Brittany Cartwright 'Completely Devoted' to Son Cruz's Care (EXCL)
Brittany Cartwright is opening her heart and showing incredible strength navigating son Cruz’s recent autism diagnosis as she receives an outpouring of love from both fans and her reality TV family alike. A source exclusively tells Life & Style the experience has brought the Vanderpump Rules alum closer to ex husband Jax Taylor, too, as everyone in her network rallies around her to support this new chapter of her life.
“Everyone on the cast has been super supportive through this. They’ve all known for months, so this wasn’t a big reveal for any of them,” the source explains. “Brittany is closest to Scheana [Shay], Lala [Kent] and Kristen [Doute], and they’ve really stepped up.”
Brittany, 35, discussed her son’s diagnosis, which is defined as a “neurological and developmental disorder” that impacts how people learn, behave and communicate, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, in an interview with People published on April 12. The reality star said that, while Cruz’s development started ahead of the curve, by his second year he became mostly non verbal. “He crawled early, he walked early,” she explained. “He was talking, he was saying, ‘Mommy,’ ‘Daddy.’ He was saying, ‘Hot Dog!’ from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Then, as he got closer to 2, we started noticing that he was regressing in his speech. He stopped talking almost completely.”
Brittany also made a point of putting her son’s care ahead of her own relationships. “We just want to make sure Cruz has the best support system around him,” she revealed on an episode of her podcast “Reality Hits,” adding that she and Jax, 45, are still looking at different therapies and teaching tools. “It doesn’t define him. He’s so perfect and special and amazing.”
The couple married in a lavish Kentucky ceremony in 2019, following years of will-they-won’t-they relationship drama on Vanderpump Rules, yet ultimately announced their separation in February 2024 after four years of marriage. But the source notes that despite the split, they’ve remained united in their care for their son and the situation has even brought them to a new level of understanding in their post-marriage relationship.
“It’s brought them closer together,” the insider explains. “It’s given her and Jax something outside of their relationship to focus on. She is still 100 percent the caregiver, but Jax has really been trying to be around.”
“He was front and center the other day for Cruz’s fourth birthday party, and he and Brittany seemed to be getting along well,” the source adds.
For Brittany, the focus remains on Cruz. “She’s being very proactive and really jumping on all the early interventions,” the insider says. “Cruz is getting all the best care. She’s completely devoted herself to him.”
“Everyone’s amazed by the strength she is showing through this,” the source shares. “Of course it’s been an adjustment, but she’s handled it so well and is so positive.”
“She’s going to do anything and everything to make sure her son has the best life,” the insider adds. “Brittany is a very sweet person — there’s never been any doubt about that — but she is showing this core of strength that is a surprise.”