually Behind the Michelle Lally Bombshell? "You're Not Filming This, Are You"
Jax apparently warned Kristen via text that information he shared about Michelle's alleged infidelity "could destroy a life."
The Valley’s Kristen Doute might be getting the blame for exposing alleged infidelity in the group, but it looks like she isn’t the source of the drama after all.
In a preview for Season 1, Episode 8, Kristen and Jasmine Goode headed to Vintage Wines + Eats in Studio City to discuss rumors that Michelle Saniei Lally stepped out of her marriage with Jesse Lally, as highlighted throughout the season. It turns out that troubles between the now-estranged couple, events that Jax Taylor claimed held the potential to “ruin a marriage,” initially came from Jax himself.
Here’s a little background, in case viewers need a refresher:
Did Michelle cheat on Jesse from The Valley?
Throughout the season, Kristen promised (or threatened, depending on how one looked at it) to “protect” Michelle’s secrets. After Episode 7’s explosive dinner fight, Kristen — with her beau, Luke Broderick at her side — revealed Michelle had allegedly been involved in a year-long affair with a man who was not the father of her child.
(Michelle has not confirmed the rumor.)
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The pronouncement, however, went unheard by the rest of the group, though audiences were left with their jaws on the floor.
Previously, Jax told Jasmine that Kristen had said Michelle was “texting other men,” leading Jasmine to believe she knew the secret Kristen had held over Michelle’s head.
“From what Michelle told me, she was texting with someone who was not Jesse,” Kristen told producers, as seen in the preview. “She had, I guess, an emotional affair with this guy.”
The men of The Valley, including Jason Caperna, Zack Wickham, and even Jesse himself, had already addressed rumors that Michelle was spending long hours away from home with a famous director at Chateau Marmont. That person’s identity has not been revealed, and Michelle has not admitted to having an affair.
(Michelle, whose husband cited “constant conflict” in their six-year marriage, recently revealed she has been romantically involved with “someone amazing” since she and Jesse split, but she did not say whom.)
Kristen has gotten flack for spreading the rumors, but now, it appears Jax was behind the initial leak the entire time.
Did Jax Taylor start the cheating rumors?
At the Episode 8 lunch, Jasmine said she “didn’t know what to believe” after Jax told her Kristen was peddling rumors that Michelle was texting another man. But, according to Kristen, Jax was “the only person talking about it,” and it was he who spilled Michelle’s alleged infidelity when he and Kristen met with cameras rolling.
The lunch between Jax and Kristen (as seen in Episode 2) happened one month earlier, weeks before Jax sat with Jasmine.
“I’m scared to bring this up because this is not my place to do this,” Jax said at the time. “It’s regarding Michelle. There was another guy that … ”
Jax paused his statements before addressing the film crew, asking, “You’re not filming this, are you?”
“Of course, they’re filming it,” said Kristen.
“F-ck, I don’t want to get in trouble for saying this,” Jax sighed.
He went on to confess that the information he had came “in confidence” from his now-estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright.
“My wife could kill me,” Jax continued. “I could ruin a marriage. I can’t do that.”
Back at her lunch with Jasmine, Kristen scrolled through her text messages, stating Jax texted her after they’d met for lunch. In screenshots published on The Valley, Jax stated, “Do not repeat anything personal to Michelle. You could destroy a life, and I don’t know if it’s true … and you told my wife, and now she’s pissed at me. Why would you repeat something unless you know the facts?
“Please don’t open your mouth about anything like that,” Jax continued via text. “Please, it’s not our place.”
Kristen then told Jasmine that she had questioned Brittany about the rumor and that Brittany allegedly said the other man was “an actor or celebrity.”
See more of the conversation in an all-new episode of The Valley, airing Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.
