Credit: Bravo TV/Courtesy Everett Collection
Few reality television stars have proven as polarizing as Jax Taylor, who became something of a household name thanks to his bad boy behavior on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules. Now, even as he and co-star/longtime love Brittany Cartwright are divorcing, Taylor has shared painful news regarding his recent diagnosis.
“A little over a month ago,” he wrote on Instagram, “I checked into an intensive inpatient treatment facility, scared of the unknown and what I would find out about myself. After many years of knowing something was wrong but not knowing exactly what it was, I recently learned that I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and [post-traumatic stress disorder].”
Despite having long questioned — both publicly and privately — his own past behavior, the news came as a shock. “It’s been a lot to process,” he continued, “and an emotional time for me. However, I’ve come home to my son with a newfound sense of peace.”
Clearly, the 45-year-old realizes that receiving a diagnosis is only the first step in the healing process. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared for the future,” he admitted, “but my focus is just trying to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday. Mental health is a lifelong battle of not letting it control you, but rather you learning to control it.”
The comment section beneath his post was a mixed bag, with some accusing him of making excuses for his past behavior while many others were there with words of support. In fact, he later added a note of thanks to “everyone who has reached out in support and who also shared their own personal struggles with me. Your messages have helped me more than you know.”
According to the New York Post, Taylor left the facility in August and resumed filming season 2 of The Valley. Soon thereafter, Cartwright filed her petition for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The paperwork also indicated that the two had been separated since late January. Together, they share a son, Cruz, born in April of 2021. Cartwright is seeking both legal and physical custody of the boy.
