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Did starring on Bravo’s ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ lead Russell Armstrong to hang himself?

Russell Armstrong allegedly hung himself in a Beverly Hills home Aug. 15, exactly one month after his wife, Taylor, had filed from divorce. However, the impending divorce wasn’t the only thing going wrong in his life: Russell, 47, was in the middle of lawsuits and banking issues, was accused of abusing his wife and had reality TV cameras shooting him for the second season of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which he supposedly blamed as being the catalyst for his life falling apart.

“He was down in the dumps over the latest allegations that he had abused Taylor. I told him people don’t believe everything they read and he told me; ‘It’s funny how a reality show can ruin your entire life,’” Russell’s friend, Tom Vickers, told RadarOnline.

Tom also said, “He told me the allegations were absolutely not true and that he wanted people to hear that from him. But he admitted he was too emotional and that there was too much to handle.

Another one of Russell’s pals reiterated similar sentiments when recalling recent conversations with the troubled RHOBH husband.

“He was so angry about everything, but never did anyone suspect he would kill himself,” the friend told US Weekly, adding, “He felt totally out of control of his own life. Everything was spinning out of control.”

Ironically, earlier this year, Russell couldn’t say enough positive things about how being on reality TV had changed his life…for the better!

“The one thing the show has done, it’s made us refocus our marriage,” Russell told The Daily Beast. “And it’s been wonderful.”

Although some friends say Russell blamed the reality show for his demise, others claim he was distraught over a reported tell-all book that was about to be released about his life.

“Russell was recently informed that a tell-all book was being written and that many of his secrets were going to be made public,” a source told RadarOnline. “A few of those close to Russell knew about the book and knew he was really upset about it. Some friends think it was the final straw for him.”

Taylor, 40, is reportedly “devastated” by Russell’s death and has asked for privacy during this difficult time.

More ‘Real Housewives’ News

1. Taylor Armstrong’s Husband Has An Abusive Past
2. ‘RHOBH’ Star Taylor Armstrong Files For Divorce From Russell