Fans of The Valley were aware that the show had to make some changes to Season 3 due to the troubling dynamics between the cast following bitter breakups and breakdowns in communication. But what no one saw coming was Jax Taylor (who was arguably one of the biggest stars on the show) announcing his exit.

Taylor made a surprising statement to Bravo’s The Daily Dish on July 16, when he informed fans that he would be stepping away to focus on the things in his life that are important: his health and his son. Fans made no secret of their shock when they reacted on social media, but how did the cast of the show feel?

How Did The Cast Of ‘The Valley’ React To Jax Taylor’s Exit

Did the cast of The Valley suspect that Taylor was going to leave the show? A source told People that this wasn’t the case because the “cast was absolutely blindsided by this news.”

The source continued, “They were not given any advance notifications about his exit. Most of the cast were notified that filming was going to begin at the end of the summer, and they expected Jax would be a part of the new season because — even as lately as yesterday — he hadn’t said otherwise. This is a huge surprise.”

Taylor’s statement was short and to the point. “Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting,” he said of his exit. “Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself — especially for our son, Cruz.”

Fans reacted to the news when Bravo made a post about Taylor on Instagram on July 16.

“Good job Bravo because it was getting too much,” a comment reads.

“Last nights episode was hard to watch between he and Brit,” another fan wrote. “He has some work to do and he can’t do it or shouldn’t with cameras in his face. I truly hope you get the help and work on things to be the dad and man you need to be. sending positive vibes.”

Jax Taylor’s Sobriety Struggles Have Been Highlighted On ‘The Valley’

Taylor’s struggles have played out on reality TV and fans have seen his vulnerability. He has also sought help for addiction before, and was in an in-patient facility in August 2024.

Taylor is open about his sobriety and how he has a lot on his plate because he and The Valley castmate Brittany Cartwright are going through a bitter divorce, while also trying to establish a co-parenting setup for their young son, Cruz.

In an episode of The Valley in June, Taylor discussed his experience with rehab and admitted to struggling to adjust to life on the outside. He referred to rehab as a place where “nobody can hurt me.”

He continued, “Then, you walk out the doors, and it’s like, life just hits you. Now, okay, I got to remember everything that I’ve learned, I got to move into this new place, I got to see my son, I got to face everybody. It’s a lot to take in at once. I just don’t want to go back into my old ways, because it’s very easy to slip.”

He also referred to the experience of getting help as “humbling” and admitted that he had been in denial about needing help.