Is Bravo Nervous About Legal Threats From Armstrong Family?

Cable net insiders scoff at the idea RHOBH caused Armstrong’s suicide

By Ted Casablanca Aug 18, 2011 1:25 PMTags
Taylor Armstrong, Russell ArmstrongANDREAS BRANCH/patrickmcmullan.com/Sipa Press

The real-life drama behind The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills now pales compared to the actual show, after Taylor Armstrong's estranged husband, Russell, committed suicide two days ago.

Since then, two important questions have come to the surface. One difficult, and one quite possibly ridiculous:

The more unbelievable one being that somehow Bravo is at fault for Russell's suicide, as some of his family members are contending.

Bravo TV would not comment on the accusations, but an insider from RHOBH was not so quiet:

"Reality shows do not cause suicide, obviously."

And if you check out Russell's emotionally turbulent past, it's clear that considerable upheaval was present and churning in his life—long before Bravo entered the picture.

It's generally not the most balanced, calm and sensible person who has numerous beating accusations and major money predicaments logged against him.

As far as what the network plans on doing before the Sept. 5 premiere, we're told by Bravo sources that they "still haven't made a decision."

But, apparently, accepting blame for Russell Armstrong's extreme, tragic actions, isn't under consideration.