Russell Armstrong, cast member on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverley Hills” was found dead at a friend’s home in a bedroom on Mulholland Drive in LA. Armstrong, 47, had hanged himself to death and did not leave behind any suicide note.
Russell Armstrong had introduced himself as a venture capitalist when he appeared on Bravo’s hit show with his wife, Taylor, and his death has sparked off a debate about whether the publicity garnered from his role on the show had anything to do with the suicide. In July he had admitted in an interview, “This show has literally pushed us to the limit.”
Facts have emerged after his death that may confirm the pressure of publicity from the show as one of the reasons for the suicide. Even if Russell called himself a venture capitalist on the show, he really was a struggling entrepreneur who had debts to the tune of $12 million and had been facing legal threats for using investors’ money for personal ends.
He may have also been unable to handle the pressure of living up to the financial standards of other Real Housewives cast members. Taylor Armstrong had filed for divorce in July.
Bravo has expressed sympathy to the family “at this difficult time” and has declined to comment whether the second season of “Real Housewives”, scheduled to air on Sept. 5 will be postponed or re-edited.
