Brittany Cartwright is speaking out for the first time after being granted a temporary restraining order against estranged husband Jax Taylor.
The Valley star was spotted out in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 29, just days after a judge granted her request for protection amid her increasingly contentious divorce from Jax.
When asked how she was doing, Brittany thanked fans for standing by her.
“Thanks for the support,” Brittany told TMZ.
She then gave a brief update on her condition, assuring everyone, “I’m OK!”
Brittany declined to get into the specifics of the temporary restraining order, which requires Jax to stay away from her as their divorce battle continues.
The brief comment comes after Brittany made serious allegations in court documents, accusing Jax of years of abuse throughout their relationship and claiming his behavior continued even after their separation.
In her filing, Brittany accused Jax of “coercive control, financial abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, gaslighting and even physical violence perpetrated” during their relationship.
Brittany and Jax were married from 2019 to 2024 and share 5-year-old son Cruz.
One of the most disturbing allegations in Brittany’s filing was that Jax allegedly once threatened to “gut [her] like a fish.” Brittany also accused Jax of physical aggression, destroying her property, invading her privacy and degrading her with verbal abuse.
“Although Jax and I have now been separated for more than two years, his pattern of committing acts of domestic violence against me has not stopped,” Brittany wrote in the filing.
She continued, “During our relationship, his abuse included threats of physical violence, actual physical aggression, destruction of my property, degrading and humiliating verbal abuse, controlling behavior, invasion of my privacy and financial abuse.”
Brittany also claimed that the way Jax allegedly mistreats her has shifted since their separation.
“As of the date of separation, the manner in which he abuses me has changed, but the pattern of abuse has continued,” she alleged.
Brittany claimed Jax now uses their communication about Cruz to harass and threaten her.
“He now uses our required communications concerning Cruz to harass and threaten me, he makes threats of public humiliation on social media and he continuously confronts me during custody-related interactions as additional means of intimidating, harassing, and disturbing my peace,” she wrote.
Brittany also alleged that Cruz’s nanny and future school administrators witnessed Jax acting “aggressive and hostile” toward her during a school orientation on August 10.
She claimed Jax “has a tendency of not being able to control his anger and emotions.”
While Brittany requested sole custody of Cruz, that request was denied for now pending a future court hearing.
Jax has since responded to the filing, acknowledging that he made mistakes during what he described as one of the darkest periods of his life.
“I made a lot of mistakes and behaved in ways during that period of my life that I’m truly ashamed of and regret and take full responsibility for,” Jax said.
He added, “The person I was in 2024, during the darkest time of my life and at the height of my addiction, is not the person I am today.”
Jax said he got help, went to treatment and is now sober.
“I got help, went to treatment, and today I’m 1 year and 9 months sober,” he said. “I’ve remained committed to treatment and therapy, working on myself and changing my life.”
However, Jax also said he disputes some of the allegations in Brittany’s petition.
“There are allegations being made” that he “strongly dispute[s],” Jax said.
He added that he plans to address the situation through the legal process.
“The full story, context and evidence will be addressed where it belongs — in court,” Jax said. “I will respect the court’s orders and the legal process.”
He continued, “My focus continues to be my sobriety, working on my mental health, being the best father I can be to Cruz and moving forward in a healthy and responsible way.”