Jax Taylor's Friends Heard Rumors of Him 'Running Around Town' Months Before Separation from Brittany Cartwright

Scheana Shay and Katie Maloney speculated about Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright's marriage months before their separation.

On Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules, Jax's integrity came into the spotlight when Scheana, 38, and Katie, 37, referenced his rocky relationship with Brittany, 35, and rumors they've heard about the 44-year-old Bravolebrity stepping out in West Hollywood.

While theorizing about why Tom Sandoval stayed in his nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix if he was "unhappy," Scheana explained that people "don't really know until you're in it" and referenced the ups and downs of Jax and Brittany's relationship.

"You can't judge," she said. "Look at Jax and Brittany, they were married and had a baby. I could not believe that when they did."

"There's still stories about him running around town," Katie added. When Scheana claimed that she's "heard" about Jax's antics, Lala Kent noted, "No, it's beyond."

On an episode of their joint podcast When Reality Hits last month, Brittany announced their decision to separate after four years of marriage.

"Many of you guys have been asking me about Jax and I and our relationship," she began. "I just think it’s important to be real and honest with you guys because our life is definitely — we’ve shared so much of our life with you guys. So, I feel like ... I don’t want to seem like I’m lying or anything like that so I think it’s important for me to say this."

"I know on my last podcast, I alluded to many marriages go through rocky times," she continued. "Yes, marriages in general are very hard and I've had a particularly rough year this past year. Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health."

Jax and Brittany first met at a Las Vegas bar in 2015. After they briefly split in 2017, the pair reconciled off camera and later announced their engagement in June 2018.

A year later in June 2019, they wed at the Kentucky Castle in front of 240 guests. They later welcomed their only son, Cruz Michael Cauchi, in April 2021, months after they announced their departure from Vanderpump Rules. The estranged couple are set to lead Bravo's new spinoff series, The Valley this spring.

Last March, Jax and Brittany told PEOPLE of the highs and lows they've experienced as a couple and why they didn't believe in the idea of divorce.

"We would always hear when we got married, people were like, 'They'll be together for one year,' or whatever. Now we've been together for eight years, almost married for four. We're trucking through," Brittany shared.

Jax agreed, and at the time, revealed he had no plans to throw in the towel on their relationship. "I don't believe in divorce. My parents didn't get divorced," he said. "I don't believe in that. Marriage is work. I'm not saying every day is amazing."

"There's good days and there's bad days, but that's marriage, and that's what makes your relationship stronger," he added. "We love hard. We fight hard. It's amazing."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Vanderpump Rules airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo and streams next-day on Peacock.