Jax Taylor is opening up about his son Cruz’s autism diagnosis.
“We’ve known for a while,” Taylor, 45, told Extra on Wednesday, April 9. “Brittany and I have been going back and forth on how we wanted to tell everybody. My little boy is amazing. He’s so beautiful. He’s so delicious. He’s such a smart individual you know, but he’s obviously got some issues with autism.”
Earlier Wednesday, Taylor’s estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright, announced in an interview with People that their 3-year-old son had been diagnosed six months prior by his developmental pediatrician.
“I want to be affiliated with autism for the rest of my life,” Taylor said following the announcement. “I want to be in charities. I want to be whatever I can do to spread awareness to help financially, physically, mental. I want to be a part of it all. I feel like this is a sign from somebody that I need to be a part of this world and I want to help out other parents. I want to meet other parents.”
The Bravo star added: “When you see other kids … progressing a little bit further than your son and you’re like ‘Why aren’t they understanding?’ It can be a little frustrating, but I know he’ll get there. He’s just taking a little longer.”
Cartwright, 36, told People that Cruz is mostly nonverbal, but will “sporadically say different words.” She said it’s “difficult because I’ve never heard him say, ‘I love you.’ But he is so loving, and he shows me he loves me every single day. He is such a mommy’s boy.”
Jax Taylor and son Cruz. Courtesy of Jax Taylor/Instagram
Currently, she’s focused on “early intervention.”
“This is the time he’s building his brain,” she noted. “I’m just trying to do everything I possibly can to help him live the happiest life ever. I feel very blessed that I’m able to give him everything that he needs, and that’s why I want to help as many mothers as I can. I have learned so much over the past couple years.”
Speaking with Extra, Taylor — who revealed last month that he’s recovering from cocaine addiction — shared that Cruz “is my sole force, my driving force to being here today. That little boy is my angel. I love him more than anything in the world.”
Taylor made his Bravo debut on Vanderpump Rules in 2013. His ups and downs, including his marriage to Cartwright, featured on the show until his 2020 departure. In 2024, he and Cartwright appeared on the first season of the Vanderpump spinoff The Valley.
After the season wrapped, he checked himself into a treatment center in July 2024. He revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder before later confirming his substance abuse issues.
“I grew up like a lot of guys — we don’t talk about our feelings,” Taylor exclusively told Us Weekly last month. “I’m going to break that cycle. I want my son to talk about whatever he wants to talk about. Let’s be open. It’s OK not to be OK. I just couldn’t take the weight anymore. The pressure. I don’t want my son to feel like that. I want him to be open and honest. I will never judge him at all. I’ll be his biggest cheerleader.”
Andrew J Cunningham/Getty Images Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are prioritizing their son, Cruz, as they go their separate ways. “I don’t know what the future holds, but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz. I love you guys, and pray for us. Everything will be just fine,” Cartwright said […]
He added: “Everything I do is for [Cruz]. He’s the reason I went to rehab. I want to be here for him the rest of my life. I want him to go, my dad had a problem, he confronted it, he was open about it. If he can be proud of me for that, that would be amazing.”
