Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

[joviroxx]

The Chicago Tribune is reporting he hung himself.

 

[Keira1387]

So sad and shocking.

 

[Music City Mama]

How awful. I didn't like the guy, but this makes me very sad.

I wonder how he is portrayed on the upcoming season (I'm assuming not good) and if they'll feel they'll (or Taylor) will want to edit it out of respect?

I'm very sad for his daughter.

 

[Molliday]

Here's a TMZ update:

8:13 AM: Bravo and the cast of "Real Housewives" were unaware of Russell's death. Kyle Richards was distraught when she saw the TMZ post, and Lisa Vanderpump was speechless.

They found out by reading TMZ???

 

[Brit17]

Wow ... how very shocking and sad ...

 

[Molliday]

The show is premiering very soon, so like OP mentioned, it will be interesting to see how they handle this, out of respect to Russell.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Oh my goodness...I feel so sad for their daughter. This is crazy.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Wow ... how very shocking and sad ...

Wow. I'm speechless. I know they were divorcing, but I don't see him as the kind of guy who couldn't go on without Taylor (not being mean, just saying he didn't seem all that fond of her). I wonder if it was some sort of business dealing or something.

I feel very badly for their daughter.

 

[Brit17]

How awful. I didn't like the guy, but this makes me very sad.

I wonder how he is portrayed on the upcoming season (I'm assuming not good) and if they'll feel they'll (or Taylor) will want to edit it out of respect?

I'm very sad for his daughter.

I hope they do edit the show if he is portrayed in any negative way for the sake and in respect if his daughter with Taylor and his other children ...

From the promos that have been airing on Bravo it appears as if Taylor's storyline this season was going to be about their marriage problems ... how sad if that was the reason for Russell committing suicide ... I did read that he was quoted as saying that the show did cause a strain on their marriage ...

Gosh, makes one wonder if being on a reality show is really worth it all? ... Just in the "Real Housewives" franchise look at all the divorces: Tamara & Simon, NeNe & Greg, Vicki & Don, LuAnn & Alex, Taylor & Russell (& now his suicide) - not to say that they were't haven't issues before the shows, but maybe they could have worked things out differently if they didn't have cameras following - KWIM? ...

 

[Molliday]

Wow. I'm speechless. I know they were divorcing, but I don't see him as the kind of guy who couldn't go on without Taylor (not being mean, just saying he didn't seem all that fond of her). I wonder if it was some sort of business dealing or something.

I feel very badly for their daughter.

This is on TMZ's front page:

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Russell Armstrong was at his wits end over his impending divorce from Taylor in the days leading to his death -- and he was inundated with debt.

Russell's lawyer Ronald Richards tells TMZ, Russell had been staying at a friend's house on Mulholland Drive in L.A. -- the same house where authorities found his body hanging last night.

Richards tells us, "I feel bad because his credit cards weren't working ... He had tremendous financial problems."

Richards adds, "He was also extremely bummed out about the divorce with Taylor. As far as a will, even if he does have a will, they don't have any assets, so I'm not sure what there would be left to leave. I am extremely saddened ... I had no idea he was depressed."

As we previously reported, Russell -- an investor who made his money in the 90s during the dot com boom -- filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005, claiming he had less than $50,000 in assets ... and debt somewhere between $1 and $10 million.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Gosh I feel so bad. The Armstrongs were broke. Theresa and Joe from NJ Housewives are pretty broke too. What kind of people are they getting for these shows. Do these people feel like they have to live a fake life just to be on the show? Its not worth it.

 

[Brit17]

Another update from Reality Tea:

http://www.realitytea.com/2011/08/1...erly-hills-russell-armstrong-commits-suicide/

UPDATE – After Taylor revealed her abuse allegations, it is discovered that other exes of Russell (an ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend) has also alleged physical abuse and had filed restraining orders against him. Russell also had other legal issues, including bankruptcy and several lawsuits.

Russell had been having a hard time dealing with his past issues becoming public. Earlier this year, he had his attorney contact us about taking down a report we did about his past legal issues.

This leads me to wonder even more why do people sign on to do these reality shows? ... don't they realize that their lives, past & present, will be exposed? ... The other night Kathy from RHofNJ was tweeting (in all capitals - so I guess she was yelling) that her kids are off-limits and she won't allow anyone to say anything bad about them, etc. ... Jacqueline was also tweeting to stop bashing Ashley, etc. ... Jill Zarin during the RHofNYC reunion kept yelling that the kids were off-limits (even though she herself bashed Alex's kids in the past, but I digress) ... so my point is, if you don't want your kids or yourself to be talked about or criticized, etc., stay the heck off of a Reality TV Show and/or don't let your kids appear on the show whatsoever! ... in this day of social media, blogs, internet, etc., what the heck do they expect? - you can't have your cake and eat it too ... just sayin' ... ok, I'm off my soap box now ...

RIP Russell ...

 

[HonnyDipp]

This is terrible news. I'm kinda new to the HW shows, Taylor had a younger daughter right? Kennedy?

 

[Molliday]

This is terrible news. I'm kinda new to the HW shows, Taylor had a younger daughter right? Kennedy?

Yes, and he also had children by former wives.

 

[HonnyDipp]

Yes, and he also had children by former wives.

wow. how tragic.

 

[meloneyb21]

That is very shocking. No matter what we may have seen on tv, you never know everything about what was going on in someone's home and mind. That is very terrible news.

 

[Anjelica]

I was very surprised by the news as well.

Will Taylor get stuck with any of the outstanding debt (I wasn't sure if it was all in his name)?

 

[momrek06]

OMG, how sad. I mean they were having issues all last season but nothing that gave you then impression things would turn out like this. How horribly sad that Russell would try to suicide.

 

[goofinoff]

Horrible. Poor Taylor. Her daughter is so young to have to explain all this to her. Very sad.

 

[Kycha]

This is sad news. I wonder if Taylor will continue doing the show?

"As we previously reported, Russell -- an investor who made his money in the 90s during the dot com boom -- filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005, claiming he had less than $50,000 in assets ... and debt somewhere between $1 and $10 million."

If they are in that much debt, what the heck are they doing spending $70,000 on a 4 year old's birthday party. Crazy!