Brittany Cartwright revealed the harsh message her ex-husband Jax Taylor sent after she signed up for Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
“I had my ex writing me being like, ‘You’re not gonna make it far’ right before I even came here so people like that I want to prove wrong.”
The Valley star opened up about Taylor’s lack of support during the season 4 premiere of the Fox competition series.
Cartwright filed for divorce from Taylor in August 2024 after five years of marriage.
She explained her motivation for joining the grueling military-style competition.
“I wanted to do Special Forces selection because I have been through so much this year, I finally found the strength to leave a very toxic relationship.”
The show sends celebrity recruits to Morocco for challenges that copy military training.
But Cartwright struggled from day one. The first challenge involved rappelling from a helicopter – her biggest fear.
“I am terrified of heights. I mean, I’ll walk on a balcony in a hotel with my back up against the wall, so that I don’t have to get close to the edge.”
She held back tears in the helicopter but insisted she was dedicated to trying everything.
The physical challenges proved too much. Teams had to haul 800 pounds of supplies uphill. Cartwright fell behind and told the Directing Staff she was “dying.”
“I can’t … I don’t think I can make it.”
She admitted she wasn’t in the best shape of her life but said chasing around her 4-year-old son Cruz had been helpful training.
After her team lost the challenge, they were forced to run. Cartwright fell behind again and told the DS she felt like she was going to pass out.
When forced to decide if she could continue, she ripped off her armband.
“I can’t. I’m gonna throw up. I’m really sorry. I feel like s—.”
She became the first contestant eliminated.
“I knew I was gonna be first. F—— knew it. So embarrassing.”
At the show’s red carpet event, the former Vanderpump Rules cast member told PEOPLE she signed up to push herself out of her comfort zone.
“After the whole year I’ve had, I feel like it was important to try new things.”
She wanted to prove critics wrong who said she couldn’t handle challenges.
“There were a lot of comments like, ‘Oh, girl can’t take care of a house,’ or, ‘Girl can’t do this,’ and blah, blah, blah. I can do whatever I want to do. I can at least try.”
The early elimination had one upside – getting back to Cruz, who she shares with Taylor.
“I was so ready to get back to my son. I had never been away from him that long. That was the longest I’ve ever been separated from him.”
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.
