Does production not realize how they sound when talking about Taylor and Russell in this book? They LITERALLY put Taylor in harms way MULTIPLE times, all for the show. Pressuring the other women to bring it up on camera, getting the two of them to go to the white party so they can find out they’ve been disinvited from the Hawaii trip. They try to make it sound like they were doing a lot of this for “Taylor’s benefit” but you have to live in an absolute hole not to know that when abuse becomes “public,” it tends to get worse. I’m actually sick to my stomach reading these parts of the book.
In that meme she's yelling because Camille outed her for being abused by her then husband. The podcast was pretty interesting and very powerful. I felt like I recognized parts of her that I missed from the show but also saw big changes. Overall I'm really glad I listened and heard her side.
Trigger Warning because it does cover abuse with graphic detail.
Podcast is Endless Thread, Season 3, "MEMES, Pt. 4: Woman Yelling at a Cat" (45 min), WBUR.
I'm currently rewatching RHOBH while on maternity leave and I had forgotten just how shitty all the women treated Taylor. Watching the S2 reunion now and the amount of time the other ladies call her weak and say how they would never allow themselves to stay in an abusive relationship because they are so strong is infuriating. The way that they handled the whole situation in general is just awful. It's clear she was struggling and I feel like some of the other ladies (Adrienne & Camille in particular) got so angry with her and the situation, which Russel really was responsible for. I also understand that this was probably their first time dealing with something like this but damn.
Idk this is my first post in this sub but it really bothers me!
It sounds like she would be open to returning to the show! I'd personally love to see her back.
Here are some other tidbits from the podcast...
- The producers wanted Lisa Rinna on the show from the very beginning.
- Taylor is still friends with Rinna.
- She felt anxious while filming because she didn't have support at home. No surprise there.
- Said Russell was narcissistic and thought that everyone would love him after seeing him on the show.
- Taylor did the show because she thought it would protect her from Russell's abuse.
- Their contracts state that everything in their lives is fair game.
- Taylor said that those who go on the show even though they are committing crimes are narcissists.
- Claims she was "a mess" during the show which is why she was so thin.
- There were red flags with Russell from the beginning. He was jealous when she said hello to a waiter, and he accused her of having an affair with the waiter. She thought he would change.
- Wendy Williams asked Taylor on camera during the first season if Russell abused her.
- When Camille announced that Russell hits Taylor, Taylor knew her life was about to change. Then Taylor broke the news about the scene to Russell during a therapy session.
- Camille knew about Russell because Taylor asked for advice on how to divorce Russell.
- He became a different person after their divorce and would cater to all of her demands. In fact, she said he was the nicest he had ever been to her.
- When he missed a meeting with her, she knew something was wrong. She went to his house and found him hanging. After she found him, she ran to the street and screamed...and then remembered that her daughter was in the car. The nanny took her daughter home before the firetrucks and 911 arrived.
- Taylor said that coming back to the show would make a powerful statement because it would show how much her life has changed in a positive way.
- She is also friends with some of the OC girls.
- She does public speaking and talks to victims of domestic abuse.
- I did have to eye roll when she said she doesn't like coming back to Beverly Hills because she sees homeless people there. It was a bit tone deaf for me.
I just got done reading her book. I went to follow up with her but it appears she has no recent social media… why do we think this is? Does anyone know where and what she’s up to now?
Seems to have disappeared from public eye . I wonder how she is doing now . I'm feeling so bad for her ( in the early seasons of the show right now )
Just sayin’.
Shipping is $5 within the US
Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino (Gold Limited) - $75 (M) STILL SEALED
Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted (Yellow Limited) - $15 (M) STILL SEALED
Billie Joe Armstrong - No Fun Mondays (Glow In The Dark Cover, Baby Blue Limited) - $40 (NM) IN SHRINK, BUT OPENED, NEVER PLAYED, STORED IN PROTECTIVE SLEEVES
PENDING Billie Joe Armstrong - I Think We're Alone Now (Pale Yellow Limited) - $40 (NM) PLAYED ONCE, GREAT CONDITION
SOLD Gerard Way - Hesitant Alien (Limited Picture Disc) - $35 (M) UNOPENED
Lemon Demon - Spirit Phone (Limited Black and Bone) - $40 (VG+) STORED IN PROTECTIVE SLEEVES, ONE SCRATCH OUT OF PACKAGE, BUT SOUNDS GREAT
SOLD The Strokes - Room On Fire (Limited Flame Orange) - $45 (NM) STORED IN PROTECTIVE SLEEVES
SOLD Taylor Swift - Folklore (Hide-And-Seek Blue) - $25 (NM) STORED IN PROTECTIVE SLEEVES
So seeing as Taylor Armstrong now lives in the OC and seems to have a thriving denim sticker clothing empire and is besties with Lynne Curtin, it would be an interesting dynamic if they were bought back to RHOC to shake up the current cast dynamics, can you imagine 🤣 👀
Do you guys think this would refresh the RHOC a bit or just make it worse? 😂
I noticed many similarities between Taylor Armstrong and Celeste from Big Little Lies season 1.
- The domestic abuse
- Rich husband
- Group of girl friends who don't know about abuse
- Talking with her therapist about it
- Rich housewives idk
Bravo has been airing the first season of RHOBH today, and it is such a trip to rewatch it knowing what happened with Taylor and Russell Armstrong. And knowing what ended up happening, the signs of abuse are everywhere!!
First, when the group was in Vegas, Taylor had to leave every time Russell was ready to leave (which was always early). He was obviously extremely controlling. Then, Taylor gave some speech at a casino about how she grew up around domestic violence and she was soooo nervous right before giving the speech that she felt physically ill. Well, no wonder! She was going to get up in front of a bunch of people talking about domestic violence, as her abuser was sitting there listening and watching her. All I could think about was how terrified she must have been 😓
Then in the episode with Kyle's white party, once again Russell wanted to leave early and Taylor wanted to stay. After Russell left, Taylor seemed genuinely concerned about what would happen to her for staying behind. At one point she was talking to Kyle privately about it, and it seemed like she wanted to tell Kyle SO BADLY about what was going on behind closed doors. I can't explain it, but her demeanor just seemed like she got real close to opening up to Kyle about the abuse, but stopped just short. And she ended up leaving the party very soon after Russell left, which makes me think she felt she had to be right behind Russell or the beating would be worse than usual.
It got me wondering whether anyone in production had any idea what was happening to her. Obviously, Russell was smart enough not to abuse her on camera, but bruises are hard to hide. And Taylor at one point had to get a metal plate put in her face, so Russell clearly was not afraid to go all out on her.
I feel so bad for Taylor, being in that situation and not being able to tell anyone. If she had just told one of these women or a producer what was going on, I have no doubt they would have supported her and helped her and her daughter get out of that environment. I know abuse is complicated and battered wife syndrome is real, but luckily she did eventually get out. And Russell... well, let's just say he got what he deserved and is now where he belongs.
Such a sad situation all around.
I've seen this discussed briefly before, but Taylor threw a huge fit over Russel getting Kennedy a puppy (that looked like a typical hypoallergenic dog btw) and then Kennedy ended up being "allergic" so she got rid of the puppy. I'm now on Season 3 and Taylor had a small white puppy at her house??? The real issue was Taylor didn't want a dog, the allergies were a reason to get rid of it. Why does she have a new white dog now???
