More Taylor Armstrong And Beverly Hills Drama

7 Comments

1. 1
   Where's My Coffee?
   Posted August 17, 2011 at 6:28 am

   I think it’s hard Nads, because as reality “stars,” these people put their lives out there for cash and just have to deal with their most intimate moments being discussed. They know the more buzz they arouse, the more chance their contracts will be renewed. So it’s not surprising that people have opinions on this, the most dramatic outcome we’ve seen yet in the franchise.

   I can only speak for myself as far as why, with the exception of feeling extremely badly for the kids, I have no emotional investment in Taylor or her late husband. Why? Because we all saw how Taylor manipulated sister against sister, maniulated friend against friend, manipulated the dog situation and gave away her daughter’s first pet. Don’t like, don’t trust the woman.

   When he allegations of Russell’s abuse surfaced, frankly I just didn’t believe them until he admitted shoving her. I just don’t muster anything for dramatic BSers. No one will ever know what exactly pushed Russell to end his own life, but it’s very hard to feel sorry for people who scammed others, mistreated others and essentially sold us a lie about themselves. The situation is sad as hell. But I don’t doubt for a second that Taylor didn’t trump her side up a lot to sway public opinion (like we care)against her estranged husband. That’s how she rolls. In fact, as Sarcasatire suggested yesterday, if Bravo airs the show as it was, I bet there was a ton of Russell bashing. Some of it probably true, but knowing Taylor as we know her, some of it probably embellished to get what she wants … more $60K parties to impress her friends.

   I’m sorry 3 kids are in heartbroken today. I’m sorry for the pain Taylor probably feels too. But I’m not the least bit surprised that people, shocked and trying to make their own sense of this tragedy, are looking at a woman who gleefully exploited a woman’s possible alcoholism just so she could get in good with the woman’s sister. Remember her evil grin at the reunion? The chick’s cold.

2. 2
   Msjacqmills
   Posted August 17, 2011 at 10:08 am

   @wheresmycoffee…WERD…well said.

3. 3
   sarcasatire
   Posted August 17, 2011 at 11:10 am

   I’m not sure what I’m being quoted as saying, Where’smycoffee? That I don’t think the show not be edited? Yes, I did say that showing the marital discord that lead to their separation is part of Russell’s story, part of his truth, and may help him be understood. I did not, however, suggest there was “a ton of Russell bashing.” Just wanted to make that clear. (Because I don’t know..I suspected Taylor to get the villain edit this season after the viewers turned on her after the last reunion. So who knows..Russell may come off a lot more sympathetic in contrast.)

   I read that Bravo has stopped filming for the franchise and is considering how to proceed. Ugh. Stop filming. When they can get the most geniune, non scripted, reactions is when they stop filming? I know, I keep mistaking reality TV for a high rate documentary series, but just like a news reporter…you record the story when everything is still fresh. Not Taylor, of course..leave her be. But I would love for Lisa, Kyle, or Adrienne to give a statement, that could be included in the show. Some nice words about him that his family would appreciate, as well as their reaction to the news.

   Stopping filming is a bad sign… I sense a major edit. They mentioned his death on the Bravo site but not that it was a suicide, just that he “passed.” The spin begins..

4. 4
   hbgchick
   Posted August 17, 2011 at 11:12 am

   Thank you, wheresmycoffee. That was VERY well said, and my thoughts exactly. If you want to be a ‘reality star’ then you can’t bitch when your whole life is exposed. No idea what pushed the man to suicide, but any suicide that occurs everyone wants to ‘blame’ something/someone. In this case it’s Taylor, reality TV in general, financial trouble. But the thing of it is, and I don’t mean to sound cold here, the only person to blame in a suicide is the person who did it. Russell married Taylor for a reason, even knowing she was manipulative (and probably partially BECAUSE she was manipulative), he spent money he didn’t have, and he signed up for both of them to be on reality TV. I’m sorry for his family but nobody made him do any of those things, all his choice, and ultimately he made the final choice himself.

5. 5
   nads
   Posted August 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm

   @wheresmycoffee – i hear ya. loud and clear on this one. there’s no telling what put russell over. this sitaution doesn’t make me like taylor any more. i couldn’t stand taylor on bh one bit–in fact, she drove me crazy and i too thought she was completely manipulative. i started feeling for her when all the abuse stuff came up. but you said it, no one can put a finger on what made russell do it.

   i guess at the end of the day, i feel bad for the kids and her poor daughter.

6. 6
   Betsy Furman
   Posted August 17, 2011 at 6:43 pm

   I never watched these stupid “Housewhore” shows until I got sucked into the Beverly Hills one and that was only because of Camille and Kelsey Grammer. It has since ruined my love of “Frasier”. After this horrible tragedy, I will no longer watch it and those that do are just prove that we are moving closer watching live executions. Too bad there wasn’t a film crew on the scene to capture Russell dangling in his bedroom. I’m sure that would be ratings gold!

7. 7
   NotWithoutMyTV
   Posted August 18, 2011 at 5:09 am

   @Betsy Furman: It totally would have been ratings gold. But I bet the Bravo editors would have had a hard time deciding which whimsical music to play for the discovery of a body.

   Can’t wait for Andy’s “we have to discuss the elephant in the room… Russell’s tragic death” intro on the reunion. Gag.