The interaction of excitons with lattice defects - Tl ions in the activated KJ crystal is studied at low temperatures. Luminescence of Tl under the excitation in the 1s exciton absorption band (5.85 eV) is examined. The participation of the localized excitons created and trapped near Tl ions during that process is shown. Those localized excitons decay into lattice defect pairs which take part directly in the excitation and luminescence of Tl and cause a broadening of Tl luminescence bands.