What Russell Armstrong told mother before suicide over reality TV show footage fears

Taylor Armstrong's estranged husband Russell was in a state of panic over how he would be portrayed in the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills before his suicide on Monday.
Speaking out for the first time since he was found hanged on Monday, Russell's mother said he was deeply concerned about the candid footage Bravo had obtained, charting his marriage breakdown and money woes.
While producers are now weighing up whether to pull the second series from airing in light of this week's events, John Ann Hotchkiss says her son feared TV makers were going to 'crucify' him.

She told Headline News: 'Before the new season even started, before he took his life, he said, "Mom, they’re just going to crucify me this season".'
'He said, "I don’t know what to do. I’ll never survive it".'
In another interview with CNN HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell, Russell's mother  also cautioned Bravo about airing any footage involving her son.

She said that the TV station: 'Better not air one frame of my son... or else!'
Her statement comes after members of the family have previously said that the reality show and Bravo is to 'blame' for Russell's suicide.

During an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, Russell's stepbrother Wade Jackson revealed that the family might sue the network.

'Bravo is at fault and somebody needs to pay,' he said.

'Russell’s whole family was very close and they’re considering suing Bravo.
'Russell’s dad doesn’t want to talk about what happened to him with a lot of people, but everyone in the family thinks that Bravo is to blame.'
Russell's lawyer Ronald Richards told ABC News that his former client was also in debt to the tune of $1.5m.

Taylor Requests Bravo Edit Ex-Hubby's Footage

After the horrible suicide of Taylor Armstrong's husband, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiere has been somewhat questionable. Rumors that it will be cancelled, delayed, etc., have been running rapid.

What we can say is that when and if the series airs, Taylor Armstrong wants the memory of her husband to be an honorable one and hopes that Bravo will edit appropriately.

A source told Radar Online: "Taylor will be asking Bravo executives to look at what they planned on airing, with the heightened awareness and sensitivity of Russell's suicide.

“Taylor can only request this as Bravo owns all the footage and both she and Russell signed off on having any control with how they were portrayed on the show. It's important to recognize, Russell agreed to appear on camera, no one forced him to.

“Russell agreed to have his therapy sessions with Taylor filmed with the expectation that it would be aired. In the end, Bravo will have the final say if any changes are made at all, period."

Armstrong suicide shakes Housewives Family says reality show 'ruined his life'

 

The mother of Russell Armstrong said her son feared being "crucified" in the upcoming season of reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Three days after the suicide of Armstrong, the estranged husband of cast member Taylor Armstrong, producers were still pondering whether to go ahead with the second season amid claims that the pressure of being on the show played a role in the tragedy.
Armstrong's mother, John Ann Hotchkiss, told cable channel HLN in an interview Wednesday she believed that being on the drama-filled reality show had slowly destroyed her son's six-year marriage to Taylor.
"Before the new season even started, before he took his life, he said, 'Mom, they're just going to crucify me this season.' He said, 'I don't know what to do. I'll never survive it.' I thought he meant business or something," Hotchkiss said.
His crumbling marriage was expected to be a key theme in the second season due to start on Sept.
5. Taylor Armstrong filed for divorce in July. The 47 year-old venture capitalist was also deeply in debt and the subject of a $1.5-million breach of contract lawsuit, according to his lawyer.
Coroners officials said he hanged himself with an electrical cord at a house in the Beverly Hills area on Monday.
Russell Armstrong had come across as cold and antisocial in the first season and was criticized by the five other women on the show.
His lawyer Ronald Richard said this week that the Armstrongs were living way beyond their means.
In the first season, Taylor threw a lavish $60,000 party for the fourth birthday of the couple's daughter Kennedy.
Armstrong's stepmother Gladys Armstrong told ABC's Good Morning America show Thursday that the Real Housewives show "ruined his life."
"Deep in my heart I know that. Russell was not what he was made out to be," Armstrong said in the interview.
Cable channel Bravo has declined to discuss the various comments by friends and relatives of Armstrong.
Bravo executive Andy Cohen said in a blog Wednesday that producers were still trying to process news of the suicide and "looking at how to proceed with the series."
Armstrong's nephew Austin Kelsoe told Good Morning America Thursday that he thought the show should go on, but he added: "Russell should be edited out in respect for Taylor and the family."

Housewives Keep Quiet About Russell's Suicide

Photo Credit: Bravo TV

TMZ has learned that the entire cast of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has been instructed to keep quiet about the suicide of Russell Armstrong. That means to interviews, no more tweets...

Also, Bravo has cancelled the filming schedule that was to take place tomorrow and opted instead to have a cast meeting.

No word on whether Taylor Armstrong will be at the meeting, we assume she will be taking a substantial break from filming.

Taylor Hasn't Kennedy About Her Dad's Death

Taylor Armstrong hasn't yet told her daughter Kennedy about her father's suicide. A friend states, "She's not emotionally ready to do so yet."

Her attorney, Robert Thorne, tells TMZ, "Taylor Armstrong is devastated by the tragic events that have unfolded. She requests privacy at this time so that she may comfort her young daughter. Her thoughts and prayers are also with Russell's 11- and 13-year-old sons."

Russell Armstrong Commits Suicide

Photo Credit: Bauer Griffin

Russell Armstrong, the almost-ex-hubby of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong, was found dead of an apparent suicide yesterday evening, TMZ reports.

Authorities arrived at his home on Mulholland Drive and found him hanging in his bedroom (a roommate had called 911 and informed them that he had hung himself). He was pronounced dead at 8:16PM. No suicide note was found.

Taylor had filed for divorce last month after claiming Russel, 47, was physically abusive towards her.

This is such terribly sad news. Our thoughts are with Taylor, their daughter Kennedy, and the rest of their friends and family members.

UPDATE: Russell's lawyer has released the following statement regarding what led up to his client's suicide,

"I feel bad because his credit cards weren't working ... He had tremendous financial problems. He was also extremely bummed out about the divorce with Taylor. As far as a will, even if he does have a will, they don't have any assets, so I'm not sure what there would be left to leave. I am extremely saddened ... I had no idea he was depressed."

Taylor Armstrong Talks About Her Divorce

Judging by the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 2 trailer, there is no shortness of drama this year. For Taylor Armstrong, she had some very personal drama unfold on camera.

"Unfortunately for me this year, there were a lot more tears, a lot more pain," Taylor Armstrong told E! News' Meagan Medick about her recent split from husband Russell Armstrong.

"I know it's going to be hard for me to watch a lot of it," Armstrong says of her soon-to-air split. "It's been such an emotional ride for me this year. And it's one thing to experience it, but then to watch it again on television and know that millions of other people are watching, it's going to be tough."

As for what she's doing to keep her mind off the split, she said, "I'm out and I'm spending a lot of time with my daughter right now. We're just trying to really take it day by day right now and trying to keep her life as consistent as possible and make sure she knows that she's surrounded by so much love and we're so fortunate that she really is."

Russell Armstong's Abusive History With Exes

In a recent interview with People Magazine, Taylor Armstrong revealed that her soon-to-be ex-husband, Russell Armstrong, had been physically abusive towards her several times during their marriage. Now, reports have surfaced showing that she was not his first victim.

Russell Armstrong has had not one but two restraining orders placed against him - one by his ex-wife and the second by his ex-girlfriend.

His ex wife, Barbara Armstrong reveals, "Russell threw me to the ground and slapped me across the face....the police were called to Russell's and my residence during our marriage because Russell hit me, blackened my eyes, kicked me in the back, threw crystal drinking glasses at me, and spit on me." She continues on to say that Russell ended up "pleading guilty to battery and said that he understood that he had to go to an anger management program. That was the first anger management program that Russell was ordered to attend."

The ex-girlfriend, Claudio Haro says after accusing her of sleeping with an ex-boyfriend, Russell "hit me in the face so hard that my neck snapped back....I got out of Russell's car and dialed 911. However, I was put on hold. I was standing next to Russell's car with my cell phone in my hand when he walked around the car, pulled my cell phone out of my hand and he broke it by pulling the top part of my flip phone off. Russell then grabbed both of my wrists so hard that it hurt."