'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills': Taylor Armstrong's Husband Said Pressures of Cameras Were 'Overwhelming'
Prior to his apparent suicide, 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Taylor Armstrong's husband said he felt the pressures of being a reality TV husband.In an interview with People, Russell, who hanged himself on Aug. 15, revealed the pressures of a crumbling marriage and financial problems got to be too much, especially when coupled with TV cameras.
"It got really overwhelming," Russell told People a few weeks before his death. "When you get a TV show involved and all the pressure, it just takes it to a whole new level. ... We were pushed to extremes."
Russell's death comes a month after his wife, Taylor, filed for divorce and claimed Russell was physically abusive. However, the Bravo reality star isn't the first to come forward. Records from 1997 reveal Russell was arrested for engaging in a physical altercation with his then-wife, Barbara Frederickson. Reports also surfaced that Russell abused their son, Aiden.
Frederickson filed two restraining orders against Armstrong. After the first restraining order and 1997 arrest, he was given probation for three years, and ordered to attend weekly anger management sessions for a year and perform 50 hours of community service.
Frederickson told RadarOnline.com that she thinks Taylor is to blame for the suicide.
"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," she told Radar.
In 2005, Russell reportedly filed for bankruptcy after he wasn't able to pay a $48,000 balance on his American Express card.
"Each month was a challenge for him to cover their lifestyle," Ronald Richards, Russell's attorney, told People. "Russell was in a lot of debt and he had legal problems. His credit cards were used up."
'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Season 2 was supposed to premiere on Mon., Sept. 5 at 9PM, but Bravo may delay the start to re-edit the series. Look for official word soon.

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