Jax Taylor’s behavior on The Valley is something producers continue to navigate behind the scenes.
“We’re all trying to figure out how to tell the story responsibly and fairly, in a way that is entertaining and real,” the Bravo show’s executive producer Alex Baskin shared in an interview with Variety published Tuesday, June 17. “But that doesn’t put a gloss on what is really happening. This subject matter is dark!”
During season 2 of The Valley, cameras rolled as Jax, 45, decided to enter a 30-day mental health treatment facility to focus on his anger after a fight with his estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright.
Before Jax finished his program, Brittany, 36, decided to officially file for divorce after five years of marriage.
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In his latest interview, Alex said that going into treatment is not something that Jax’s employers “can legally mandate.”
“We can’t,” he added. “That’s a step that someone has to take on their own.”
As for viewers who question whether Jax deserves a spot on the show given his volatile behavior, Alex wanted to respond to the accusation that putting the Vanderpump Rules alum on television means the show is “platforming an abuser.”
“Our job is to tell the full story,” Alex said. “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. 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.”
In a statement to Variety through his rep, Jax said, “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 the season 2 reunion show already filmed, chatter about who will or won’t be back for season 3 has already begun online.
For now, Alex suggests it’s far too early to make any concrete decisions about the cast, which includes Danny Booko, Nia Sanchez, Kristen Doute, Janet Caperna, Jason Caperna, Jesse Lally, Michelle Saniei and more stars.
“We’re figuring out all of it,” he shared. “It’s very likely the show does look different next season, but I don’t know what different means.”
Although Jax was integral to the formation of the show, Alex explained that “no one is guaranteed a job indefinitely. 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.”
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One priority Alex has moving forward is that the cast is a group of people that would actually spend time together — even if cameras weren’t rolling.
“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,” he said. “That can become taxing and difficult to watch.”
The Valley airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.
