Brittany Cartwright filed for a domestic violence temporary restraining order against Jax Taylor in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, and a judge granted it. Jax, 47, formerly of Vanderpump Rules, has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from Brittany, 37, currently of The Valley.
This is worth stating plainly at the outset: a judge reviewed the evidence Brittany submitted and found it sufficient to grant protective orders. That is a real legal determination, not simply one person’s unverified claim.
What Brittany Cartwright Alleges
In her declaration, Brittany described what she called a pattern of “coercive control, financial abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, gaslighting and even physical violence” spanning roughly a decade with Jax. According to documents obtained by TMZ, she alleges Jax threatened to kill her, telling her he would “gut me like a fish,” and that he physically attacked her and threw furniture, causing injuries. Photos included with her filing, shared by TMZ on August 28, show visible bruising and swelling on her leg, along with images of damaged property in the home.
Brittany claims Jax broke multiple devices, including three iPhones and an iPad. She also says he stalked her, accessed her phone and Instagram without permission, and deleted messages. She claims he took her $70,000 wedding ring from their home and has refused to return it.
The filing claims the verbal abuse included degrading names used both privately and in front of their son. Some examples are “fat ass bitch” and “broke ass bitch,” along with other insults about her looks and character. Brittany also claims Jax used financial support as leverage, telling her she had lived on his money and would now owe him support in return.
A Text Exchange Included As Evidence
Brittany’s filing included messages from July 15, 2026, following an incident when Jax came to their former shared home to pick up their 5-year-old son, Cruz.
“You have been warned I will call police for trespassing,” Brittany wrote, adding that she no longer felt safe with him near her property. “After you banged cursed and screamed in front of my son at my front door I no longer feel safe with you on my home property and I am advising you that doing so is trespassing.”
Jax replied, “Are you threatening me that sounds like a threat,” before adding, “Plan on the state dropping by twice a week unexpectedly,” while raising concerns of his own about what he described as Brittany’s drinking and unclean conditions in the home.
Custody Remains Undecided
Brittany requested full custody of Cruz as part of her filing. The judge denied that specific request for now, pending a future court hearing where custody will be more fully addressed.
Jax Taylor Responds
Jax talked about the restraining order in an Instagram post soon after it was issued. His response didn’t outright deny all of Brittany’s claims.
“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,” he wrote. “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. I got help, went to treatment, and today I’m 1 year and 9 months sober.”
He did dispute specific claims, however, particularly ones involving incidents from further in the past. “I was shocked to see claims about alleged incidents from over two years ago being brought up now, especially when there have never been any police reports filed or criminal charges brought against me related to them. There are allegations being made that I strongly dispute.”
He closed by saying he intends to let the legal process play out. “The full story, context and evidence will be addressed where it belongs, in court. I will respect the court’s orders and the legal process. 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.”
Where Things Stand
Jax makes an important point: he admits to general wrongdoing linked to his active addiction. However, he disputes the truth of specific allegations, especially the more serious ones. That is a different posture than an outright denial, and also different from a full admission. The court process ahead, including the hearing on custody, will be where those specifics get tested.
Brittany and Jax married in 2019, separated, and Brittany filed for divorce in 2024. Their relationship was on display in Vanderpump Rules and later The Valley. This restraining order is one of the most serious legal steps in their split so far.
Steve is the founder and editor of TVShowsRoom, covering the Real Housewives franchise, Below Deck, Vanderpump Rules, and Summer House. He oversees editorial direction and specializes in breaking news and season-to-season storyline analysis. Steve has covered the reality TV and Bravo landscape for six years and keeps a close eye on how each franchise evolves.
