More details are now starting to come out regarding the tragic suicide of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Russell Armstrong.
According to a new TMZ report, Russell’s estranged wife Taylor Armstrong was actually present when his dead body was discovered.
Sources close to Taylor reveal she and Russell had been communicating regularly and were actually supposed to meet on Monday afternoon. Russell was however a no show and Taylor became worried and started calling his friends, though none of them had heard from him.
Taylor became increasingly alarmed when Russell did not respond to her texts or calls. So on Monday evening, Taylor and a friend went to the home Russell had been residing in. The owner of the home looked through Russell’s bedroom window during which his lifeless body was discovered hanging.
The home owner dialed 911 and Russell was declared dead at 8:16 PM. It is believed Russell had been dead for hours. Taylor reportedly stayed at the home for hours after the body was discovered.
Meanwhile, this tragedy occurs just weeks before the second season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is set to premiere on Sep. 5. And as you all know, Taylor’s crumbling marriage to Russell is one of the key story lines on the new season.
This has reportedly put Bravo into panic mode as they are now trying to decide on what do to. The Hollywood Reporter states Bravo “is waiting at least 24 hours to make a decision about whether they’ll postpone the show.”
TMZ is also reporting that filming as yet to end on the new season even though a premiere date has been announced. This coincides with HR’s report that Bravo recently ordered more episodes for the series, increasing the originally planned 14 episodes to 18. TMZ adds that Bravo has instructed the cast not to talk to the press while also canceling a shoot that was scheduled for today.
Unfortunately this isn’t the first time a death has occurred in the Housewives series. Back in 2009, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss’ ex-fiance A.J. Jewell passed away while the show was still on the air. Bravo decided back then to air the show as is while acknowledging AJ’s death in the ending credits of one of the episodes.
Some are also blaming the Housewives series for Russell’s death though that seems highly unlikely as even his attorney stated Russell’s issues stemmed from his mounting financial problems and impending divorce.
In the meantime, Bravo released this official statement on the tragedy: “All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time.”
And finally, Russell’s ex-wife is now blaming Taylor for his death. In a shocking interview with RadarOnline, Barbara Frederickson claims Taylor “drove” Russell to his death. Wow.
“I don’t care for her at all. I think she’s the reason for this,” Barbara revealed. “She’s not who she says she is and I told him to please be careful with this woman… I warned him! She’s bad news and she drove him into this.” Barbara goes on to add that Russell has always been a good father to her son.
Barbara seems to be singing a different tune now than the one she sang years earlier when she accused Russell of domestic violence in court documents.
TELL US – WHAT SHOULD BRAVO DO ABOUT THE SECOND SEASON? POSTPONE IT, EDIT IT, OR LEAVE IT AS IS? IS IT FAIR TO BLAME THE HOUSEWIVES SERIES FOR RUSSELL’S DEATH?
