Brittany Cartwright said Tuesday that she and reported new beau Brandon Hanson are taking their relationship slowly and are not yet "technically boyfriend and girlfriend." The former Vanderpump Rules star told TMZ the two have "known each other for 15 years" and reconnected after years apart.
Cartwright, 36, described Hanson as "a great person, great father" and "all around a good person," saying he "is making [her] happy" while adding that they are "just seeing how it goes." "We're just focused on having fun and doing our thing right now," she said, concluding, "I really like him."
The reported pairing has drawn public attention after Page Six published photos of the two socializing together at a Los Angeles party earlier this month and later appearing affectionate during a getaway to Mexico. The coverage prompted a response from Jasina Stanko, who identified herself on social media as Hanson’s wife and wrote in a TikTok comment, "He's my husband!!!" followed by "That man is married."
A source speaking to Page Six said the situation is more complex than initial posts suggested, noting that both Cartwright and Hanson are amid marital splits. The source said Hanson and his ex have been separated for about seven months and that Cartwright and Hanson reconnected well after his separation.
Cartwright filed to dissolve her marriage to former Vanderpump Rules co-star Jax Taylor in August 2024 after five years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple had been separated for months before the filing. They share a son, Cruz, who is 4.
Cartwright has previously been linked to other public figures, including her ex’s friend Julien Sensley and musician Will Gittens. The former Bravolebrity, who has maintained a public profile since leaving the reality series, said her priority is navigating her personal life while caring for her son.
The timeline of public sightings and social-media reaction has kept the story in the tabloid spotlight. Page Six first published photos of Cartwright and Hanson together earlier this month, followed by additional images from their reported trip to Mexico. In her comments to TMZ, Cartwright emphasized that familiarity dating back to their time in Kentucky informed their reconnection, and she framed the relationship as informal and exploratory.
Hanson’s marital status and Stanko’s social-media posts have not been independently corroborated beyond the public comments and the source quoted by Page Six. Neither Cartwright nor Hanson has released a joint statement commenting on the legal status of his marriage.
Cartwright’s statement to TMZ underscores her public posture: appreciative of Hanson’s qualities and cautious about labeling the relationship while both parties undergo personal transitions. The former reality star’s filing last year officially began her legal separation from Taylor; any further developments in Cartwright’s personal life or in Hanson’s marital situation have not been announced publicly.
Representatives for Cartwright, Hanson and Jasina Stanko did not immediately respond to requests for comment through Page Six. Media coverage of the reported relationship has focused on the overlap of their respective separations and the public reaction to images showing the two together.