While Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is coming to an end, the off-screen drama is just beginning for Taylor Armstrong. Just days after a report that Bravo may be looking to give Taylor the axe, citing she is a liability, comes a report claiming Bravo and Taylor’s co-tarts fear they may be dragged into her courtroom drama!
Taylor is the recipient of a $1.5M lawsuit filed by MMRGlobal alleging that she and late husband Russell Armstrong participated in investor fraud and failed to uphold their end of a settlement agreement. Taylor heads to court July 11, 2012.
According to The Huffington Post, Bravo and some of her co-tarts are concerned about “becoming party to the the litigation” and being forced to participate in the court battle. Now that’s some Watch What Happens Live I want to see! What on earth would Adrienne Maloof wear to court? Gold extensions? Ruffles?
Just a little background information: MMRGlobal filed the suit against Taylor and Russell for breach-of-contract claiming he failed to follow the stipulations of a previously reached settlement deal. Russell was the largest shareholder of the then privately held company and was discovered misappropriating investor funds. He was removed from the board and settled with the company for $250,000. Taylor was also forced to sign a settlement agreement since she was found to be an equally involved party in allegedly scheming against investors and diverting shares of the company.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement the Armstrongs were required to identify anyone Russell sold MMRGlobal shares to; however he failed to do so and was subsequently sued by the company. Russell committed suicide shortly after being served with the suit. One of the chief concerns in the lawsuit is the alleged hiding of missing investor monies in an off-shore Cook Island account known as the Taylor Family Trust. Previous investigation revealed Taylor had made several deposits into the account over the years. Much of the money the Armstrongs were accused of misappropriating remains unaccounted for.
Taylor’s defense against the MMRGlobal suit is said to be that she was forced to participate in Russell’s dealings under duress, or, in other words he was abusive towards her and she feared for her safety and that of their daughter. Is it a coincidence that her new memoir, which chronicles the alleged abuse she faced at the hands of her now deceased husband, is hitting shelves months before she heads to trial?
“Where are the millions of dollars that flowed through their bank accounts and pockets? We have no reason to believe that Russell was broke or that Taylor is a victim of Russell without the ability to pay damages to MMR,” asserts MMRGlobal CEO Bob Lorsch.
As for how Taylor’s various legal troubles could involve the network, Bravo employees may have to testify about the network’s financial arrangements with the couple (such as how in the hell she got $6ok to throw a birthday party!) or how much they were earning to participate in the show. As well as if during the course of filming they observed the Armstrongs exhibit any behavior that could be pertinent in case. Bravo, of course, doesn’t want to be seen as responsible for or knowledgeable about any of the Armstrong’s potentially shady business dealings.
In response to the latest legal drama surrounding Lady Armstrong, the NY Daily News is seconding claims that Taylor’s days at Bravo are numbered, mentioning the recent litigation against her as one of the major reasons Bravo is seeking to end her contract.
“At this point, nobody on the Beverly Hills cast is safe,” a source describes, adding that Taylor and Kim Richards are the top picks to get pink slipped. And it seems Bravo has reached the end of their ropes which scheming, lying frauds trying to infiltrate the Housewives (ahem… Marlo Hampton). NYDN recently got their hands on a 51-page questionnaire the network has been passing out to potential new RHOBH co-tarts.
Among the information Bravo wants to know: “Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?” and “Have you ever had a restraining order issued against you?” Oh, they also want to know if said person plans to ruin the network’s reputation anymore than they plan to ruin said person, asking if candidates would do “anything that would cause the program producers and/or the cable network and affiliates any embarrassment or monetary loss?”
Speaking of potential new castmates, according to The Huffington Post Bravo has tapped Vanessa Bryant, soon-to-be-ex-wife of basketball legend, Kobe Bryant as a potential new Housewife. Vanessa recently turned down an opportunity to star in Basketball Wives LA.
“She would made a great addition to the cast,” an insider claims. “She is now single and free and doesn’t ever have to worry about earning another dollar in her life, so she can focus on what makes the show so much fun: herself.” I fail to see how she has any relationship to these ladies, given that she doesn’t even live in Beverly Hills, but apparently the network is interested in what she could bring to the table.
Also seen as a potential new addition, Lisa Gastineau, who previously stared on E!’s short-lived reality show Gastineau Girls alongside her daughter Brittny Gastineau, a close friend of Kim Kardashian‘s.
“Lisa is the opposite of Vanessa,” the insider said. “She is the example of how not to get divorces. She has a wonderful life but works very hard to pay her bills and would love to find love again.” Lisa was previously married to NFL player Mark Gastineau and has been linked to such winners as Sylvester Stallone and John Gotti. Once again, I fail to see how she has any relationship to the current ladies. A photo of Lisa is below!
Moving right along to other possible Bravo fraudsters, days after Brandi Glanville kissed and told during a WWHL appearance that she had a fling with A-List actor Gerard Butler, the actor is denying any such affiliation! When TMZ caught up with Gerard and asked him what he had to say about the reality star rating his lovemaking skills as an 11 out of 10, Gerald simply responded: “Who’s Brandi Glanville?”
After taking a ton of heat on the Twitter and being accused of making up her Gerard fling, Brandi is firing back telling RumorFix she was totally telling the truth about her hook up!
Claiming Gerard admitted to pretending he didn’t know who she is, Brandi explains, “He called me last night and told me he said it. He is upset because he is a private person. I don’t lie so I don’t really care.” The always classy Brandi followed up by Tweeting, “I don’t lie. He can suck it.” I think he may have already…
[Photos Credit: WENN]
IS TAYLOR A LIABILITY TO THE NETWORK? DO YOU THINK SHE WILL BE FORCED TO PAY UP TO MMRGLOBAL? THOUGHTS ON POSSIBLE NEWBIES VANESSA AND LISA JOINING THE CAST? DID BRANDI HOOK UP WITH GERARD?
CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR A PHOTO OF LISA!
Lisa Gastineau with daughter Brittny Gastineau. Credit: L. Gallo/WENN.com
