Television
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ByJessica Choi/
The following article contains mentions of suicide and domestic violence.
Taylor Armstrong was the vivacious bubbly blonde that appeared on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" for three seasons, but her life was anything but the picture-perfect facade she led viewers to believe. It seemed as if Taylor was the typical housewife who had a doting husband with a well-paid job that didn't blink an eye when she spent $50,000 on her daughter Kennedy's birthday party. However, when Camille Grammar revealed in Season 2 that Taylor's husband Russell Armstrong was physically abusive, jaws dropped all around.
Taylor recalled looking at the field producer when Grammar spilled the abuse allegation. "I just remembered the moment so specifically that I knew something in my life is about to change dramatically. I could get killed. I could get divorced or things might completely turn around and this could change my situation. But I knew once I walk out this door, my life truly will never be the same," she shared on the "Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef" podcast.
After the abuse was outed, Taylor filed for divorce and tragically, Russell was found dead by apparent suicide a month later. At the time, the couple was still legally married and Taylor found herself burdened with a massive debt that he had acquired during their marriage.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Russell Armstrong owed $1.5 million and was struggling to keep up his lifestyle
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Apparently, Kennedy Armstrong's tea party was just one of the many lavish expenses for Taylor and Russell Armstrong. At the time of his death, Russell was $1.5 million in debt, per ABC. His lawyer, Ronald Richards, stated, "He didn't have any extra assets. He was living month to month to support his lifestyle for Taylor." Richards added that being on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" added to the increase in spending for Russell and Taylor. "These couples join these shows, and then they keep trying to outdo each other and they end up spending all their money trying to sustain a lifestyle that's unrealistic and wasn't there prior to the show," he shared.
In order to keep afloat, Russell reportedly borrowed a large sum of money from someone, which Taylor discovered after his death. "Russell couldn't repay the loan. Taylor believes the debt is at least $250,000, but it could be significantly more," a source told Radar. "Russell expressed his concerns to Taylor about his financial woes in the days before his suicide. She had no idea how big the debt was when Russell discussed it with her. It's now obvious to Taylor that Russell felt he had no other way out," the insider added. Unfortunately, Russell's death did nothing to dissipate his debt and Taylor had to find a way to dig herself out.
Taylor Armstrong had to give up her wedding ring to settle Russell's debt
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As if Russell Armstrong's death wasn't tragic enough, Taylor Armstrong was left to deal with a $1.5 million lawsuit from MyMedicalRecords, who claimed that the late businessman misappropriated funds from investors. After Russell died, Taylor tried to get the case dismissed, but the judge denied the motion, Radar reported. The two parties eventually settled out of court and the deal included that Taylor pay an undisclosed sum of money and give up personal items, including her canary yellow diamond ring valued at $250,000. "To learn that they wanted my wedding ring to settle was heart-wrenching. I wasn't wearing the ring and the material object wasn't important to me but, it felt like letting go all over again," per Bravo. Taylor added that she wanted to pass the ring on to her daughter Kennedy, but had to do so in order to settle.
Taylor has since moved on with John Bluher and the two got married in 2014. She credits him for changing her stance on marriage and told Us Weekly, "That's why I believe I'm married now because I would've never trusted anyone again. After all the lies that were built in my previous relationship, having someone that just stood by me ... was the reason that I trust him so much, and we became best friends." Hopefully, fans can see her healthy and happy relationship play out in the upcoming season of "The Real Housewives of Orange County."
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