This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
Brittany Cartwright is reeling after new photos showed her estranged husband, Jax Taylor, in an intimate embrace with Lori Krebs, the publicist who has represented both of them for years.
The images capture the pair locked in a close embrace inside the infinity pool at Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The getaway took place over the weekend of July 11, coinciding with Taylor’s 47th birthday celebration with friends.
Cartwright decided to sever her professional relationship with Krebs on Monday after learning about the photos. Krebs gave Cartwright a heads-up before the images went public, calling her directly to explain that the story was about to break.
The two had worked together for more than a decade, with Krebs representing both Cartwright and Taylor throughout their marriage, their split, and the divorce proceedings that followed.
Sparks First Ignited Speculation Two Years Ago
Photo credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
This is not the first time Taylor and Krebs have faced questions about the nature of their relationship. Back in February 2024, a photo Taylor posted with Krebs during a trip to her hometown of Montreal, Canada, sparked speculation among fans. Both Taylor and Cartwright publicly dismissed any suggestion of romance between the two at the time.
Cartwright even addressed the rumors directly on an episode of her and Taylor’s now-defunct podcast, “When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany.” She described Krebs as a very good friend and an amazing publicist, insisting the viral photo was not a big deal. Taylor backed her up the following month, calling the speculation nothing more than hearsay during a separate interview.
A Betrayal That Reportedly Cuts Deeper Than the Divorce Itself
Cartwright feels far more betrayed by Krebs than by Taylor himself. She no longer expects much from her estranged husband at this point in their relationship, which is why the sting of Krebs’s alleged involvement feels sharper.
She had continued to trust her publicist even after the earlier rumors, choosing to take Krebs at her word when she denied anything romantic was happening.
That trust appears to have been the deciding factor behind Cartwright’s swift decision to end their working relationship this week. Taylor and Krebs made no effort to hide their affection throughout the trip, according to witnesses at the resort.
The pair reportedly hugged and stayed close to one another for the better part of the day, both in and out of the pool.
Photos also show the two engaged in an extended poolside conversation, with Krebs stretched out on a lounge chair while Taylor sat nearby, facing her. Krebs’s Instagram account went dark shortly before the photos became public.
Neither Taylor, Cartwright, nor Krebs has issued a public statement addressing the vacation images as of this writing.
Marriage Timeline Adds Fresh Layer to the Fallout
Cartwright filed for divorce from Taylor in August 2024, following nearly five years of marriage. The couple had actually separated earlier that year, in January 2024, though they did not make the split public right away. Despite the divorce proceedings, the two have continued to co-parent their young son, Cruz, while navigating what has been described as a rocky post-split dynamic.
Cartwright has not remained entirely out of the dating scene since her split from Taylor. She previously spent several months seeing Julian Sensley, a friend of Taylor’s, in a relationship she later described as a brief and low-stakes fling.
That detail has added an extra layer of complexity to fans’ interpretation of Taylor’s latest romantic entanglement.
What Comes Next for Cartwright and Her Team
With Krebs now out of the picture professionally, Cartwright is in the process of searching for new publicist representation. The move marks the end of an unusually long professional partnership for the reality television world, where publicists and clients often part ways far sooner. It also signals how seriously Cartwright is treating the alleged breach of trust.
Questions remain about exactly what transpired between Taylor and Krebs during the trip to Mexico and whether their relationship has crossed into romantic territory. The silence from all three parties involved has only fueled further speculation among fans of “The Valley” and “Vanderpump Rules.”
As the story continues to develop, Cartwright’s decision to distance herself from someone she once called a very good friend suggests the fallout may extend beyond her marriage.
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