Taylor’s husband was found dead at a friends house on Aug. 15 and we’ve spoken to his attorney who says he didn’t see the suicide coming but reveals why Russell might have been driven to it.
Taylor Armstrong‘s husband Russell Armstrong actually didn’t mind starring on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but it was definitely the demise of his six-year- marriage. HollywoodLife.com spoke with Ronald Richards, Russell’s long-time attorney who tells us that he “advised” the couple not to do the Bravo show, and that if they hadn’t done it they’d still be together.
“Many marriages fall a part when one spouse goes on a reality TV show,” Ronald tells us. “Yes, they would have stayed together if they hadn’t done the show. I advised them before they went on the show that it would ruin their marriage. People start drinking that star Kool-aid — I’ve lived in LA since the late 60s.”
Not only does Ronald tell us that Russell was still “in love” with Taylor but that what hurt him the most wasn’t the new-found fame — it was the allegations of abuse towards Taylor.
“What bothered him the most were the constant reports that he was emotionally and physically abusive to Taylor,” Ronald tells us. “I think it was a lot to juggle, the show, the comments started to hurt his productivity at work – all the people saying he was abusive … it took a toll on him. He liked the reality show and the fame but didn’t like how people could say whatever they wanted about him. I think that when there were alcohol related arguments things would get a little [physical] like a lot of couples but he wasn’t abusive.”
Ronald says he and Russell were in constant contact over his divorce proceedings, which Taylor filed last month citing irreconcilable differences and that Russell was actually willing to work things out with Taylor.
“No divorce is ever truly amicable but they were dealing with it and going to go to mediation,” Ronald says. “She wouldn’t work things out.”
Ronald tells us that he had no clue how upset Russell was and that a suicide was the last thing he expected.
“He was just consistent was someone dealing with these things [a divorce and lawsuits],” he says. “If he had expressed being upset, myself or someone would have ran to his side. I feel sad that I wasn’t in town yesterday and if he tried to reach me, I feel sad. I would have done some free legal work help him solve his problems, I really liked Russell. [He was] a nice man.”
Ronald calls Russell’s financial state “messy” and that he had “maxed out his credit.” He goes on to tell us that Russell’s business will most likely be closing now that he’s no longer there to run it.
According to Ronald, the shocking new claims by Russell’s ex-wife Barbara that Taylor drove him into financial ruin and suicide are false: “He just spent more than he made like a lot of people do. I would say that’s not true [that Taylor was responsible], their financial issues were a combination of both of them spending money to keep up with the content of what the show demanded.”
— Chloe Melas
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