Why Jax Taylor Left The Valley and More Shocking TV Exits

Because after two seasons on The Valley—plus eight on its predecessor Vanderpump Rules—Jax Taylor revealed he's pressing pause on his reality TV career. 

With the current season of the Bravo spinoff largely focused on his divorce from wife Brittany Cartwright and his time spent at a wellness facility for a cocaine addiction, the dad to 4-year-old Cruz decided it was time to sign off. 

"After an incredibly challenging year and many honest conversations with my team and producers, I’ll be stepping away from the next season of The Valley," the 46-year-old shared in a statement with E! News July 16. "Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting."

Of course, he's hardly the first reality star to realize it's his time...to say goodbye.

Last month, Summer House standout Paige DeSorbo revealed her decision not to renew her lease on the Bravo series. 

For the stars of scripted shows, it can be even more clear when it's time to take a bow.

Pedro Pascal, for instance, ended his run as Joel Miller on The Last of Us in the exact way the character was killed off in The Last of Us Part II, the 2020 video game season two was based on. 

But we're still very much mourning the loss of him and Peter Krause's Bobby Nash on 9-1-1. 

And those are just the latest exits that left fans floored and more than a bit devastated. From Grey's Anatomy's Meredith Grey (sorta) to Yellowstone's John Dutton, check out more stars who exited stage left from the small screen.