Jax Taylor breaks down shocking “House of Villains” episode 3 twist: 'I'm an idiot'
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Warning: This article contains spoilers for House of Villains episode 3, "Secret Identities."
House of Villains wasted no time in revealing that Jax Taylor is not the No. 1 guy in this group.
Thursday's episode began with the Vanderpump Rules alum and Bachelor nation's Corinne Olympios getting strapped into chairs in the underground lair as host Joel McHale announced their fate: Corinne was safe, as the cast unanimously voted Jax to be the first person banished from the show. Then, to everyone's shock, the chair launched Jax backwards into the cave wall as he disappeared from the competition.
Or did he? "I don't leave the show completely, just keep watching," Jax tells EW. "I'm not going anywhere, don't worry. It's a crazy show — there's lots of twists and turns, but I'm definitely coming back."
Below, Jax breaks down what it was like being the first one banished from the show, how long he was trapped in that wall, and more.
Casey Durkin/E! Entertainment Jax Taylor
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like for you coming into House of Villains, since it's a very different kind of reality show than Vanderpump Rules?
JAX TAYLOR: It was definitely a different type of show. I'm coming from a docuseries type of world, and this is a more of a challenge type of world, with voting off and alliances and building fake relationships and all that. I'm definitely not used to that. And as you can see, because I didn't do my research and my homework and learned how to play a game like this, it hurt me.
How did it feel being the first one banished from the show?
I remember my my wife kept telling me the same thing: "Please, just don't be the first one voted off." And sure enough, I was the first one voted off. I took it a little personal in the beginning because I didn't make much noise on that show, I didn't cause any kind of arguments or fights or anything, so it bothered me. Why am I getting voted off? And then when I asked people at the premiere party, "Now that the show's over, did I do something that offended anybody?" And everyone's like, "No, you did just the opposite. You were quiet. But you are very obviously an alpha male, and these are the first people that you eliminate on a show like this." I didn't realize that I should have downplayed myself, but I came out the gate like a raging bull, as Tiffany said. And she was right. I just wanted to win this game fair and square. I didn't want to do the lying, the cheating, the alliances. I just wanted to win on my sole ability to win, and it's impossible to do that on a game like this.
Especially with a cast like this. I mean, it's literally called House of Villains.
Exactly. And everybody on the show is iconic in their own world — every show they come on, they were "the No. 1 guy in the group" on their show. It's funny, my wife was watching the show and she's like, "I can't believe you're so quiet. You kind of were aloof." And she was right, because I was very intimidated. The women on that show, Omarosa, Tanisha, New York, they're just so good at reality TV, and it was like taking a masterclass. When I was there, I was just learning. I've been on TV for a long time, but I've never been on a show like this, and they would just kill you with their words. They didn't need anything else, they were so witty and they're so smart. I was just in awe of these women and how they play the game.
Were you expecting to be voted off, or did you think it would be Corinne?
I was going back and forth with it. But now I understand why they voted me off. I was very aggressive. I just wanted to win. I didn't want to work with anybody. I was against alliances. I was against the chess part of the game. I wish I would've done my research, and if I do a show like this again, I'm going to play it completely different. I feel like I was on House of Reform Villains for myself — I was trying to do the right thing instead of finally, you're on a show when you're allowed to do the wrong thing. I'm an idiot.
Why do you think the vote was unanimous?
Now I understand that it doesn't really matter — you have to do it unanimous because the people that don't vote for me would have a target on their back [if I'm the majority vote]. I asked Johnny Bananas that, and that's how I found that out, because I was like, "Dude, I thought we were best friends. Why did you vote me out?" He's like, "It would've made no difference. I still would've got outvoted, and if I didn't vote for you, then they would've all came for me. Of course I wanted you to be there, but I can't lose against the house. You have to always bet on the house." Corinne is a very weak contestant, so they keep the weak people in and they take the strong people out. It was almost kind of an honor after I thought about it and after I talked to everybody about it. If that's the reason why I'm off the show, then I'm okay with that.
Do you think your snoring is partly to blame as well?
Yeah, I know it's a thing. I am a loud sleeper and I felt really, really bad. I wanted to be respectful to the ladies too, so I took myself out of the room before we even started. Listen, I'm married, I don't really feel comfortable sleeping in room with a couple of women. I go, "A, you're grown women, you need your space. B, I'm a loud sleeper." I'm just going to go ahead and eliminate this because I thought maybe it would work against me too, they could vote me off because I'm a loud sleeper. So I was like, "I'm just going to put myself on the couch."
What was it like getting literally thrown backwards into the wall?
It was pitch black back there and that's really about it. It a high drop, you get thrown quickly back. It was kind of cool. I was fine with it.
How long were you trapped in that chair in the wall?
I was stuck in there for about five minutes. I was the guinea pig on that one, but I thought it was funny because there were engineers behind us and they're talking like, "Don't worry, Jax, we're about to come in and get you out." The only thing that hurt my feelings was I'm eliminated and now I'm stuck behind here for five minutes and now I've got to walk off in a walk of shame.
Why did you pick Jonny Fairplay to guide you in the redemption challenge? And did you really believe him when he told you he didn't sabotage you? That's what he's known for!
[Laughs] No. I didn't know who anybody is on the show, I don't know what they're known for. I come to find out, when I Googled everybody, why they are villains. Jonny Fairplay lied about his grandmother being dead, Johnny Bananas took money from his partner after winning The Challenge. If I would've known that, I wouldn't have picked these people! I just thought everyone's going to play fair. "Why would he sabotage me? It makes no sense." I was walking in so naive. "There's a lot more people that need to go home before me, Shake being one of them." So yeah, I did not see that coming, and he apologized to me. Now we're good friends.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
House of Villains airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on E!.
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