According to TMZ Chankla’s ex Russell Armstrong who turned out to be a woman beater committed suicide last night. The 47 year old hung himself at his apartment in Mulholland Drive and was pronounced dead at 8:16 PM on Monday.
That’s some crazy shit I don’t even know what to say.
My condolences to the Armstrongs.
Thanks Momtoo for the heads up!
UPDATE! Russell was stressed out over money and Chankla leaving him. From TMZ:
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Russell Armstrong was at his wits end over his impending divorce from Taylor in the days leading to his death — and he was inundated with debt.
Russell’s lawyer Ronald Richards tells TMZ, Russell had been staying at a friend’s house on Mulholland Drive in L.A. — the same house where authorities found his body hanging last night.
Richards tells us, “I feel bad because his credit cards weren’t working … He had tremendous financial problems.”
Richards adds, “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.”
As we previously reported, Russell — an investor who made his money in the 90s during the dot com boom — filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005, claiming he had less than $50,000 in assets … and debt somewhere between $1 and $10 million.
UPDATE UPDATE!Chankla hasn’t even told her little daughter about her father yet! And she’s been hysterical since finding out.
From Radaronline:
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong is beside herself with grief that her estranged husband Russell Armstrong killed himself RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
Russell was found hanging in the bedroom of a friends home in Los Angeles Monday night and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 47.
Taylor “has been up all night. She is hysterical, and can barely speak. She has no idea why Russell would do this. She doesn’t know how she is going to be able to tell her daughter, Kennedy,” a source close to the situation tells us exclusively.
Taylor had recently filed for divorce, and their marriage had been in trouble for some time.
The upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was going to feature the former couple going to marriage counseling in an attempt to save their marriage.
No word on if Bravo plans on airing those sessions in light of his tragic death.
Russell had “been dealing with a lot of financial stress in recent months,” our insider tells us.
Story developing…..
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! We’re going to be on this story all day and I’m too lazy to post another blog on this. Russell’s ex blames his death on Chankla Face and says she drove him to suicide with her famewhoring, greedy antics. Also the roomate of Russel who found him hanging says Russell confided in him that reality TV ruined his life (duh!) :
The ex-wife speaks to Radaronline:
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Russell Armstrong took his own life on Monday night, and his ex-wife tells RadarOnline.com she blames his now estranged wife, Taylor Armstrong.
“I don’t care for her at all. I think she’s the reason for this,” Russell’s ex, Barbara Frederickson, told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
“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.”
Sadly, Russell left behind a teenage son with Barbara who she says will be turning 14 this week, and will be “devastated” when he hears the news about his father.
“He’s always been a great dad to my son. He was very close to Aiden and he’s going to be absolutely devastated,” Barbara said.
“For years he saw Aiden twice a month and had him all the summers. It wasn’t until the issues with this Taylor girl that it got bad.”
Russell, 47, was married to Barbara in 1997 and separated shortly after their son was born.
“I don’t think it was the show,” Barbara said of the hit Bravo Real Housewives franchise.
“I think she [Taylor] drove him into financial stress and it just ruined him.”
Barbara tells RadarOnline.com that while she and Russell had their issues in the past, “what happened is in the past and Russell and I had a good relationship.”
Here is what Russell told his roomate about reality TV ruining him:
Russell Armstrong broke down just days before he committed suicide and admitted to a friend that reality TV had destroyed his life.
In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com Tom Vickers reveals how in his final days Russell was ‘somber’ and ‘withdrawn’ and blamed Real Housewives for turning his life upside down.
“It’s terrible news,” said the photographer, who forged a friendship with Russell over recent months and last spoke to him on August 4. “But during our phone call he didn’t sound like the Russell that I knew.
PHO“He was down in the dumps over the latest allegations that he had abused Taylor. I told him people don’t believe everything they read and he told me; ‘It’s funny how a reality show can ruin your entire life.'”
At the time of his death he was facing divorce drama with Taylor who accused him of physically abusing her.
But while he vehemently denied laying a finger on her, Vickers said he didn’t feel up to telling his side of the story.
“He told me the allegations were absolutely not true and that he wanted people to hear that from him. But he admitted he was too emotional and that there was too much to handle.
“He said: ‘I hope when I’m ready to speak people will be kind to me.’
“I don’t know what has happened with him in the past, but I do know that he seemed like a really good man. He was always cheerful and he had a real Southern charm about him.
“It’s a really sad time and I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will miss him.”
Russell was found hanged in a house in Beverly Hills on Monday night.
Another update on the family counselor’s reaction to Russell’s death:
Dr. Charles Sophy, board certified psychiatrist, who worked with Taylor and Russell Armstrong as they tried to save their marriage, is shocked about Russell’s tragic suicide.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the untimely death of Russell. My condolences go to his family and loved ones. My immediate concern is for Taylor and her daughter to make sure they get the support they need to get through this difficult time,” Sophy tells RadarOnline.com exclusively.
The marriage counseling sessions were filmed for the upcoming season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Taylor is “hysterical” about her estranged husband’s suicide, according to our source. No word on if Bravo will now air the marriage counseling sessions between Taylor and Russell in the wake of his suicide.
And Camille Grammar sends her condolences the other housewives are said to be speechless about the whole thing:
Taylor Armstrong’s cast mates on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are reaching out to her and her young daughter in wake of her estranged husband’s shocking suicide.
Camille Grammer tweeted Tuesday: “My sympathy and condolences go out to Taylor and Kennedy. My thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Bravo’s Andy Cohen – who oversees the “Real Housewives” franchise – likewise tweeted his condolences.
“I am so very sad about today’s news. My prayers and thoughts are with Taylor Armstrong and her family.”
Following Cohen’s tweet, a Bravo spokesperson released this statement:
“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.”
Bravo star Patti Stanger tweeted, “@taylorarmstrong Sweetie, I am so sorry for your loss, please note I am here for you… Prayers & condolences to you and your family!”
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Caroline Manzo tweeted, “So sorry 2 hear about Russell Armstrong’s death. I hope @taylorarmstrong’s privacy is respected during this difficult time.”
Peggy Tanous of the Real Housewives of Orange County tweeted, “I’m very saddened by the news of Russell Armstrong. My thoughts and prayers are with Taylor and Kennedy and the family.”
Armstrong’s co-star Adrienne Maloof tweeted, “My heart goes out to @TaylorArmstrong and Kennedy during this devastating time. You will be in my thoughts and in prayers.”
Stay tuned for more reaction from the other ‘Housewives’…
And finally here the last happy picture of Russell with Taylor and their daughter Kennedy:
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! Russell was scared of a tell all book:
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Russell Armstrong may have been driven to suicide by fear of an impending tell-all book, sources exclusively tell RadarOnline.com.
“Russell was recently informed that a tell-all book was being written and that many of his secrets were going to be made public,” a source with inside information said.
“He had expressed great concern about the book.”
According to the source, the book was going to reveal extensive details about Russell’s sexual indiscretions and preferences along with sordid secrets which could be deemed by some as deviant behavior.
“He’d been told that several of his exes were going on the record to expose the skeletons in his closet,” the source told RadarOnline.com.
“A few of those close to Russell knew about the book and knew he was really upset about it. Some friends think it was the final straw for him.”
Filed under: Chankla Face, rea housewives of Beverly Hills, real housewives, Real Housewives of Beverly Hillbillies, Taylor Armstrong, Uncategorized, Chankla Face, Real Housewives of Beverly Hillbillies, Real Housewives Of Beverly Hillbillies Taylor Armstrong's Ex-Husband Commits Suicide!, Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, russell armstrong
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wholy SHIT! Just heard this on L.A. morning radio.
Fee badk for their kid and all his other kids. However, I think shana hughes comign out about domestic abuse all of a sudden to make herself interesting and relevant this season probably pushed him to it.
Mierda! I agree w cparkeast. Always thought Chankla Face’s conveniently timed abuse revelations were really about her obsession w fame & social status – not helping herself or other abuse victims. This got people to start digging into Russell’s past – both personal & financial – and I really believe it’s the one thing he wouldn’t have been able to smoothly gloss over alone w/o Chankla by his side. That woman was no saint; she was the Bonnie to his Clyde who knew all about his scams & was perfectly content being a part of them (going so far as to pull the Ford Family bs card) up & until the money-well ran dry. If that woman has an ounce of concern for saving her little girl, she needs to get f*ck off TV, move away from BH & get her and her kid into some serious therapy STAT. Enough w the social climbing, plastic surgery obsession and gold-digging, Chankla. It’s all fun & games until your husband hangs himself, pendeja.
Poor Kennedy. Not looking forward to watching duck lips play a sad widow. She’s probably only thinking about how this buys her another season on RHBH since this one is already in the bag.
@Aguardiente, forgot to ask you to fill us in on ducklips Ford family scam.
This is a sad day.
Just think if Tsylor didn’t go on RHOBH and speak of such personal issues, Russel didn’t seem like rational person to begin with.
Poor Kennedy.
Sorry Taylor.
I feel bad now I will lay off poor Taylor for a little bit I wish she would quit the show like Aguardiente said, now that this happened and move back to Oklahoma or the backwoods of Kentucky and change her name and focus on being a mom to her kid. 😦 sad
I wonder if they will wait with the new season now or proceed as planned. If they have not filmed the reunion show yet, it will be quite the episode.
Very sad…Prayers for the families. Sometimes the most important thing is to take a step back.
Chankla is one mean bitch. Watch her go “Oklahoma” on Access Hollywood season preview. I can barely imagine her mean mouth when the cameras aren’t rolling. I wanted to slap her faux ass myself!
However my heart is with his three children and the pain they will forever suffer without their father.
It is sad what has happened. Regardless, there is a little girl who will not have her daddy anymore with her. My prayers are with them…..
Radaronline is saying that Russell’s exwife is blaming Taylor because she was bad news and was greedy. There were rampant rumors months ago even on E Online that Taylor was fired after S1 because she was so hateful and didnt have a solid storyline. Then all of a sudden, she had eating disorder and abusive husband who she was divorcing. coincidence? If they wanted her to be a happily married woman, she would have stayed with him.
She doesnt care how he would feel or look, she just wanted to be on the show. He outlived his uses,he ran out of money and everyone knew about the scams so his jig was up. Feel sorry for him and his struggles with money, and his kids but not Shana. Just few weeks ago, they flew private flight to some event in Dallas and I’m sure they were struggling then too. They are like Silex.
In some ways, I feel that Bravo and Andy cohen are somewhat responsible for putting somethign like domestic abuse on the show. Its not entertaining and should be addressed off camera. He was exploited and used by his wife. May he rest in peace.
thanks cparkeast I’m updating this ! BL
Bravo should edit out Taylor this season. If they do, Taylor wins. A man who was so tortured shoudl not be exploited further on tv because his wife wants fame.
I’m in bed nursing an awful flu and have dedicated way too much time to thinking and reading up on this story. Pls don’t judge! Ha!
So, despite my being a hard bitch, I too felt bad for Chankla … for about 5 minutes.
-Thought the same thing as @Clt…”shit. this chick’s gonna use this as an opportunity to give an Oscar-worthy performance as Grieving Widow #1. betcha she’s already got her stylist shopping for a bad ass black dress & killer black veiled hat.”
-According to Russell’s lawyer, there is no will and they have no assets. This from an allegedly college educated woman who works in the financial sector. WTF kind of mother channels are her time, finances, efforts, etc., into getting onto a reality show and all the sacrifices necessary to maintain that fake lifestyle instead of getting a damn job to secure financial security for her kid? If Russell was irresponsible enough to not have a will for his kid, that’s bad enough, but what about her? The only thing worse than having a shitty parent is having TWO shitty parents. I mean, you can knock out a will on legalzoom while getting your weekly beak injections (especially when you have nothing), Chankla!
-@Robin, I think you’re onto something. Russell’s lawyer said he spent every dollar he had on their “lifestyle”. That’s the polite, lawyer equivalent of “he drove a Ferrari but slept on his mama’s couch”. I strongly suspect Chankla isn’t as meek as she acts but rather had him up against the wall demanding he finance her charade. Do I think Russell was completely innocent? No. I think he was sort of like Tareq from DC wanting the glitz and glamour and willing to scam people along the way. But I believe Russell’s turning point was losing Chankla, possibly losing contact with his THIRD child, a looming crazy-expensive divorce, his scammer ways being revealed to all, her ass-whooping allegations, the new $1.5 million lawsuit against him and possible legal trouble. If I get stressed just about being late for a doctor’s appointment, I doubt my ass could handle all that man was now facing.
-I don’t know how Andy will be able to sleep tonight. I have no doubt he and Bravo knew these two were broke scammers just like they know Kelly & Danielle are crazy; Theresa, Melissa, Nene, Lynn, Tamra, Alexis, Peggy and Alex ain’t got a pot to piss in but are ruining their families to show otherwise to be on the program; Ramona’s a lush; Kim’s a crackhead and that they’re accomplices to Slade’s child support dodging by paying him via Gretchen. Andy, Bravo and ALL these “Real” Housewives need to take a long, hard look at what’s really “real” now bc although Russell’s suicide is awful, it could’ve been worse: he could’ve hurt Taylor and/or Kennedy.
-I bet you my left ovary Bethenny is thanking her lucky stars to be as far away from this cesspool as she is.
-@Clt, Chankla changed her name from Shana Hughes to Taylor Ford and was representing herself as an heir to the Ford family. Apparently, she not only continued doing this during her marriage with Russell, but he would also feed people the story. See? God creates them and they find each other. So, I’m thinking the name change part of BL’s suggestion would work just fine for her, but she’ll probably need a more glamorous destination.
I do so love (my) Aguardiente!
And I, too, wonder about Miss Andy’s conscience. Russell was clearly unhappy and that shrew was always after him, bitch, bitch, bitch.
The baby’s birthday party fiasco literally made me ill — and then her lies and more lies about the child’s allergies……..get outta here! She never had a kind word to say about him. Imagine his children growing up thinking he was an emotionless chithead…
NO assets but she spent 50k on her daughters birthday party that was all about HER. Shana Hughes, has more names than just taylor Ford, is not meek. The way she attacked Kim and stirred up shit between Camille and Kyle.. she is cunning and Lisa saw through her.Remember her telling everyone that Adrienne was Kennedy’s godmother during the reunion and Adrienne gave her the hairy eyeball? Andy needs to kick her off the show. To garner ratings by using the suicide theme will be unconscionable.
And I love MY Robin! (So sad it takes this awful tragedy for us to cross paths again, huh? Hope all’s well with you.)
BL, despite the truly sad nature of this story, I have to admit I keep laughing when I come back to the site and see your “UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE” Makes me imagine you as an old-school street corner newspaper boy yelling out “HEADLINES! HEADLINES!” You’re getting quite the workout today, eh? Pobrecita.
Alright, back to el chisme….
-Hold up, is this the same ex wife that just sold her story weeks ago to the tabloids about Russell’s alleged violence towards her? Is she one of the ex wives who cooperated with this tell-all book that Russell was freaking out over? Bc if so, then that pot cannot be calling Chankla black. Nuh uh, nice try, mamita, but Aguardiente’s calling you out on your bs. And while we are at it, I have a problem with this bit from the RO story: “Russell left behind a teenage son with Barbara who she says will be turning 14 this week, and will be “devastated” when he hears the news about his father.” Excuse me? Will be? When he hears? So, sister girl is giving interviews BEFORE discussing her son’s father’s suicide w him?! A FOURTEEN yr old kid in the age of technology wherein news spreads like wildfire? Again, I ask, WTF is up with these mothers?!
-BL, how recent is that pic of Russell, Taylor & Kennedy? I’m asking bc I’m no Howard Hughes but that looks like a private plane to me. How are broke ass people OK with chartering planes for themselves?! Hope you enjoyed that ride, Taylor, bc it appears to be recent enough for a) you knowing you guys couldn’t afford it and b) it to have been around your ass-whooping allegations.
-@Robin, I’m w you on that birthday party – just awful. Didn’t bother her in the least to lie about those allergies and devastate her kid bc she NEEDED to “check” Russell about bringing home that puppy. This chick doesn’t even blink while throwing some whoppers out there and/or throwing people under the bus either. The way she practically strong-armed Adrienne into becoming Kennedy’s godmother was CRAZY. She sees how utterly uncomfortable that lady was while she’s being confronted w her lies as well but glossed over it all like it was just another Tuesday morning in paradise and she was picking-up her dry cleaning. Bitch’s got some mad skills.
-Russell was awkward, secretive and overall dark from the get-go. But I still don’t believe he was violent; at least not towards Taylor. He didn’t snap & kill her or try to hurt her by hurting Kennedy. I’ll tell you who I would totally expect that from though: the two Jersey Joes. Now THOSE are some violent MoFos. Poor Russell.
Aguardiente, LOL!!! LOL!!! THAT’S TRUE THAT IS SO TRUE I JUST GOT THAT PICTURE IN MY HEAD OF ME STANDING THERE LIKE AN OLD TIMEY PAPER BOY WEARING ONE OF THOSE HATS FROM THE 1930’S!! IM CRACKING UP!! OH SHIT my coworker just looked at me like I’m crazy! She is cool thought!
BL
I couldn’t stand that woman the moment she opened her fucking big-ass mouth. She never had anything nice to say about russell and even kennedy showed no respect for him in her 5 yr old way cuz that’s all she saw her mommy doin. I always felt bad for russell cuz he had such a fucked-up wife who always talked shit about him on tv. i agree with previous commentors…. BRAVO, don’t air bullshit storylines of spousal abuse unless you can prove it. It does ruin lives if it AIN’T true. Fuck u taylor/shanna.
Altho the first Mrs. Armstrong might be going for her 15 min. of fame, at least she didn’t rip him apart as the second fame ho Mrs. A did — all f’g season and in the press, and I’ll bet on the already produced RHOBH.
Time to retool that show, Andy, and eliminate the kiss of death. I doubt that any of us want to watch a dead guy getting beat up after the fact.
How dear for those 3 children to think of their father as Trailer painted him, scammed him, and kicked him while he was down, down, down. God bless them — nothing was their fault.
Is it wrong for me to be worried about Barney Devito pulling this same shit? I need to take a break from posting about this ordeal!
BL
So very sad and so very preventable. Chankla is a train wreak And though he was no angel none actually drives you to commit suicide, it comes from a deep abyss- like depression, mental illness and possible chemical imbalance perhaps coupled with self meditating narcotics. Clearly they lived in a house of card. Both seem unstable and how sad their little girl has to endure this. I hate to judge them. They all seemed so troubled. A show that started as a funny to look at farce is now a real life tragedy. Bravo should be ashamed of not properly screening both financially and mentally these folks. Realty tv and show biz is not for everyone. rest in peace Russell. Chankla get some help!
I bet my left chichi that bravo will start milking on this tragedy “en menos que canta un gallo”. This hype is gonna bring a ton of ratings, Miss andy is prob.. taking a mental bubble bath in the $$$ he will pocket thanks to this scandal..
DaMN!Aguardiente>> my hat off! very clever deductions!
I have a feeling that the so called tell all book is gonna go beyond wifebeatings and now they will include some sexual abuse in it now that the alleged perpetrator is dead
Silence is golden for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” — TMZ has learned, Bravo just instructed the entire cast … NO talking to the media about Russell Armstrong’s suicide … whatsoever.
Sources connected with the show tell TMZ, each cast member received both a phone call and an email from Bravo just hours after news broke about Russell’s death — ordering them to keep their mouths shut.
But the new directive isn’t holding up production — we’re told, shooting is set to resume tomorrow as scheduled.
Right now, it’s unclear if Taylor will also be returning to work at the same time.
3:58 PM: We’re told Bravo just canceled the shooting schedule for tomorrow and called a meeting for the entire cast — it’s unclear about what, but we can take a wild guess.
obviously copied from TMZ..
hope they bring the disinfectant hand wipes
Robin, I meet your (unbelievable!) TMZ post and raise you this Gawker commenter’s:
Overheard outside the producer’s office:
Couldn’t he have waited until sweeps?
If true, there has to be a special place in hell for whichever producer said that. Man, shit just got really real.
I’ll chalk that one up to ‘gallows humor’ ….sorry, but I have to lol (along w/BL)
Oh, thank God we’re cleared for gallows humor bc I was afraid someone was going to bitch me out for making that crack. But I couldn’t resist…the image of you (or my idea of you anyway) yelling that shit kept making me LMAO!
So, now that we can respectfully go back to the comfort of laughter, I have a question. Why didn’t Allison DuBoise – electric cigarette and all – see this one coming????? I mean, it’s just too much disappointment for me to handle in one day, people.
Allison saw it coming, but producers told her to save it….. (until “you know when”).
She sure did, Robin. “Know that.” ;p
This is so sad and sick at the same time. My heart goes out to his children. And of course, Bravo is going to exploit this. So sad.
It is very sad that things had to end up this way for him. He was a poor tormented soul that did not have any one to turn too. Taylor should not have gone public with the allegations of abuse and he could not take it, so he took the easy way out. I hope that Bravo does not bank on this tragic ending to enhance ratings…..
It’s such a sad situation… Poor Kennedy.
btw- love Robin’s comment
WHY in the HELL is his exwife saying PUBLICALLY anything? She should be focused on her CHILD..not saying “OH yeah, the mother of his daughter and the stepmother to my son did this”.
BL: Radaronline is now saying he was bi and it was going to come out in a book. Poor man. Wonder who the “source” is that leaked this story that Taylor found him browsing gay websites.
lawd i feel awful about how this played out. she probably caused the financial downfall. she probably made matters worse by going on tv and not getting help professionally (for both of them). she probably did all kinds of dumbass sloppy shit that hurt way more than help. but srsly, you people act like you know these people. who the fuck knows whether or not her allegations of abuse were true. i tend to take every accusation seriously (like with rape) because YOU DON’T KNOW. i personally saw some serious red flags and i’m a survivor of domestic violence. that combined with his past (come the FUCK ON ppl, the man had restraining orderSSSSSS (yes, plural)) it don’t look good.
that said, poor tortured bastard shouldn’t have killed himself. therapy, education, empathy, compassion. those are things i wish everybody (yeah i’m side-eyeing y’all) would get just a lttle bit more of.
For some reason I just dont believe the abuse storys. I feel sad whenever anyone takes their own life =( Rip Russell