Kristen Doute Reveals Her Honest Opinion on Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright's Breakup

Kristen Doute is sur-ving up her take on Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright's recent split. 

Two weeks after The Valley costars announced they were separating after four years of marriage, the Vanderpump Rules alum weighed in on her friends' latest relationship update. 

"I'm proud of Brittany for setting boundaries for making the choice for her," Kristen exclusively told E! News March 14 at the premiere party for the Bravo series The Valley. "But I'm very hopeful that they can work this out. But that's on Jax, that's not on her."

For her part, Kristen—who exited Vanderpump Rules in 2020—was hesitant to return to reality TV with boyfriend Luke Broderick. But, the new series has brought her closer to Brittany. 

"I'm with Brittany, probably four to five days a week," the 41-year-old shared. "I still spend time with both Jax and Brittany together, not separately, of course. I'm as honest with him, as I am with her that this is on him to fix. And she's given him the list. Like, this is what she needs from him. And that's on him. I will continue to care about him. But I'm there for her."

"I'm very hopeful that Jax will listen to her," Kristen continued, "and just do the work because she's giving him that opportunity."

As for Jax's take on their split? 

"We're just having a little communication issues right now," he told E!. "That's all—there's nothing else. There's no cheating. There's no infidelity anywhere. It's just communication. I know it's shocking, but people sometimes just don't get along and that's life."

When it comes to co-parenting their son Cruz, the 44-year-old continued, "Everything is wonderful. We see each other every single day. The only thing that's different is we just don't sleep under the same roof. That's it."

And Brittany? Well, she's putting herself first.

"I literally put Jax first my entire life and I think it's time for me to figure out what's best for myself and for my son especially," she revealed. "He's a great dad, not the best husband. So we're gonna figure out what's best for us."

See the estranged couple's relationship drama play out when The Valley premieres Tuesday, March 19.

And keep reading to relive Jax and Brittany's romance pre-split.

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright first meet while vacationing in Las Vegas in 2015. He convinced her to join the cast of Vanderpump Rules for season four, which premiered that same year. Following her Bravo debut, the Kentucky native and Jax took their relationship to the next level in the public eye. 

The pair took a break from life in West Hollywood and headed to the brunette beauty's home state: Kentucky. They filmed their Bravo spinoff show, Jax and Brittany Take Kentucky, where they experience many ups and downs in their relationship. The first and only season aired in 2017.

Brittany and Jax briefly called it quits in December 2017 after he confessed to cheating with fellow VPR castmate Faith Stowers. However, they rekindled their romance and appeared happier than ever during the Pump Rules reunion in May 2018.

"He was very persistent and just did not give up," Brittany told E! News following the reconciliation. "There were some times—sorry to say this Jax—where I'd have 30 missed calls from him. He just wasn't going to give up on me."

Brittany shared the special news that she and Jax are engaged on Instagram. "Omg omg!!!!!!!! We are ENGAGED! What a way to start our summer and season 7," she said of her proposal, which took place in Malibu in June 2018. " I am so happy, so in love, and so beyond excited for this next chapter of our lives! I am the happiest girl ever right now."

The two lovebirds celebrate their engagement news with their closest friends and family. It's certainly a night to remember!

The two bring the glitz and the glam to ther 2018 People's Choice Awards, where Brittany showed off her gorgeous engagement bling.

"Thank you sooooo much to the fans who got us this far, this is an incredible experience that I never imagined I would be apart of and I am so grateful," she wrote on Instagram. "I won't forget this night for the rest of my life..."

In the midst of wedding planning, the reality TV personalities shared a special moment on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live.

The couple lived it up as they celebrated their joint bachelorette and bachelor parties in Miami. At the time, a source told E! News Jax and Brittany were "having a blast" with their guests.

Ahead of their televised wedding ceremony, the couple got their marriage license at the Clark County Courthouse in Kentucky.

Family, friends and Vanderpump Rules cast members watched the Bravo stars tie the knot at a Kentucky Castle in June 2020.

In September 2020, Brittany and Jax announce they're expecting a baby boy. "Mom & Dad," Brittany captioned a phoyto of herself and Jax. "The love of our lives is coming soon."

Amid Brittany's pregnancy, the couple announced in December 2020 that they "will not be returning for another season of Vanderpump Rules."

They added at the time, "We are excited to take this time to focus on our growing family and share with you our new endeavors."

Brittany gave birth to her and Jax's first baby—son Cruz Michael Cauchi—on April 12, 2021 "We have never been more in love," she shared on Instagram. "He is the most precious gift and I am so blessed to be his Mommy. We are soooooo so happy, he is a dream come true!!"

In January 2024, Bravo announced that Brittany and Jax—as well as fellow VPR alum Kristen Doute—will star in the spinoff series called The Valley, which will center around their day-to-day in the famed Los Angeles suburb.

The couple hinted at problems in their marriage in February 2024, sharing that they had separated for the time being.

"Yes, marriages in general are very hard and I've had a particularly rough year this past year," Brittany shared on their joint podcast When Reality Hits. "Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health."

(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family)

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