Jax Taylor, Lori Krebs, and the Publicist Scandal Behind *The Valley*

Bravo’s reality-show spinoff *The Valley* entered its third season after TMZ released photos showing Jax Taylor embracing longtime publicist Lori Krebs in a hotel pool in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Witnesses told TMZ the pair “were getting close and hugging throughout the day and weren’t trying to hide they were together.” The images surfaced on Monday, prompting speculation that the off-camera relationship contributed to Taylor’s removal from the season’s filming. Production of the season had largely concluded before the photos emerged, and Taylor has not shot any new scenes.

Hollywood Reporter

Taylor and Brittany Cartwright, who share a son, announced their separation in February 2024 and Cartwright filed for divorce in August 2024. Their publicist, Lori Krebs, had served both partners for years. Earlier in September 2024, a blind-item alleged that Cartwright’s former publicist had an affair in Canada; Cartwright denied that claim on her podcast, describing Krebs as “a very, very good friend” and an “amazing publicist.”

The Cut

Cartwright addressed the pool photos on her podcast, emphasizing the professional nature of her relationship with Krebs: “She’s our publicist and a very, very good friend of mine, so a photo like that — people I know were saying a lot of crap about it — but it really wasn’t that big of a deal.” She also confirmed that she had terminated Krebs as her publicist, though the change has not been independently verified.

The Cut

Sources cited by Page Six reported that Cartwright feels “especially betrayed” by Krebs, noting she “no longer expects much” from her estranged husband. The perception of betrayal has fueled fan criticism of both Taylor’s conduct and Krebs’ professional boundaries, with commentators describing the episode as a predictable “re-hash” of past Bravo scandals.

The Cut

• “were getting close and hugging throughout the day and weren’t trying to hide they were together.” — Witnesses (TMZ)

Hollywood Reporter

• “She’s our publicist and a very, very good friend of mine, so a photo like that — people I know were saying a lot of crap about it — but it really wasn’t that big of a deal,” — Brittany Cartwright (podcast)

The Cut