Monday, January 9, 2012

Russ and I by Randy Edwards

I met Russell "Rusty" Armstrong when I was 11. We played on the same little league football team. We competed on a few different sports teams together such as football, basketball and track and field. We attended the same junior high and began high school together. It wasn't until we started ninth grade that we became close. From ninth grade until our early twenties we would proclaim to everyone we were best friends. I think that proclamation is more important to young boys and young men. Russ and I stayed close until his death. I spoke to him just two days before his death. His last words to me were, "Randy, I really appreciate your support". Since Russ cannot speak for himself against Taylor Armstrong's false claims and explain some events Bravo has used to deflect wrong doing by their network I have decided to write this blog. The "character" Bravo created on RHWOBH was the opposite of the "REAL" Russ Armstrong. Immediately after Russ' death Taylor chose to bash Russ and tell lies. It was easy to do because Russ couldn't talk. What she didn't know was Russ had told me stories of the "Real" Taylor Armstrong and what went on behind closed doors. People ask how I know the truth because I wasn't there but some of the events have been witnessed. If you have never seen Aiden Armstrong's interview on Inside Edition I encourage you to watch it on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4fdl7qYp-M. I will never quote anything any of the kids have said or their mother's without their mother's permission because I have made that promise to them. I will tell stories of one of the most engaging people I have met to this day and private conversations Russ and I had regarding Taylor Armstrong. I know a lot has been said or printed about Russ and Taylor but you will find out facts on my blog unlike any you have heard before. I will leave you with this final thought today. The Taylor and Russell Armstrong characters Bravo created  were just that, characters. Neither one of them were or are as they have been presented. Their portrayal of Russ was so far off I never watched another full episode after the first episode so I can't address very many scenes on that ficticious show. In the words of Russell Armstrong. "Get ready for a wild ride". 

27 comments:

  1. Randy, so happy that you have started this blog. Russell deserves to have the truth be told. It is shameful what Shana has done to demean his memory, especially as he can't defend himself. The damage and pain that she so casually inflicts on Russell's three kids is an abomination. Best thing for Russell's family is that the truth come out and that Shana be exposed for her lies and deception.

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  2. LOL trying to get 15 minutes of fame are ya Randy? You WEREN'T in the house, I've seen the abuse with my own eyes, Your friend was a wife beater!!!!

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    1. Yes, it's so much more fun than actually talking to the person I spent 90% of the best times in my life with.

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    2. how much were you paid to say that, Julie?

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  3. IMHO, it's about time someone stood up for Russell. His wife seems to be quite happy with her 15 minutes of fame from this event and I've really only heard her side of the story...

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  4. Randy, I am glad you are doing this. Can you please share with us a happy or funny memory that you have of you and Russel when yall was in middle school?

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    1. I have a ton around 14 and 15. I will make sure I do. Thank you!

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  5. I see the Trolls are out and about already. It will be nice to see who Russel was as a person and not the person RHOBH painted.

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  6. Thank you for standing up for a man who cannot stand.

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  7. @CAS. if that is the truth did you call the police on said incident and file a report? that is what any responsible adult would of done. especially if there is a child living there.

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  8. What kind of music did Russel like?

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  9. Cas, why did you not remove Taylor from the abuse you allegedly saw? Why did you fail to immediately call the police? If, indeed, you witnessed physical abuse w/ your "own eyes" at the Armstrong house as you attest to, what exactly did you do to help your friend?

    Taylor has had a strong relationship with the domestic abuse facility where she volunteers, and she has had ample resources from which to avail herself. Don't forget, she had her own therapist (cozily embracing her in her No Hate photos) at her disposal. Additionally, if she continued to live in such a volatile, abusive household with the late Russell Armstrong, her responsibility to her young child should have superseded everything! To be exposed--even peripherally--to an explosive, physical altercation causes great psychological harm to a child, and if abuse is an on-going problem, the damage to the child is exacerbated. IF, Cass, you did not do all you could to remove Taylor and her child after witnessing--w/ your "own eyes"--flagrant abuse perpetrated by Russell, you should feel deep shame and great remorse.

    Taylor's trolls are forever scurrying around trying to stifle anyone who speaks ill of histrionic, narcissistic, bilking, fraudulent, phony (Shana Lynette Hughes Sipes Taylor Ford Armstrong).

    Randy, thank goodness you have this blog up. Russell's sons, daughter, family members, and friends need support and relief from the ongoing flog fest at Bravo.

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  10. Brandy I'm with you. I hope that this blog focuses on Russell's business achievements, charity work, family life and his life as a young man in Texas. I want to know more about that and not the gory details of his relationship with Taylor. One she is the mother of his child, and two I think that it would be good to have a place where his children and other loved ones can come to that is not about toxicity and scandal. Russell was not perfect but he did have things that he was passionate about and I hope to learn more about those things. Thank you.

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  11. @CAS-
    If you see or witness a crime and don't stop to help or call the police, you are just as bad as the abuser. Just saying.

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  12. I agree w/ the posters who want to know more about Russell b/f he moved to L.A.

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  13. I see the Taylor stans have already started If you saw the abuse CAS you are the only one who did and if you did and didnt cal the police then you enabled the Abuse and you are just as guilty as Russell Thats if what you are saying is true..Did you see the bruises and the broken if you did you were the only one who did Cas I guess you are special

    oh and by the way CAS your friend Shanna is a criminal and a grifter not to mention a first class lair.

    Dont let the stan trolls stop you Randy we got your back.

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  14. Randy, There was a picture posted of you guys on www.stoopidhousewives.com of yall at Padre Island in '82.It looked like yall was having fun. Tell us more about that picture.

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  15. Randy, Thank you so much for writing this blog. I'm also very sorry for the loss of your friend. I'm sure you have much to say. All of us here and on SH know Taylor is not and has not been who she protrays to be. I am looking forward to reading what you have to say. I hope you find writing to be theraputic for you. I also hope Taylor is called out on all her lies.

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  16. I do want to hear about the truth of Russell's relationship with Taylor. I believe that from the minute she met him where they kept the same P.O. Box, she decided he fit her criteria for what she wanted in a husband, he was rich,(not rich enough for her apparently,) she got pregnant to seal the deal, and then began isolating and molding him into her own personal puppet. I believe also, that she concocted the domestic abuse story as just that, a storyline for Bravo, when they told her to amp up the drama or be let go. I don't think he saw the betrayal coming as he thought the lies were being spread by other cast members not Taylor herself, and when he realized what she had done to him he fell into utter despair. In addition, it seems that the woman that she had a lesbian affair has come forward to confirm that assertion.

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  17. Randy- did you know Russ's previous exes? Do you think they were lying about the abuse as well? Did you know anything about the business that he conducted? Do you think he was guilty of scamming people's savings as he was accused of? Hopefully you can clear up those rumors as well.
    I believe Taylor was a crook and a liar and I am looking forward to hearing the private conversations that you mentioned!
    Best if luck- what you are going for you friend Russ is admirable.

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    1. I still talk to Russ' exes I assume you are talking about. They are furious with Taylor and don't believe he hit her. Reference Inside Edition for video. Russ didn't talk to me about his business dealings much.

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  18. I'm eager to follow your blog. Just from watching, I can see Taylor as a phony and a liar. People don't want to NOT believe when someone claims abuse, because you don't want to think someone would ever do that, and so many people don't reveal it when its true. But I believe she was "controlled" and "abused" as much as I believe that Casey Anthony was sexually abused by her father. They are truly sick people to make these false accusations for their own benefit, and most people can't fathom that.

    Russell seemed like a good guy, caught up in the wrong life. He made mistakes, sure, but at least he had regrets of how he led his life, while Taylor parties it up at his expense, taking no responsibility. I hope that Russell's name is cleared in all this.

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  19. If you didn't watch any more than 1 episode, how do you know that the 'characters' they protrayed were false?

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  20. I said I watched 1 episode and parts of others. If I was channel surfing and see it on I would stop. I saw the first episode, part of Kennedy's birthday, the segment she said she reconstructed her face because Russ might leave her for a 21 year old which if he was beating her why did she care and I saw the party I believe was a 20s party at their house. Sorry for the run on sentence. I think that's enough bad tv watching to know if the person on tv was my best friend or not. Thanks for your comments.

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  21. Hi, Randy,

    You have probably already read this, but just in case you haven't, here's an incredibly detailed link:

    http://stoopidhousewives.com/2012/01/10/real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-shana-taylor-armstrong-unleash-the-timeline-part-ii/#comments

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