Jax Taylor believes Tom Sandoval is responsible for Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney‘s split.
During the first episode of their three-episode Watch With feature on Peacock on Thursday, Jax and his wife, Brittany Cartwright, reacted to the latest episode of Vanderpump Rules, with Jax admitting he previously thought Katie was “wrong” and Brittany offering an update on her friendship with their former co-star.
“We still have love for each other,” Brittany said of herself and Katie on April 13, via Us Weekly. “It’s crazy seeing Katie because she was literally my matron of honor. We were so close. And I have barely even heard from her in a whole entire year.”
As Pump Rules fans well know, Katie distanced herself from Brittany after Brittany and Jax pulled out of Stassi Schroeder and Beau Clark‘s May 2022 wedding in Rome, Italy at the last minute — and gave a bevy of excuses for their decision, which was very upsetting for Stassi and Beau.
“We never got in any fights and I don’t have any hate or anything for her, but it’s just so weird seeing all this because I didn’t know how she was feeling through all of this,” Brittany said of Katie. “It kind of makes me sad.”
Although Brittany and Katie are no longer close, Brittany was upset by Wednesday’s episode of Pump Rules because it showed Schwartz betrayed Katie by hooking up with someone in their friend group, Raquel Leviss, which they vowed not to do.
As for Jax, he commented on Schwartz and Katie’s split as well, admitting that while he previously believed Katie was at fault, he’s since had a change of heart.
“All along I thought Katie was the one that was wrong. I really did,” he explained. “But Tom did not put her first.”
Schwartz was also negatively impacted by Sandoval, who he was in the midst of opening a business with, Schwartz & Sandy’s, at the time his and Katie’s divorce was announced.
“I think he had a lot to do with why they got divorced,” Jax told Brittany, also via Us Weekly. “I would like to think they would still be together if it weren’t for Sandoval … As much as Katie drives me nuts, I see her point.”
“Oh, yeah,” Brittany replied.
While Katie has accused Schwartz of always having everyone’s back but hers, Schwartz defended himself against that claim on Watch What Happens Live earlier this month, saying Katie “demanded unconditional loyalty” — even when she shouldn’t have.
“She abused [the request to defend her] a little bit. She was always getting in tiffs and she’s like, ‘You’re with me or against me,’” he said. “She’s way better now. Katie, I love you, but in the beginning, she was kind of a monster. … She has had a falling out with every single person in her life multiple times. And I just didn’t like getting dragged into all that and I guess I became a little numb when she actually did need me. It’s like the boy who cried wolf.”
Vanderpump Rules season 10 airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
