Earlier this week, Owning Manhattan star Jessica Taylor opened up about her struggles with depression and bulimia online. As she noted, she filmed a scene during Season 2 that detailed her journey with these deeply personal matters. But unfortunately, this footage never saw the light of day.
It happens, especially in a series filled with a lot of solid content. But as Jess understands, these topics still deserve a seat at the table. So, she has taken to her ever-growing platform to “be transparent” with her followers and cast members alike.
Mental health matters are vitally important for us to cover here at Reality Tea. As everyone knows, this life is not an easy ride. We are all better together, which means every voice and every story deserves a safe space to live. So, we got Jess back on the line, and this is everything our favorite British Broker had to say.
What did Jess say regarding her journey with depression and bulimia?
On TikTok, Jess noted that she talked about her “mental health on Owning Manhattan this season, [but] it got cut. So, let’s talk about it” now instead. As Jess admitted, “some of these things,” her close friends and cast members were completely in the dark about. But in the sake of offering any “help” possible to her followers, and vice versa, Jess is now sharing her story.
At the age of 14, Jess was diagnosed with depression and bulimia. She has struggled with these issues throughout her adult life. Thankfully, roughly two years ago, Jess managed to break her “binging and purging cycle,” but real estate has since added anxiety into the mix. And unfortunately, anxiety and depression remain “prevalent in [her] everyday life.”
During Season 1, her “anxiety got so bad,” especially around its release date. Emails would make her “cortisol spike, [and] fight or flight” feelings, and panic attacks would quickly follow. Jess “couldn’t even respond to a simple email, and I wasn’t getting out of bed,” she noted. But as Jess explained, she wants people to know her backstory, because all of these feelings settled in around the same time that “Robbie approached me about joining his team” at SERHANT.
In general, real estate is isolating, “especially if you’re an individual agent.” For the sake of her mental health, Jess realized she needed “to be on a team .. because it just lightens the load.” Jess knows she is “not alone” with her struggles. “So, if you guys have any questions, if you wanna give me advice, if you want me to give you advice,” then Jess, “an actual person” who gets this journey, is here.
What made Jess open up, and what advice does she have to offer for those who feel isolated during the holidays?
Speaking candidly about personal matters is a brave thing to do. So, what made Jess decide to tell her story following the release of Owning Manhattan Season 2?
“Season 1 wasn’t really about our backstories as much. It was just getting to know the cast, and I feel like it’s kind of like a first date. You don’t want to trauma dump on everyone on a first date. But Season 2 was right in the peak of when things weren’t great for me, so I joined a team, which was a big part of my storyline that you didn’t see as much of.”
Jess continued, “I decided to join a team not just for a financial gain, but also for my mental health, which is something I’ve struggled with since I was 14 years old. And it just felt like a natural part of my story. And I wanted to share it with everyone, even though it got cut out.”
How has Jess’s cast responded to her raw post?
“Really positive. Jordan [Hurt] sent me something really nice. Génesis [Suero] wrote something really nice, and I know Chloe [Tucker Caine] liked it. So yeah, all positive.”
But now, the holiday season is here. For various reasons, this period is a challenging one for many. What advice does Jess have for those who feel isolated at this time of year?
“It’s a vicious cycle. When you are feeling low, the last thing you wanna do is be around people. Yet you should, because even if you’re an introvert or an extrovert, being around people in some capacity helps alleviate isolation and loneliness. It makes you realize that other people are going through it.”
How is Jess handling feedback from Owning Manhattan Season 2?
During Season 2, Jess confronted Génesis Suero for allegedly trying to poach a buyer on her client list. Receipts were offered, clearing Génesis of any wrongdoing. But how is Jess handling the feedback from this incident, or any other storyline from Owning Manhattan Season 2?
Jess got by with a little help from her friends. As she explained, “What really helped me is the cast, talking to the cast, reminding myself that we’re all in this together at the end of the day. We are a dysfunctional family, and we all work very hard.”
And now, Jess is in a great place with Génesis. In fact, “We were in a good place the next day. It’s like we fight because real estate gets heated, and then we all forgive each other quickly. It’s just part of our lives.”
Additionally, Génesis has “been a huge support” for Jess in her mental health journey, which we love. And for everyone else out there, please note, “At the end of the day, we’re all humans, even if we’re on TV,” Jess stressed. So, “please know that everyone has those days,” but if you can “get away from the screens, get outside,” and connect with either nature or a friend, it all helps.
Owning Manhattan is available to stream on Netflix.
TELL US – DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR JESS? DID HER WORDS RESONATE WITH YOU?
