Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of domestic violence.
‘The Valley’ star Brittany Cartwright was granted a restraining order against her estranged husband Jax Taylor this week after alleging that he physically attacked her and threatened to “gut [her] like a f**ken fish.”
According to TMZ, Brittany filed– and was granted– a domestic violence temporary restraining order (TRO) against Jax on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Per the TRO, Jax is required to stay 100 yards away from Brittany. While Brittany also requested sole custody of the couple’s five-year-old son Cruz, the judge denied the request, pending a court hearing.
After news of the restraining order broke, Jax took to Instagram to release a statement regarding the situation.
In court docs, Brittany detailed the pattern of abuse she allegedly suffered at Jax’s hand throughout the last decade– including an incident in July 2024 in which Jax threatened to kill her and “gut [her] like a f**ken fish.” Brittany claimed the threat was made while Jax physically attacked her and threw furniture at her, causing her to suffer injuries.
She also accused Jax of breaking multiple iPhones that belonged to her, as well as an iPad and other property. (You can click here for photos of the injuries and damage allegedly sustained during this incident.)
Fans of ‘The Valley’ likely remember Brittany discussing the furniture-throwing incident on the show; however, she did not previously disclose details about the verbal threat(s).
Along with “physical violence,” Brittany accused Jax of exhibiting “coercive control, financial abuse, emotional and psychological abuse” and “gaslighting.” She also alleges that Jax stalked her, gained access to her iPhone and Instagram account, and removed her $70,000 wedding ring from their formerly shared home and refused to return it.
Additionally, Brittany claimed that Jax has threatened to go public with false accusations about her, posted private messages exchanged between them on their parenting app, and called her an assortment of horrific names. (These names allegedly include “fat ass bitch,” “c**t,” “fatty” and “whore”– in private, in public and in front of Cruz, who was diagnosed with autism in 2024 and is mostly non-verbal.)
Alleged messages exchanged between the former couple obtained by TMZ show Jax threatening Brittany last month with unexpected bi-weekly visits from the state due to her “alcoholism” and the “animal droppings” that were “left on the floor for [Cruz] to see or step on.”
Jax fired off the heated message after Brittany informed him that pick-ups for Cruz would now take place through Cruz’s nanny in front of Brittany’s home after Jax allegedly caused a scene on the property.
“After you banged, cursed and screamed in front of my son at my front door I no longer feel safe with you on my property and I am advising you that doing so is trespassing,” she wrote in part.
On Friday, Jax took to Instagram to respond to Brittany’s claims and the news of the restraining order. While the 47-year-old acknowledged his past “mistakes” and behavior, he insisted that the events took place at the height of his addiction and that he remains committed to “treatment and therapy.” Still, Jax said he was “shocked” to see alleged incidents from 2024 being brought up now, as there were never any police reports filed.
He assured followers that the full story “will be addressed where it belongs– in court.”
“I will respect the court’s orders and the legal process,” he wrote.
The news of Brittany obtaining a restraining order against her historically unhinged ex comes just days after Jax accused her of continuing to “sabotage” his ability to work. Jax– who recently confirmed his relationship with Brittany’s now-former publicist, Lori Krebs– made the accusations on his Instagram Story, where he posted a screenshot of an alleged DM Brittany sent to someone involved with an event he recently promoted on social media.
In the DM, Brittany asked for details about Jax’s involvement with said event and told the individual she’d “like to share some information” with them– presumably about Jax.
“This is just another example of [Brittany] contacting every company, brand or opportunity I get, trying to sabotage my ability to work and move forward with my life,” Jax said of Brittany’s alleged interference. “This keeps happening over and over again and I’ve already lost several jobs because of it.”
Jax went on to insist that he had no choice but to take his and Brittany’s personal issues to the Internet, as his attempts to handle things “privately” have failed. He also claimed to be 637 days sober and working daily to “be a better person and father.”
A week earlier, Jax slammed Brittany for being a neglectful parent to Cruz and allegedly lying to her podcast listeners about the five-year-old starting kindergarten. Jax claimed that it is him— not Brittany— who has worked to get Cruz set up for his therapies and schooling.
Brittany went on to vehemently deny her ex’s various claims.
As fans of ‘The Valley’ know, Brittany filed for divorce from Jax in August 2024 after nearly five years of marriage. A year later, Jax announced that he was stepping away from ‘The Valley’ to focus on his sobriety and mental health.
Despite their ongoing– and apparently growing– feud, Jax and Brittany were able to reach a custody agreement for Cruz in March. The agreement includes a number of restrictions, including one forbidding the Bravo stars from being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while Cruz is in their care.
The exes also agreed to joint legal custody and responsibility when it comes to making decisions for Cruz’s health, education and general welfare, with Brittany to have the final say in the event that they are unable to come to an agreement.
RELATED STORY: ‘The Valley’ Star Brittany Cartwright Fires Back After Estranged Husband Jax Taylor Accuses Her of Neglecting Son Cruz
(Photos: Bravo; Instagram)
Not working in Jax’s favor is that he is a pathological liar about everything. How many times has he claimed to be sober only to later say “I lied. I wasn’t sober”. Or that he is a “great father” only to admit later that he barely sees him.
I am not a Brittany fan and probably never will be. But I literally witnessed him gaslighting and being emotionally and mentally abusive on TV.
He knew he was being filmed. If he chose to act like that on camera I can only imagine it being 10 times worse off camera.