Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright, former Vanderpump Rules stars, are separating ways. The couple, who married in 2019, announced their split ahead of their forthcoming appearance on Bravo spinoff The Valley. Cartwright made the announcement on their collaborative podcast, When Reality Hits, on Thursday, 29 February.

Jax, who appears on Vanderpump Rules from season one to season eight, and Brittany have had important roles in the show. However, Jax and Brittany were fired from the Bravo show after claims of racially insensitive behavior emerged in the press.

In this article, we delve into the details surrounding Jax and Brittany’s separation, exploring the reasons behind their decision and the public’s response to this unexpected development.

Why Did Jax and Brittany Get Separated?

On February 29, Brittany did a solo episode of When Reality Hits, the podcast she co-hosts with her husband of just under five years, and disclosed that the two were “taking time apart” in their marriage and living in different residences.

“Many of you guys have been asking me about Jax and I and our relationship,” she told me. “I just believe it’s important to be genuine and honest with you guys because our life is obviously — we’ve shared so much of our lives with you. So, I feel like … I don’t want to seem like I’m lying or anything like that so I think it’s important for me to say this.”

“I know on my last podcast, I mentioned how many marriages go through difficult times,” she continued. “Yes, marriages in general are difficult, and this past year has been very difficult for me. Jax and I are taking a break, and I have decided to move to another home to give myself some space for the benefit of my mental health.”

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“I’m taking it one day at a time,” she explained. “I’m not sure what the future holds, but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz, and I adore you both. Pray for us, and everything will be alright. “We’re good.”

Jax Taylor and Brittany’s Love Story

Jax and Brittany met in 2015, and she promptly relocated from Kentucky to Los Angeles to be with the Vanderpump Rules star.

Their romance was not without controversy, and after just two years, the couple split up due to Jax’s infidelity.

After some time apart, the couple reconnected and became more committed than ever. They became engaged in June 2018 and married in a castle in Brittany’s home state of Kentucky in June 2019.

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The couple’s careers stagnated in 2020 after being fired from Vanderpump Rules season 8. Jax and Brittany have gone through a lot together, but it’s possible their romance was not meant to continue.

Do Jax and Brittany have kids?

The couple have a child together. In April 2021, they announced the birth of their first child, Cruz. Taylor later stated on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2023 that becoming a father had “made a big difference” in his life.

“I think becoming parents made us stronger, too, because I love seeing him as a dad,” Cartwright told PEOPLE about Taylor. “It just makes you love him more.”

Taylor told PEOPLE in August 2023 that they planned to have additional children. He added that they wanted “at least one more,” but they were busy at the time.