What Really Happened With Brandon Hanson and Brittany Cartwright

You know that feeling when you finally quit a toxic job and your first instinct is to go out and do something completely impulsive? That's basically the energy Brittany Cartwright brought into late 2024 and 2025. After years of the "Jax Taylor rollercoaster" that we all watched with a mix of horror and fascination on Vanderpump Rules and The Valley, Brittany finally hit her limit.

She filed for divorce. She got a "mommy makeover." And then, she found Brandon Hanson.

If you were scrolling TikTok or checking the blogs last summer, you probably saw the blurry photos of them at LAX or the PDA-heavy snapshots from their Cabo vacation. Everyone was asking the same thing: Who is this guy? Is he the "anti-Jax"?

Honestly, the story of Brandon Hanson and Brittany Cartwright is a classic "whirlwind rebound" that crashed as fast as it started. Here is the actual tea on what went down, the drama with the "secret wife," and why it all fell apart by October.

The Kentucky Connection You Didn't Know About

Most people assumed Brandon was just some random guy Brittany met on a dating app or at a bar in West Hollywood. Nope. They actually go back way further than the Bravo cameras.

During an episode of her podcast, When Reality Hits, Brittany dropped the bombshell that she and Brandon had actually known each other for 15 years. They both grew up in Kentucky. While Brittany moved to LA to find fame and ended up with a guy who once "stole" sunglasses and cheated on her repeatedly, Brandon stayed mostly under the radar.

They reconnected right when both were at their lowest.

Brittany was navigating a very public split from Jax. Brandon was going through his own divorce. Sometimes, trauma-bonding over "irreconcilable differences" is more effective than any dating app algorithm. They started as "very good friends" before things took a romantic turn in the summer of 2025.

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"That Man Is Married!" — The TikTok Drama

The relationship hit its first major speed bump before it even had a name.

In August 2025, Brittany brought Brandon as her date to a "Summer Soirée" event in Los Angeles. She looked happy. She was glowing. She even teased to reporters that she was "feeling butterflies" again. But the internet moves fast.

As soon as photos of Brandon hit the web, a woman named Jasina Stanko entered the chat. She started commenting on TikTok videos and news posts with some pretty heavy claims:

• "He's my husband!!!"
• "That man is married."

Naturally, the Bravo-verse went into a tailspin. Was Brittany dating another "bad boy"? Was she the "other woman"?

The reality was a bit more nuanced (and relatable). Sources close to the situation—and eventually Brittany herself—clarified that while Brandon was technically still married, he and Jasina had been separated for about seven months. Just like Brittany and Jax, they were "mid-divorce."

In the world of reality TV, "separated but not yet divorced" is basically the standard relationship status. Still, the public call-out definitely added a layer of stress to a relationship that was already struggling to find its footing under the paparazzi's lens.

Why the "Whirlwind" Ended in October

By October 2025, the "butterflies" had officially flown away. Brittany confirmed the split on her podcast, and she didn't hold back on the reasons.

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It wasn't a cheating scandal. It wasn't a huge blowout fight. It was just... life.

The Three-Hour Gap

Brandon doesn't live in the Valley. He lives about three hours away from Brittany. When you're a single mom with a toddler (Cruz) and a booming career in reality TV, a six-hour round trip for a date night is basically impossible.

The Dad Factor

Brandon isn't just a "guy from Kentucky." He’s a father of three.
Managing a new relationship while juggling the schedules of four kids (three of his, one of hers) is a logistical nightmare. Brittany mentioned that his obligations to his children and his jobs made it "too tough to keep it going."

The Pressure of the Spotlight

Brittany admitted that the relationship "went into the public way sooner than we ever would have wanted it to."

Imagine trying to figure out if you actually like someone while millions of people are checking their divorce papers and commenting on their ex-wife's TikToks. It’s a lot. Brittany realized she hadn't actually spent much time being single since her early 20s.

"I still got a lot of healing to do," she told her listeners. "Being single for a little bit longer is what's best for me."

What Most People Get Wrong About Brandon

There’s been a lot of confusion about who Brandon Hanson actually is. Because he keeps his social media private, people have confused him with everyone from an Olympic swimmer (Brendan Hansen) to various attorneys.

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To be clear: Brandon Hanson is not the Olympian. He’s a private citizen who happened to grow up in the same circles as a future reality star. He isn't looking for a spot on The Valley Season 3, and according to Brittany, he didn't even pay for her surgery (a rumor she shut down with a "boss bitch" laugh).

The Takeaway: Life After the Rebound

We've all been there. You get out of a long-term, heavy relationship and you find someone who feels like "fresh air." Brandon was that for Brittany. He was "nice to her"—her words—and he reminded her that she deserved to be taken on dates and treated with respect.

Even though it didn't last, the "Brandon Era" was a necessary bridge for Brittany Cartwright to move from "Jax's Wife" to just "Brittany."

Actionable Insights for Moving On

If you're following Brittany's journey because you're in a similar "post-breakup" boat, here’s what we can learn from her brief stint with Brandon:

• Don't rush the "Relationship" label: Brittany and Brandon were "dating" but not "boyfriend/girlfriend" for a long time. It's okay to just "have fun" without a title.
• Logistics matter: You can have all the chemistry in the world, but if there's a three-hour drive and four kids between you, it's going to be an uphill battle.
• Healing isn't linear: Sometimes a rebound helps you realize that you aren't actually ready to date yet. That's not a failure; it's growth.

Brittany is currently single, focusing on her son Cruz and her "boss baby" era. As for Brandon? He's back to his private life, hopefully finishing up that divorce in peace.

Check out Brittany's latest podcast episodes if you want to hear her talk about her new boundaries with Jax—it's a masterclass in co-parenting with a "difficult" ex.

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