There’s something about Jax Taylor that always has me rooting for him. During his years on Vanderpump Rules, he was the worst. Between constantly cheating and all the lying, it was hard to find a bigger villain in the Bravoverse. Even Stassi Schroeder couldn’t tame the wild bartender. But this unbridled trait is what made Jax such a fun reality TV star to watch. After his break and then return to the small screen on The Valley, the father of one seemed to have matured. I found myself wanting to see Jax succeed. With Season 2 fast approaching, I am hoping beyond hope that Jax gives us a redemption arc. I mean, if Tom Sandoval can do it, so can Jax, right?
Jax Taylor is finally getting help
For years, viewers have watched Jax act out on more than one occasion. And for a very long time, many of us believed he had an issue with drinking. But this year, the former model revealed he had a years-long addiction to cocaine. While on the Bravo Hot Mic podcast, the 45-year-old revealed his struggles, which was eye-opening to many followers. Jax shared, “I have substance issues — primarily with cocaine. It’s hard to say out loud. I’ve been dealing with this on and off since I was 23, and now I’m 45. There was times where I would stop doing it, but then there were times where I’d go heavy on it.”
Jax’s admission not only helped the bartender take steps for his recovery, but it most likely helped others out there, too. He added, “I’ve never said this in my life. 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. Obviously, it’s a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.” Jax has since enrolled in rehab to kick the addiction once and for all.
The Valley Season 2 won’t be a walk in the park for Jax Taylor
If the trailer for The Valley Season 2 is any indication of what is to come for Jax, it is going to be a rough road. The newest season will showcase his separation from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright. To say the two are not getting along is a major understatement. Brittany is seen telling the girls that “Jax is seeing people.” And that “he had a girl staying here at the house again last night” while cameras quickly scanned a lone thong on the counter. Another scene shows Jax being served with divorce papers, too.
The trailer also shows Brittany claiming that Jax has “people watching” her. Needless to say, this past summer has not been ideal for the Jax’s Studio City bar owner. If Jax is looking for forgiveness from Brittany or fans, he has a long road ahead of him. While some may think his rehab stints were a ploy, I believe he has finally hit his breaking point. And even though his marriage is clearly over, he still wants to be a good example for his son. This notion is commendable.
Jax Taylor was Bravo’s first villain
Jax solidified his TV image with his unapologetic behavior and lack of empathy. He walks a fine line between made-for-TV moments and pure offensive thoughts. Thanks to his ability to always put himself first, he was the man everyone loved to hate on Vanderpump Rules. For seven years, he bullied almost every cast member on the show. He often even referred to VPR as “his show,” which always annoyed Lisa Vanderpump. His impulse control issues and ability to gossip always led to blow-up fights that kept fans tuning in for more. Jax was ultimately let go from the show after he tweeted an accusation about Faith Stowers. He also had a long run of being insensitive to his co-stars’ mental health needs.
As Bravo’s first real villain, there is a place in the history books for Jax. Hopefully, with his new sobriety journey just starting, there is still time for him to turn the page on this new chapter. While I’ll personally never get tired of rewatching old scenes of Jax struggling with the truth, it will be nice to see him flourish. For now, I’ll just be getting my snacks ready for the premiere of Season 2 of The Valley because if you know Jax, there will always be fireworks.
The Valley is available to stream on Peacock.
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