RHOBH’s Taylor Armstrong Analyzes the Timeline of Abuse from Ex-Husband Russell
Taylor Armstrong recently opened up in an exclusive interview about her tumultuous marriage to her late husband, Russell Armstrong, the filming timeline for Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and other aspects of her life.
In the latest episode of Investigation Discovery’s Hollywood Demons, set to air on Monday, April 14, Taylor tackled pressing questions concerning her past, including the unsettling details regarding Russell’s death.
“When people ask why I stayed [with him], it’s a tough question. The situation is incredibly complex, and statistically, most victims of domestic violence return several times before they muster the strength to leave,” Taylor shared during the program. “I often found myself questioning, ‘Am I really being abused?’”
Taylor confessed that it felt “cringeworthy” to consider herself a victim of domestic abuse, explaining, “I often thought to myself that I had everything I could want.”
The reality star initially joined the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast as a regular from 2010 to 2013 and made several guest appearances subsequently. Throughout her tenure on RHOBH, viewers witnessed both the highs and lows of Taylor’s marriage with Russell. In July 2011, she filed for divorce, citing physical and emotional abuse, but just a month later, Russell tragically died by suicide.
Taylor, who shares daughter Kennedy with Russell, later found love again with her current husband, John Bluher. The couple wed in 2014, and Taylor has expressed gratitude to Bluher for reshaping her perspective on marriage.
“That’s why I think I’m married now because after my first marriage, I would’ve never trusted anyone again,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2022 while comparing her two marriages. “Given all the untruths in my previous relationship, having someone who stood by me, despite our struggles, fostered my trust in him, and we became the best of friends.”
She reflected on her initial hesitancy to date again after her divorce from Russell, admitting, “I felt incredibly betrayed.” Taylor remarked, “If it hadn’t been for someone I trusted deeply due to everything I experienced, I don’t think I would have ever pursued another relationship.”
Keep reading for more shocking revelations about Taylor and Russell’s marriage:
Her Challenging Childhood
“My earliest memories of childhood are marred by trauma,” Taylor shared. “I was exposed to domestic violence at home from a very young age.”
Because of her past experiences, she transitioned her birth name, Shana Hughes, to Shana Taylor, as a tribute to her stepfather. She later incorporated the surname Ford, inspired by her favorite designer, Tom Ford.
The Early Days With Russell
After meeting at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, Taylor and Russell embarked on a “whirlwind” romance, moving in together within just a few months. They tied the knot that same year, although Taylor admitted that she didn’t clearly remember being asked to marry him.
“I was pregnant when we married, and he was already a father,” she noted regarding Russell’s sons from a previous marriage. “Perhaps that gave me confidence in the kind of person I believed he was. He stayed with his kids when my father didn’t. It felt right at the time, but looking back, there were numerous red flags.”
Recalling her first exposure to Russell’s financial habits, Taylor remarked, “He never seemed to worry about money. I can’t recall ever cooking, as we dined out every night.”
Experiencing Control
“I believe most people had no clue about the behind-the-scenes turmoil,” she stated regarding the “surveillance” that began with her discovery of a tape recorder. “My housekeeper frequently found recording devices hidden around the house. Eventually, I started to believe I was being monitored at all times.”
A vivid recollection of abuse came when she prepared pizza for Russell’s sons.
“He walked in, grabbed me by the throat, and pinned me against the wall,” she recounted, revealing how Russell “threatened to kill” her for serving pizza without vegetables.
Life as a Real Housewife isn’t just about glamour and luxury — just ask the many Bravolebrities whose legal issues have been publicly aired. Some franchises, like Real Housewives of New Jersey, have featured lawsuits directly on the show, including Teresa and Joe Giudice’s fraud case, as well as Sonja Morgan’s bankruptcy issues on Real Housewives of New York City […]
The Limo Incident
Once they began filming RHOBH, Taylor feared that Russell’s abusive behavior would become apparent. She recalled, “With the cameras rolling, I worried he would lose control in the vehicle. I could see it coming and could sense he was about to explode,” she explained. “We were in a limo with cameras, and I thought, ‘Let’s get home before this escalates.’ He was unable to manage his emotions.”
Even though she initially seemed indifferent to finances, Russell began to establish financial control over her. “I lacked access to cash and bank accounts,” she disclosed. “This financial manipulation significantly hindered my ability to leave.”
Friends Who Tried to Intervene
Friends of Taylor and Russell tried to step in, with some being quite aware of the domestic issues. There was a moment when Taylor received an offer of help, but Russell overheard the conversation.
“Russell was lurking around the side of the house and heard everything. He charged in and threw me into the pool before hitting the guy, knocking out all his teeth,” she recounted in the documentary. “He jumped into the pool and nearly held my head underwater. I genuinely thought I was going to drown.”
Being Exposed on National Television
“It was no secret that I was having issues in my marriage, but I wasn’t prepared for my abuse to be made public on television,” Taylor recounted about the shocking moment Camille Grammer revealed her situation on air. “I remember looking at the producer, completely stunned, thinking, ‘It’s out there now,’ and there was nothing I could do to take it back. Camille had exposed the fact that I had been abused. I was pleading, ‘You have no idea what this has done to me. He has threatened my life before.’”
A Fight That Changed Everything
Prior to the airing of season 2 of RHOBH, Taylor and Russell had a disagreement where he accused her of cheating.
“He lunged at me and punched me, resulting in a fractured orbital floor,” she revealed, as a picture of her injury was shown. To the doctor, Taylor falsely claimed that she had been kicked in the face by her daughter, but her explanation raised suspicion. “I could tell the doctor didn’t believe me, but I was too scared to disclose the truth,” she recalled.
Following reconstructive surgery, she decided to file for divorce.
Russell’s Shocking Death
Taylor, along with a friend, discovered Russell’s lifeless body after he failed to attend a scheduled divorce meeting.
“I ran into the street in front of the house, suddenly realizing my daughter was in the car,” she recollected. “She asked, ‘Did my dad do something stupid?’”
In Conversation With Dr. Drew
The concluding segment of the Hollywood Demons special featured Dr. Drew querying Taylor about the timeline of events that led to her divorce and Russell’s tragic end.
“We were filming towards the season’s end. I had to sit out of filming due to eye surgery, but after we finished the finale, everyone was well aware of what transpired,” she mentioned, elaborating on why she chose to be part of a reality show while navigating an abusive relationship. “Perhaps I thought that if the cameras were there, I might experience the better version of him.”
She concluded, “I wish I had had the courage to leave sooner, for her sake. There’s a weight of shame for not being stronger.”
During her conversation with Dr. Drew, Taylor raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Russell’s demise. Just days following Russell’s death, an associate named Alan Schram also took his own life. Both were involved in an elite investment group, prompting Dr. Drew and Taylor to speculate about potential foul play, which authorities were unable to corroborate during their investigations.
A trial lawyer disclosed that he had “effectively served” Russell regarding a lawsuit about filing bad-faith bankruptcy and mishandling investor funds, and he died within two days. Taylor further delved into the financial issues, stating, “We had an offshore asset protection trust Russell claimed had $12 million, but it turned out to be empty. There were over thirty bank accounts.”
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
