Jax Taylor has never been a stranger to controversy — but Season 2 of The Valley took things to a much more personal and painful level. As cameras followed the former Vanderpump Rules star through a mental health crisis, a stint in treatment, and the unraveling of his marriage to Brittany Cartwright, producers behind the Bravo hit found themselves facing a delicate balancing act.
Executive producer Alex Baskin recently opened up about that challenge to Variety, revealing how the team is working to tell Jax’s story — the messy, emotional, and at times uncomfortable parts — without glossing over the truth or glamorizing harmful behavior. As the debate swirls around whether Jax should remain on the show, Baskin insists the goal is transparency, not enabling.
“We’re all trying to figure out how to tell the story responsibly and fairly, in a way that is entertaining and real,” Baskin said. “But that doesn’t put a gloss on what is really happening. This subject matter is dark!”
Season 2 documented Jax, 45, checking himself into a 30-day mental health treatment program following a volatile argument with Brittany, 36. Not long after, Brittany officially filed for divorce — a major turning point in their five-year marriage.
Baskin was clear that the decision to seek help had to be Jax’s alone:
“That’s a step that someone has to take on their own. We can’t [mandate treatment].”
Still, the decision to keep Jax on the show has drawn criticism from some viewers who argue that his presence amounts to “platforming an abuser.” Baskin pushed back strongly on that narrative.
“Our job is to tell the full story. If we didn’t tell the story in its completeness, then we would be covering up something that really happened and denying Brittany the chance to share what she had been through,” he said. “I don’t think that’s really ‘platforming an abuser’ as much as that is platforming the story — which includes Brittany’s experience as well as Jax’s.”
Jax, for his part, issued a statement to Variety via his representative, sharing his own progress:
“I just celebrated my 200th day of sobriety from both alcohol and cocaine. It’s been a long road and continues to be as I work through my mental health issues.”
With Season 2 wrapped and the reunion show already filmed, fans are speculating about who will be returning next season. According to Baskin, those decisions are still in the works.
“We’re figuring out all of it,” he said. “It’s very likely the show does look different next season, but I don’t know what different means.”
Although Jax was instrumental in launching The Valley, Baskin made it clear that nobody’s role is set in stone.
“No one is guaranteed a job indefinitely,” he explained. “Many times before, we’ve had to make a change based on someone’s behavior. But seeking help is the opposite of that. Seeking help is obviously what we completely support.”
Looking ahead, one of the top priorities for Season 3 is ensuring the cast reflects real-life relationships, not just forced interactions for the sake of drama.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where we are forcing together people who wouldn’t spend the time together in real life,” Baskin noted. “That can become taxing and difficult to watch.”
As The Valley navigates its next chapter, the future of Jax Taylor — and the tone of the show itself — remains in flux. But one thing is clear: reality TV is starting to take real life a little more seriously.
