The Valley’s Jax Taylor — self-proclaimed No. 1 Guy in the Group — was forever the loudest voice in the room, a force to be reckoned with. “I’ve always been the lead singer of the band,” he acknowledges to Us Weekly. But more than 100 days into sobriety, “I’m taking a backseat. I’ve become the guy who plays the triangle. It’s hard because I’m so used to being Jax Taylor, this alpha male, but that guy doesn’t exist anymore. He can’t, or he is going to die.”
Born Jason Cauchi, he rebranded as Jax Taylor when he started modeling in the early 2000s because “it’s a cool f—ing name.” He branched out into background actor work (did you spot him on Desperate Housewives? Will & Grace?), and by 2013, Taylor was tending bar at Lisa Vanderpump’s L.A. hotspot SUR. Enter reality television: In eight seasons of Vanderpump Rules, “He created so much story, drama, conversation,” assessed Andy Cohen. Next, the spinoff Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky culminated in his 2019 wedding to sunny Southerner Brittany Cartwright. Their son, Cruz, was born in April 2021.
The small screen beckoned again: After a shockingly short 2023 stint on E!’s House of Villains, VPR spinoff The Valley arrived, with Jax and Brittany in starring roles. Viewers saw a rocky marriage, and behind the scenes of the 2024 hit, Taylor was facing dangerous struggles of his own.
In July 2024, he checked himself into an inpatient treatment facility, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. But even that was not the full story. In March, Taylor revealed he’d been battling a cocaine addiction — helped along by his alcohol consumption — for the past two decades.
With a second rehab stint behind him, he is laser-
focused. “If I have a drink, I’m looking for a bag of cocaine, so I had to quit both,” he tells Us. “I know for a fact I’ll never touch it again. People are like, ‘Well, you don’t know.’ No. I know.” Ahead of The Valley’s return (Bravo, April 15, 9 p.m.), Taylor sat down with Us to talk bad times, good times and the son who motivates him every day to be better.
What led you to acknowledge your addiction publicly?
It’s really embarrassing, especially at this stage of my life being a father, being 45 years old, but I wanted it to come out of my mouth — exactly in my own words. This was the right time for me. I’m fresh out of rehab. I’m doing the therapy. This is a good place.
Were you hesitant about how the public would react?
If you’ve watched me on the show, you could tell there was something going on. I didn’t hide it that well. I don’t really care what people think — this is more for me and for my son. Seeing that I’m doing this, hopefully other people can come out and say they’re struggling with issues too.
How many days of sobriety do you have now?
I’m between 107, 110, somewhere in there. I try not to count anymore. I just wanted to make it to 100. That was important to me.
How are you doing?
My life has changed dramatically. I’m probably the healthiest I’ve ever been, I feel the best I’ve ever been. And I don’t put myself in situations I’m not comfortable with. I know it’s weird because I do own a bar, but I’m a very strong person. If I say I’m not going to do something, I’m not going to do it.
