Brittany Cartwright Son
Brittany Cartwright, beloved reality star from The Valley and Vanderpump Rules, is opening up about a deeply personal chapter in her life. For the first time, Cartwright is sharing that her son Cruz, who turns four this year, has been diagnosed with autism.
In an emotional reflection, Cartwright recalled one of the many touching milestones in her parenting journey — the first time Cruz surprised her by speaking a full sentence. “It was such a beautiful moment,” she said. “Moments like that, they remind me just how special this journey is. It’s challenging, yes — but it’s also full of so much joy.”
Now navigating what she calls a “new normal,” Cartwright is embracing her role not just as a mom, but as an advocate. “My son is autistic, and he’s incredible,” she says. “I’m his voice now. I’m his warrior now.”
As she adjusts to parenting a neurodivergent child, Cartwright says she’s been learning, listening, and surrounding herself with resources and support to best serve Cruz’s needs. “You have to meet your child where they are,” she explains. “It’s not about fitting them into the world — it’s about reshaping the world to include them fully.”
This revelation comes amid another emotionally intense chapter for Cartwright — the public unraveling of her relationship with longtime partner and fellow Vanderpump Rules alum, Jax Taylor. The couple, who were together for ten years and share Cruz, separated in February 2024. Cartwright filed for divorce six months later.
Their split has played out under the spotlight, particularly after Taylor, 45, admitted in March to a 20-year struggle with cocaine addiction. While Cartwright has remained largely private about the details, she now acknowledges how the past year has pushed her to grow in unexpected ways.
“Going through this divorce and everything has really made me so much stronger,” she says. “At the end of the day, everything I’m doing is because of my son.”
Cartwright’s openness about Cruz’s diagnosis and her own challenges as a mother and a woman in transition shines a light on the resilience behind her familiar smile. As she steps into this new chapter, she’s embracing her role as both protector and champion.
“This isn’t the path I imagined,” she admits. “But it’s ours. And I’m so proud of my son, every single day. He’s the reason I keep going.”
