After two tumultuous seasons on the “Vanderpump Rules” spinoff, the bartender-turned-bar-owner is stepping back.

Why Jax Taylor isn’t on The Valley this season — and what Brittany Cartwright has to say about it

After two tumultuous seasons on the "Vanderpump Rules" spinoff, the bartender-turned-bar-owner is stepping back.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer, and many other publications.

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April 1, 2026 6:43 p.m. ET

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Jax Taylor, Jesse Lally, and Jasmine Goode in season 2 of 'The Valley'. Credit:

Griffin Nagel/Bravo

- *The Valley* season 3 premieres Wednesday, April 1, on Bravo.

- Original cast member Jax Taylor will not be returning after separating from Brittany Cartwright.

- New cast members include Tom Schwartz, Lala Kent, and Lacy Nicole.

*The Valley* is a *Vanderpump Rules* spinoff following several alums of the beloved Bravo reality series as they build lives beyond the walls of restaurant SUR. When its third season debuts on April 1, though, the sun-soaked drama will be missing one of its foundational characters.

Jax Taylor, the controversial and hot-headed bartender-turned-bar-owner who helped turn *VPR* into must-watch television, will not appear in season 3 of *The Valley*. This likely won't come as much of a surprise to fans, as Taylor's journey has been a rocky one from the start.

Just before *The Valley*'s 2024 premiere, it was revealed that Taylor and Brittany Cartwright were separating after six years of marriage. As such, the first season unfolded like a slow-motion car crash, with in-the-know fans watching the slow dissolution of their union.

Season 2 proved to be even messier, with Cartwright angling for a divorce as Taylor voluntarily checked into a rehab facility for substance abuse issues, particularly with cocaine. Through it all, arguments abounded over the divorce, their finances, and the custody of their son, Cruz.

So, why isn't Taylor returning for season 3 of *The Valley*? Here's what we know.

Why isn’t Jax Taylor in The Valley season 3?

Taylor on 'The Valley'.

Koury Angelo/Bravo

On July 16, 2025, roughly a week before *The Valley*'s season 2 finale, Taylor announced he wouldn't be returning for the show's third season. "Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting relationship," he said in a statement. "Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself — especially for our son, Cruz."

A source told PEOPLE at the time that the cast was "blindsided" by Taylor's departure. Cartwright, meanwhile, told host Andy Cohen six days later on *Watch What Happens Live* that she "found out the night before" and thought it was a "great decision." Cartwright described their relationship as "horrible," saying there was "no trust whatsoever" between them.

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Cohen revealed on his radio show, *Andy Cohen Live*, that he, too, agreed with Taylor's decision, citing the star's "need for control and his anger issues."

He added, "I hope he takes the time to lean into this, away from the cameras."

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Taylor, however, is keeping the door open for a return. "This is not goodbye, this is just a pause on things," he said on a July 2025 episode of his podcast, *In the Mind of Jax*. "The more I talk about it with everybody, it just didn't seem to make a lot of sense for me to walk right back into filming. I just don't see a world where it makes sense for me to walk back into a dynamic like that."

Cartwright doesn't appear particularly eager to share the screen with him again. During a BravoCon panel in November, she declared he would "absolutely not" appear in season 3, and told *Entertainment Tonight* that the news of his departure came as a "big relief."

She also addresses his absence in the season 3 trailer. "Now that Jax is gone, I am finally getting my sparkle back," she declares.

Are Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright divorced?

Brittany Cartwright, Nia Booko, Michelle Saniei, and Scheana Shay on 'The Valley'.

Griffin Nagel/Bravo

Not officially. Cartwright filed for divorce in August 2024 and, as of this writing, the process is still ongoing.

The good news is that, as of March 2026, the pair finalized a custody agreement for Cruz. As PEOPLE reports, the couple will share joint legal custody and physical custody. They will also work together regarding the child's health, education, and general welfare, and promise not to "speak badly of each other in front of their son."

Who’s joining The Valley season 3?

Lacy Nicole, Lala Kent, and Tom Schwartz in 'The Valley' season 3.

Koury Angelo/Bravo (3)

Looking to fill the vacuum left behind by Taylor, *The Valley* is bringing on *VPR* alums Lala Kent and Tom Schwartz as full-time cast members. Both have appeared in previous seasons of *The Valley*.

Also joining the crew is Lacy Nicole, the girlfriend of Jesse Lally. Lally's split from ex-wife Michelle Saniei was a major storyline in season 2.

Where can I watch The Valley?

*The Valley* airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo, and streams the following day on Peacock.

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