Brittany Cartwright Gives Update on Jax Taylor, Defends His Birthday Outing With Son Cruz

Brittany Cartwright gave an update on her ex-husband, Jax Taylor, and she revealed that he’s still “Jaxin’.”

During an April 15 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live,” “The Valley” star told Bravo host Andy Cohen that she is successfully co-parenting with her ex but admitted that it remains a challenge.

Cartwright and Taylor split in January 2024 after nearly 10 years together. While their divorce is still not finalized more than two years later, in March 2026, E! News reported that the exes share joint legal custody of their son. While Cruz lives in the original Valley Village family home with Cartwright, Taylor gets their son every Wednesday night, every other weekend, and on his birthday and Father’s Day. No child support arrangement is included in their custody agreement.

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Brittany Cartwright Wanted Jax Taylor to See His Son on His Birthday

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On WWHL, Cohen asked Cartwright how her relationship with Taylor is going these days. “Jax is jaxin’,” she said, adding. “Yeah. I mean, it’s not easy.”

She also confirmed that Taylor is now sober, noting, “Yes, yes, very happy for that. That is a great achievement. It’s just, some people are never gonna change, so…”

After Cohen asked if it was true that Taylor brought Cruz to a Hooters restaurant for his fifth birthday last weekend, Cartwright said it was and that she had absolutely no problem with it.

“And I just…I was inducted into the Hooters Hall of Fame,” she shared. “I think people forget about that. I love Hooters. I’d love to own a Hooters. Like, that does not bother me at all. I wanted him to spend time with his son on his birthday.”

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This Wasn’t Cruz’s First Trip to Hooters

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On April 12, Taylor posted photos from Cruz’s birthday on his Instagram Stories. The former Bravo star took his son to an aquarium and to the sports restaurant chain, where the menus were in clear view as they sipped sodas. “Best day with my best bud,” Taylor captioned the birthday post.

This wasn’t Cruz’s first visit to Hooters. In 2023, Cartwright, who used to work at the chain known for its skimpy uniforms, shared Instagram photos of her son in a highchair with a Hooters waitress next to him. The then 2-year-old appeared shy as he looked away from the waitress.

“Didn’t wanna make Ocean & Summer jealous,” Cartwright captioned the photos in reference to Lala Kent and Scheana Shay’s daughters, who she joked were her son’s “girlfriends.”