Tuesday
Aug162011
Sad.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 By now, you probably all know that Russell Armstrong committed suicide last night.
I keep deleting what I have written because it just sounds so trite and gross. No matter what we thought of him, this is just sad news.
What are your thoughts?
(Thanks to those of you who were urgently emailing me. I was in a meeting all morning and was probably the last person on earth to find out.)
Reader Comments (17)
I go back and forth. He admitted to shoving his wife around and seemed to not find much wrong with that, so I don't have any sympathy for him.
I do feel sorry for Taylor, she is probably full of guilt, and I feel very sorry for Kennedy, whose most concrete memories of her father are going to come from RH, which does NOT paint him in a positive light whatsoever.\
I also think that Andy Cohen's eyes are probably crossing out of their sockets trying to figure out what to do about the season, which is starting in about three weeks, isn't it?
OMG I can't believe it, and I just keep thinking about Taylor leaving the party w/the piece of cake and Russell had already left she was so sad the whole shot was sad ugh freaking death, HATE IT!!!!
Yeah Andy's got some work to do
YES! Totally agreeing about Andy's eyeballs. What will they do?
Never thought about Kennedy and how she'll have a crappy (yet awesome) reality show as her last memories. I wonder how much RHOBH played a part in all of this? I'm sure it was significant.
I too deleted what I wanted to write. He was in some bad shape financially, and I'm guessing whatever they shot this season on RHBH did not show him in the best light. Sad for his daughter, the reports also said he had two boys from another marriage.
super sad. for taylor for her daughter - all involved. it may have happened without the show, but the fact is it probably didn't help things.
dunno. Andy may need to reedit the season and leave him out of it - it would be a really bad PR move to throw him under the bus post suicide.
Suicide is never the answer to any problem........my heart breaks for the folks Russell left behind, especially his children. Sad
Praying Bravo holds off the next season and does a good job editing the episodes out of respect for the family.................hopefully Taylor and Kennedy will be lifted up by their family and friends and get through this difficult time with grace and relief from the intense grief.
I am behind in the news just got a text from a friend - we were in Paso Robles all weekend at a B & B with no tv. Despite what I feel for him personally and how happy I was they were getting a divorce, no child should have to suffer through the loss of a parent. Apparently he had two sons as well who were a little older. It's devastating for them. I have a friend who had a similar situaiton - she was leaving an abusive relationship and the husband committed suicide and for years the ex felt completely guilty. Taylor has to remember it was his choice, a selfish choice, that left his children without a father. I feel for his immediate family, Taylor and their children.
It's always heartbreaking when someone feels that's their only choice. A friend's brother made that choice and you always wonder, could you have done something.
He seemed like something was already wrong. I think his divorce with Taylor would have happened, show or not and I think it would have been the final straw, show or not. But all of it being done in the public eye probably didn't help.
If it had been Jim Bellino, I would have had no problem.
Bravo was the beast that killed Russell.
I feel so bad for Taylor and all three of his kids. How awful for them. What is making this situation worse (as if having your marriage unravel on TV isn't enough) the ex-wife is blaming Taylor for his suicide. Sick.
just a little note to those who think that suicide is "selfish" or "a way out"....mental illness is just that, an illness. and suicide, for many, is the end result of that illness. we wouldn't blame a cancer patient for dying of cancer...we need to stop chastising those who suffer from mental illness when it gets to this extreme. i know nothing of this man or what he was dealing with, so am not speaking specifically about him. but in general, suicide is always an incredibly heartbreaking end for all involved.
Bravo did everything they could to highlight Russell's awkwardness. Looking back now, he must have been humiliated, shown as a failure as a husband and business man. Obviously there were deeper issues that are none of our business, but the RH shows are no place for a tortured soul. And anyone who takes their own life in that way, is just that. RIP Russell Armstrong.
while bravo and this franchise is dirty...it is in NO WAY their fault. joe guidice has major financial woes...is he next? i have horrible financial woes..EVERYONE has financial woes...but you don't just fucking end it all and leave your daughter to carry that burden around for the rest of her life. that guy is a pussy and if he were alive i would kick his teeth in for even thinking it.
he needed to pull the fucking tampon out of his pussy and man up and take care of his daughter. end of story.
it's not bravo's fault. it's his fault. it's his fault bc it was HIS choice.
Dear MFAMB:
Stop with the 5th grade language. It's a gimmick, and you've worn it out.
My heart goes out to all involved - Russell, his family, friends, and yes, those working on the show. Depression is a killer and those who sink to such depths of despair are those that I have deep sorrow and compassion for.
I've felt guilty since the news ... because I don't want his family hurt more, but selfishly I want to see the season as Bravo had originally planned it. I'm horrible, I know.
I've always looked back at Taylor's comments in the episode where she was speaking to battered woman and in her interview she said she wanted other woman to see that they could live in Beverly Hills and be happy too. At the time I thought she was so sadly deluded and shallow if she really thought that everyone else aspired to that life style and I wondered if it even made her happy. So sad to look back on it and think of what she may have put herself through and what she lost trying to appear to be able to live in BH and seek fame on a reality show.
MFAMB - you do you and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You make me laugh every day and I love you for it. :-)