The Valley’s Kristen Doute SHADES Jax Taylor and his treatment of ex Brittany Cartwright

The Valley star Kristen Doute has weighed in on her co-star Jax Taylor seeking help for his cocaine addiction, and whether she believes he’s a changed man.

The 45-year-old confessed last month that he had substance issues, primarily with cocaine, ever since he was in his 20s.

In September 2024, Jax checked into an in-patient facility to address his substance abuse and anger issues following his split from ex Brittany Cartwright, 36.

After spending 30 days in an in-patient facility, he informed his fans that he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and PTSD. 

‘It’s been a lot to process and an emotional time for me, however I’ve come home to my son with a newfound sense of peace. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared for the future but my focus is just trying to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday,’ he wrote on Instagram at the time. ‘Mental health is a lifelong battle of not letting it control you but rather you learning to control it.” 

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Kristen, who was joined by her co-star Nia Sanchez, said that she doesn’t believe he got the treatment that he needed.

‘I don’t think that it did [help] and I don’t think that had anything to do with the facility.

‘I think it was what he was willing to give and receive from that journey that he took there, which you’ll see play out,’ she revealed.

‘But no, I don’t think he’s taken anything seriously enough yet. I’m still hoping.’ 

Bravo fans are now watching Jax’s mental health journey play out in new episodes of The Valley. Season two premiered on April 15.

The cast is watching scenes unfold for the first time, especially those that they were not part of during filming.

Kristen admitted, ‘To be honest, I don’t think Jax could be worse. And I’m glad that it is being shown exactly the way that it is. It’s not being sugar-coated. Because he was really awful, and that’s just factual, unfortunately… Like, one-upping himself.’

The Vanderpump Rules alum’s co-star couldn’t agree more. 

Nia, 35, told DailyMail.com, ‘Yeah, I mean some of the things that he was saying, I was like, “Really? Really?”‘ 

Brittany, who shares three-year-old son Cruz with Jax, filed for divorce in Los Angeles in August 2024, citing irreconcilable differences.

Meanwhile, their co-stars, Michelle, 36, and Jesse Lally, 44, are also in the midst of divorce after Michelle filed in March 2024 after five years of marriage.

Nia, who is married to Daniel Booko, said the way both couples are handling the divorce process is ‘very different’.

‘There’s a lot of  just dysfunction in both relationships, and I feel like for both relationships, it’s so much better for them to be separate, and I’m normally not the person that says that. 

‘Like, even when Brittany and Jax first separated I’m like, “If he changes, then maybe there’s hope.” Because I could see in her heart that she wanted hope and hope for that in the beginning.’

Kristen agreed that both couples are ‘so much happier separated’ and said she is hoping that they can eventually ‘get to a place where it’s not so hard to be in the same room.’

However, when it comes to finalizing their divorces – both of which are still ongoing –  the TV personality believes Jax and Brittany’s divorce will be finalized first.

‘I think Jesse’s been more difficult. Jax doesn’t have a leg to stand on, in my opinion, even though he’s also very difficult,’ she insisted.

She went on say, ‘They’re both very stubborn bullheaded men who want their way, which I’ve heard happens a lot in divorce, I guess. 

‘But they all know that they’re happier without each other. So I hope they come to a resolution, so they can move on.’

Kristen revealed to DailyMail.com that she’s fully supportive of Brittany moving on and dating whomever she wants, including Jax’s friend Julian Sensley.   

In the premiere episode of The Valley, Jax learned that his ex had been sending ‘sexy’ text messages to his now-former friend.

Despite it being a ‘fling’, Kristen said, ‘It wasn’t about Brittany finding someone to replace Jax, finding someone to replace as Cruz’s dad or her new husband.

‘It was just about finding someone that [thinks] you’re beautiful and that you’re funny and you’re kind and you’re smart, and all the things that your husband has not done for the last 10 years.’

When asked if she’s playing matchmaker for her friend, Kristen said, ‘She’s doing wonderfully by herself, but I am absolutely a wing woman.’ Nia added, ‘Yeah support and encourage but she’s good on her own. She’s incredible.’

Meanwhile, Jax is rumored to be dating esthetician Jessica Perkson. 

She told DailyMail.com, ‘He said [a photo of the rumored couple] was from a long time ago – as there are happy Easter balloons all over Ralph’s grocery store. So I’m like, “How long ago? Last Easter?”

‘He says that he is not, but he also says a lot of things. They could be dating they might not be.’

Not bothered by Kristen’s love life, she is focusing on her own with her fiancé Luke Broderick. The couple got engaged in September 2024 and are now expecting their first child together – a baby girl – in June.

Nia, for her part, is expecting her fourth child – following the birth of Asher, 3, and one-year-old twins Isabelle and Zariah – with Daniel and is due around the same time as Kristen (‘a week apart’) and is also expecting a baby girl.

Kristen gushed, ‘I’m so grateful because I don’t know what I would do without Nia. I spent the first 12 weeks – more than actually, like the first like 16 weeks – complaining to her about my pregnancy and how new it was and how difficult it was like emotionally and mentally, which isn’t something I think a lot of people talk about… And then she finally told me she was pregnant.’

With less than two months away from her due date, Nia said that she is glad she can ‘enjoy’ her pregnancy, which is a ‘breath of fresh air,’ after giving birth to her twins, which she said had a lot of ‘high-risk moments.’

New episodes of The Valley air every Tuesday at 9pm ET on Bravo.