Jax Taylor Says VPR Fans May Have Seen 'Signs' Of His Cocaine Addiction On The Show

Reality television is a source of drama for many different reasons. Sometimes, viewers see dysfunctional relationships between family, friends, or romantic partners. Other times there can be personal demons a particular cast member is battling with. This was the case recently when Karen Huger of The Real Housewives franchise was charged with a DUI.

Jax Taylor made a name for himself on Vanderpump Rules and soon became one of the show’s breakout stars. His presence on the show, however, was always filled with speculation about his drug use. Many viewers believed he was under the influence during much of the series. This is something Jax himself recently confirmed, and his former castmates reacted.

Jax Said That He Was Often Using Cocaine While Filming Episodes Of Vanderpump Rules

Fans of Vanderpump Rules speculated that Jax Taylor filmed the series while under the influence of cocaine. It turns out they were right, as the reality star himself recently revealed. He made this revelation during a recent episode of Alex Baskin’s Hot Mic podcast.

“I thought for the most part that I was keeping a lot of it under the radar. But clearly I wasn’t,” Jax said. “When I watch back I’m like, ‘How big are my f****** pupils? I’m sweating and there’s no reason to be sweating in the scene. Why am I sweating?’”

According to Jax, there were “some signs” that loyal viewers noticed, adding, “And [producers] did pull me aside a couple times and say, ‘Listen, calm down now.’ They didn’t know, but they thought I was drinking too much.” To avoid any further rumors, Jax made sure to let listeners know that production wasn’t “supplying” him or any of his castmates with alcohol or substances.

“I would go off on my own. We would film a scene and you have 30 minutes [of] downtime so most people go rest. I would go to a bar, get lit or go next door from SUR and that’s where we all went because we weren’t allowed to drink during scenes,” Jax recalled. “During certain times, we would go to parties. But when we’re doing these important scenes, they were like, ‘Stay away from that.’ But we’d all sneak in the back alley or we would all go get ripped before a scene.”

When Vanderpump Rules first premiered in 2013, it was sold as a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. It focused on one of the more popular housewives, Lisa Vanderpump. However, the show did so well that it evolved into a franchise of its own. The series initially focused on Lisa Vanderpump and the current staff at her restaurants. These staff members included Jax, Stassi Schroeder, Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval and Kristen Doute. Viewers watched as they attempted to navigate the conflicts that arose, both professional and personal.

Jax became known for his frequent erratic behavior, and this helped make him a breakout star of the series. In one episode, Jax declared himself the “No. 1 guy in the group.” Jax also cheated on his then-girlfriend, who is currently his estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright, with Faith Stowers. There was even an infamous scene in Las Vegas where he was fighting shirtless in a parking lot.

“[Vanderpump Rules viewers] could kind of tell that I was on something. Obviously production and [other] people, they didn’t know what I was doing,” Jax said. “Everything I was doing was on my own but I was just on that train and I couldn’t get off.” Jax finally decided to seek help after battling his addiction for two decades.

“I have substance issues — primarily with cocaine. It’s hard to say out loud,” Jax admitted. “I’ve been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now I’m 45. There was times where I would stop doing it but then there were times where I’d go heavy on it.”

It wasn’t just cocaine that Jax needed to cut out of his life. He revealed that he also stopped drinking alcohol, saying, “People ask you, ‘Do you have an alcohol problem too?’ I don’t necessarily think I have an alcohol problem but the two go hand in hand.” Jax explained, “I can’t do cocaine without drinking. So I just gave up both. I’m proud to say I’m 83 days sober right now, which is the longest I’ve ever gone in my life without either.”

Jax and Brittany starred in The Valley after they exited Vanderpump Rules. However, Jax continued to struggle with his addiction in that series as well. “The next day is the worst [after using cocaine]. You feel like absolute s***. You feel at the bottom of the barrel,” he revealed. “You have zero serotonin. You are just angry and depressed. Anybody who’s done cocaine will tell you that the next day is brutal. It’s weird why we do it for two hours of fun and the next 48 hours are miserable.”

Jax detailed his journey through addiction in a statement to Us Weekly, saying, “For many years I’ve depended on alcohol and drugs as a way to cope and mask many deeper issues. This past year has been the hardest year of my life but also the most eye opening and transformative. Coming to terms with my many mental health challenges and being honest about my addiction — both with myself and others has been a crucial part of my healing. It’s been a day-by-day process, but I’m committed to my recovery and working towards a healthier future in order to be a better person and someone my son will be proud of one day.”

Tom Sandoval Revealed The Cast Of Vanderpump Rules Was Aware Of Jax’s Drug Addiction

When Jax made his drug addiction public, it didn’t shock Tom Sandoval or his other Vanderpump Rules castmates. This particular fact was revealed by Tom himself when he appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

Andy asked Tom what his reaction was when Tom revealed he was “83 days sober” from cocaine. “I think that that’s amazing,” Tom said. “I’m so proud of him. I think that’s so awesome. He really seems like he’s really been working on himself, for real.”

Andy then asked Tom if he was “aware” of Jax’s addiction issues, and Tom told the host, “Yes, I was somewhat aware of his problems with addiction. I’ve been around him over the years, obviously.” He was then asked if “the cast was aware,” and Tom responded, “Yeah.”

Brittany Cartwright Spoke Out Following Jax’s Addiction Revelation

And it’s not just Tom who is reacting to Jax’s recent revelation. His estranged wife and former costar on Vanderpump Rules, Brittany Cartwright, said in a statement to People, “I’m glad that he finally admitted to what was really going on.” Jax and Brittany share a 3-year-old son, Cruz Cauchi. She filed for divorce from Jax in August 2024.

“For the first time, I can speak openly about the extent of trauma he’s instilled on our family over the years,” Brittany continued. “I’ve tried desperately to help him without success. I pray that one day he completely knocks this addiction, but I’m skeptical. His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.”

Brittany commented further on her Instagram story, where she discussed the “damage” the addiction has had on Cruz. “His addiction unfortunately has done irreparable damage to my son and I. I’ve spent years trying to help him,” she admitted. “I wish more than anyone I could say how proud I am of him today but I’d be lying. His actions will speak for themselves.”

Lala Kent, another former co-star, spoke about Jax on Amazon Live, saying, “That is not easy to admit. This is going to be his journey and his journey only, and he should be the only one to speak on it because none of us know what he’s been through in his life.” “[Sobriety] is not one size fits all,” Lala added. “Everyone has a different level of addiction, but addiction is addiction.”