Jax Taylor Details “Scary” Intervention That Led to Hospital Stay: “Not to Break the Fourth Wall…”
Jax said friends intervened two days after he "went crazy" after learning his estranged wife hooked up with a friend.
The Valley’s Jax Taylor just laid out all his cards about “one of the hardest years” in his life in a new episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic Podcast with reality T.V. producer Alex Baskin.
The former Vanderpump Rules SURver has consistently stayed in the spotlight since The Valley’s debut season wrapped, especially for his high-profile split from wife Brittany Cartwright. In the summer of 2024, his stay at a mental health facility also made headlines — and it only happened after those closest to Jax staged an intervention, he said in Season 3, Episode 2 of Hot Mic.
“It was probably the hardest thing of my life; it was very scary,” Jax said of checking into the facility. “My friends picked me up. They kind of had an intervention.”
Learn what Jax had to say about what led to him getting treatment on Hot Mic.
Jax Taylor Details Mental Health Intervention
Jax has been candid about his mental health since checking into inpatient treatment in July 2024 to prioritize his emotional well-being. But, as he explained in the recent Hot Mic episode, he didn’t get there alone.
“I was coming home from the gym, and my buddies were there, and just saying, ‘Listen, it’s time for you to go,’” Jax admitted. “It was a lot of people, and — not to break the fourth wall or anything — but my manager saw me kind of going a little bit off the rails, and they said, ‘Maybe this is a good move for you.’ So, I honestly have to thank them because I was bad. It was really, really bad. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t go to this institution.”
The decision came after Jax learned Brittany hooked up with one of his friends, as Brittany 'fessed up to in the Hot Mic episode preceding Jax's. Jax told Baskin he found Brittany had sent photos of herself and pictures of their 3-year-old son, Cruz, to his friend. Then, Jax said, he "saw red" and "went crazy," even breaking furniture inside the home.
Two days later, friends intervened.
During his emotional 30-day stay, Jax was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, something he previously called “a lifelong battle.”
Jax admitted on the podcast that he “really, really needed to go,” but he wasn’t initially keen on seeking treatment. He attributed his hesitance to an ego that “couldn’t even fit through the door.”
He said he held reservations based on oft-stereotypical and made-for-T.V. tropes, such as padded rooms, straight jackets, and forced sedation. He soon realized it wasn't the reality.
“It was a beautiful home [and] the people there were really, really nice,” Jax said. “But it took me about three to four days to really get comfortable, and by the end of the second week, I really, really liked it. I loved being there."
Jax discussed his fondness for the facility, citing a strict routine, which included seven hours of therapy and gym visits (accompanied by a nurse) on a daily basis. Reading and journaling also became crucial parts of his recovery, as well as medication designed to treat bipolar disorder, as he’d previously been prescribed Lexapro to treat depression only.
“Ever since I’ve been on this medication, it’s been amazing,” said Jax. “I’ve had no outbursts; I haven’t been angry. It’s a game-changer.”
Jax admitted to “spiraling” with his mental health prior to seeking treatment.
“I compare it to going to Home Depot; they gave me all these new tools,” he said. “I was really excited to learn why I do certain things. I was going over situations, and I was so honest, and I was raw, and I got into my childhood and tried to figure out why I do certain things and realizing bipolar is genetic; it was just eye-opening. I was emotional. I was crying every day.”
