‘The Valley’ Producer Responded to Allegations of ‘Platforming an Abuser’ by Having Jax Taylor on the Show
The most recent season of The Valley follows the disintegration of Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s marriage. After their separation, Taylor admitted to years of cocaine addiction, leading to him spending 30 days in a rehab facility. Many fans have expressed deep concern about his behavior towards Cartwright and have called for his removal from the show. Producer Alex Baskin responded to allegations that it was dangerous to have Taylor on television.
‘The Valley’ producer Alex Baskin defended the decision to have Jax Taylor on the show
Taylor and Cartwright’s romance began on Vanderpump Rules and has come to an explosive end on The Valley. Vicious fights have characterized their separation. Even while in the rehab facility, Taylor watched Cartwright on cameras and sent her rage texts. Baskin said production has tried to depict this honestly.
“We’re all trying to figure out how to tell the story responsibly and fairly, in a way that is entertaining and real,” he told Variety. “But that doesn’t put a gloss on what is really happening. This subject matter is dark!”
Of particular concern was a fight between Taylor and Cartwright in which he injured her when he threw a table, punched the walls, and flung furniture around the room. Her castmates expressed concern for her on and off the show.
“I was like, ‘It’s not safe. You definitely can’t be around him,’” Nia Sachez Booko said. “It made me really worried for my friend.”
Many fans have called the show irresponsible for putting someone like Taylor on television. They’ve accused Baskin and Bravo of platforming an abuser. Baskin pushed back against this.
“Our job is to tell the full story,” he 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.”
Jax Taylor announced his departure from ‘The Valley’
The second season of The Valley is still airing, but Taylor has already announced that he won’t be back for season three.
“After an incredibly challenging year and many honest conversations with my team and producers, I’ll be stepping away from the next season of The Valley,” he said in a statement to Us Weekly. “Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting. Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself — especially for our son, Cruz.”
Even before news of Taylor’s departure broke, Baskin acknowledged that the show will likely “look different next season.”
He was fired from ‘Vanderpump Rules’
Years before this, Taylor lost his spot on Vanderpump Rules as well. In the season eight finale, Taylor argued with creator Lisa Vanderpump and called Vanderpump Rules “his show.” His clashes with production and refusal to film certain scenes led to him losing his job.
The Valley season finale airs on July 22 at 9 p.m. ET.
