Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s Pastor Drama to Play Out on ‘Vanderpump Rules’: What to Know

Credit: Aaron Poole/E! Entertainment

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s Pastor Drama to Play Out on ‘Vanderpump Rules’: What to Know

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright have already been married for eight months, but the drama surrounding their nuptials is far from over. The bartender, 40, and the former SURver, 31, tied the knot in her native Kentucky on June 29, 2019. “Married life is awesome,” Brittany gushed to Us Weekly exclusively two months after the wedding. “I think we’ve settled in very well. I’m just so excited. I love Jax so much so everything’s been going great. Hopefully we’ll be able to have a family and stuff. We’re doing great. We are very, very, very happy right now.” While photos of Jax not wearing his wedding ring surfaced in August 2019, Brittany assured Us at the time that the couple were “so solid.” “We have to laugh about stuff because, I mean, there are articles saying that our marriage is in trouble and stuff like that. I’m just like, ‘Oh my goodness,’” she explained. “I don’t even worry about it because as long as we’re happy and we’re doing good, that’s all that matters, you know?” [jwplayer 6N2zR0G8-l3ahXupL] While life may be wedded bliss for the twosome now, Brittany and Jax made headlines when they announced in December 2018 that pastor Ryan Dotson was set to marry them. The Kentucky life coach subsequently came under fire in the media for his past remarks about the LGBTQ community. Fans of Vanderpump Rules will see the couple deal with the backlash on the Tuesday, February 18, episode of the Bravo series. Scroll through for everything you need to know about the drama:

Credit: Aaron Poole/E! Entertainment

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s Pastor Drama to Play Out on ‘Vanderpump Rules’: What to Know

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright have already been married for eight months, but the drama surrounding their nuptials is far from over. The bartender, 40, and the former SURver, 31, tied the knot in her native Kentucky on June 29, 2019. “Married life is awesome,” Brittany gushed to Us Weekly exclusively two months after the wedding. “I think we’ve settled in very well. I’m just so excited. I love Jax so much so everything’s been going great. Hopefully we’ll be able to have a family and stuff. We’re doing great. We are very, very, very happy right now.” While photos of Jax not wearing his wedding ring surfaced in August 2019, Brittany assured Us at the time that the couple were “so solid.” “We have to laugh about stuff because, I mean, there are articles saying that our marriage is in trouble and stuff like that. I’m just like, ‘Oh my goodness,’” she explained. “I don’t even worry about it because as long as we’re happy and we’re doing good, that’s all that matters, you know?” [jwplayer 6N2zR0G8-l3ahXupL] While life may be wedded bliss for the twosome now, Brittany and Jax made headlines when they announced in December 2018 that pastor Ryan Dotson was set to marry them. The Kentucky life coach subsequently came under fire in the media for his past remarks about the LGBTQ community. Fans of Vanderpump Rules will see the couple deal with the backlash on the Tuesday, February 18, episode of the Bravo series. Scroll through for everything you need to know about the drama:

Credit: Courtesy of Jax Taylor/Instagram

The Pastor’s Remarks

Dotson once criticized a church for appointing a transgender deacon, writing, “I would run from these churches. Blows my mind. How many pages did they rip from the Bible to make it already.”

He also condemned the Supreme Court for ruling to legalize gay marriage in June 2015. “Let me first say, you can love people but not agree with their lifestyle or their choices. With that being said, there are people that I care for that are gay, BUT I do not condone or accept this lifestyle as it is contrary to the Word of God,” an alleged screenshot from his Facebook reads. “This agenda has been forced down our throats as many have become silent. AMERICA it’s time for a spiritual awakening and may JEHOVAH have mercy on us all.”

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

Brittany’s Initial Reaction

Andy Cohen first asked Brittany about the situation during a January 2019 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.

“I will say that I’m a huge supporter and always will be of the LGBTQ community, and no matter what, I would never try to ever make anybody feel uncomfortable,” she explained at the time. “I talked to him myself and he promised me that he was not that way, that he was not saying anything about the community whatsoever. I’ve known this man for years, and if it was anything that I felt otherwise, I would never choose somebody like that.”

Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

LVP’s Statement

Months later, Dotson’s comments resurfaced yet again after the cast of Vanderpump Rules was spotted at the Los Angeles Pride parade. Lisa Vanderpump spoke out amid the backlash. “I’ve contacted Jax and Brittany who are extremely disappointed as to the depth and seriousness of these comments by the minister and are very shocked and feel that obviously major alterations will have to be made in their ceremonial plans,” the restaurant owner told Us Weekly in June 2019. “They are dealing with this today. This attitude is totally not acceptable to them and changes are forthcoming.”

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

The Cast’s Thoughts

Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix make it clear that they aren’t happy with Brittany and Jax in the promo for the upcoming episode. “I’m wondering, like, why it took Lisa coming to you guys about this guy …” Tom says before Jax storms off.

As a result, Brittany tells the TomTom co-owner that she did nothing wrong and wants him to f—k off. “I hope Jax knocks him out. Knock him the f—k out,” Brittany says. (It’s unclear if Brittany is referring to physical violence or kicking Tom out of Jax’s wedding party, which he briefly did before reinstating him as co-best man.)

Lala Kent and Stassi Schroeder also question the pair in the clip.

Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Jax’s Defense

Jax took to Twitter to defend the pair in June 2019. “He’s always been kind to me, I didn’t know his past that well, I was taught be nice to others, regardless,” Jax wrote at the time, claiming they were “unaware” of Dotson’s past remarks. “I don’t agree with his thinking but that doesn’t mean I need to attack the man. Be kind to everyone, isn’t that what we are fighting for. We are human. Remember that.”

He added: “I pretty much invited every gay person I knew, except [Billie Lee]. “You can be mad at me all you want for that one I don’t care.”

Brittany also posted on social media at the time. “We already took care of this so I would appreciate it if people would quit trying to spread rumors like we don’t care and aren’t supporters when you guys have no clue how we feel or the fact that we have already changed,” she wrote. “I’m focused on marrying the man I love. Nothing else.”

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

The Pastor’s Response

Dotson spoke to Page Six amid the backlash in June 2019. “I want [Brittany] to have the very best day she possibly can,” he told the outlet. “They asked me to be a guest, but I probably won’t. I’m too much of a distraction.”

He also defended his remarks: “I am neither transphobic nor homophobic. I as a Christian, love and respect, all human life, regardless of race, religion, nationality and sexuality, but as a Christian and a Pastor, I must stand firmly on the Bible and its teachings, as to how we should live before God. I know not all people are accepting of this belief or religious point of view, but I am.”

Credit: Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Lance Bass Ultimately Officiated

In the end, Brittany and Jax had the former ’NSync member, who is close with Lisa and the cast of the show, marry them.