Taylor Armstrong, Russell Armstrong Divorce: 'Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills' Star's Domestic Abuse History

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong admitted Wednesday that her split earlier this month from ex-husband Russell Armstrong was prompted by ongoing physical and verbal abuse at the hands of her ex-spouse.

This is not the first time Armstrong has encountered such behavior. The reality television star, who has called herself "a child of domestic violence" on "Real Housewives", has said that "one of my earliest childhood experiences was abuse" (she does not reveal any specifics).

Luckily, Armstrong says she was "blessed with a strong family support system and...was quickly removed from the situation," in her youth, but the experience clearly left an emotional mark.

Since then, the Beverly Hills businesswoman has championed the cause, working as an advocate for fellow abuse sufferers through the 1736 Family Crisis Center, and has used the "Housewives" show as a platform from which to draw attention to the "to the growing needs of victims of domestic violence...and other low-income community members in need of assistance."

Armstrong credits her "deep insecurities" to her childhood experiences with abuse, saying that many of her difficulties as an adult are functions of that dark time. She has also said that her commitment to advocacy stems from from a desire to help "kids who have been through tough times to get past their issues and hopefully not carry things into adulthood and develop insecurities that could affect them for the long term."

Of the violence she says she tolerated during her marriage, Armstrong says, "Allowing this to happen in my own relationship was something I felt very ashamed of."

Just last year, Armstrong said of her eight year marriage, "It's a work in progress. "We're doing the best we can and really focusing on our family."

Click here to see Armstrong's emotional speech from season 1 of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' about her experience with abuse as a child.

Comments

[tenzenz]

09:45 PM on 07/29/2011

She ought to Sue her Plastic Surgeon

[Ezee Scraps]

06:27 PM on 08/17/2011

Russell Armstrong death is very sad. Russell's lawyer Ronald Richards also tweeted….
Russell, Taylor Armstrong 5-year-old daughter pictures…

http://t.co/lKevSTw

[Lady Nature]

06:05 PM on 07/29/2011

What a farce. I saw the episode of her fundraiser for domestic abuse nonprofit. No wonder she was crying through her speech. Her abuser was staring her down from the audience.

[roshni]

05:50 PM on 07/29/2011

I thought Russell was emotionally distant and disdainful of her. I'm glad she left him if he was physically abusive to her.

[Ezee Scraps]

06:30 PM on 08/17/2011

Yah. dis is wrong step...

[ljuly1964]

08:24 AM on 07/29/2011

Just curious is it domestic abuse when the money runs out? I realize this is a personal issue they are both going thru, and only the 2 of them knows what really going on behind closed doors?
Since she is on a reality show, does this make for better ratings, excuse for poor behavior, or just to point out I don't want to be married anymore, your not rich enough for me or she is not pretty enough for him?

[onlyagirl]

09:05 PM on 07/28/2011

So this show did something good - allowed this woman to see her relationship with her husband as toxic and made her realize she needed to get away from him.

[Midnightrain]

02:07 PM on 07/28/2011

I watched the show a couple of times, and it was clear to me from the get go that Russell was a total loser and didn't love her. She probably is totally messed up now that she allowed that completely unattractive man treat her like durt. Wishing you well, Taylor.

[CB0002]

10:09 AM on 07/28/2011

She looks just like Michael Jackson from the tip of her nose down.

[QuiltMaker4Life]

10:08 AM on 07/28/2011

Looks like the real abuse is all the needles and scalpels taken to that face.

[belle27]

09:15 AM on 07/28/2011

Wow. Holy too much cosmetic surgery. Sadly, I think lack of self esteem might be at play in both cases.

[paid troll]

07:20 AM on 07/28/2011

grotesque facial disfigurement

[CheapTrick]

02:38 AM on 07/28/2011

THAT woman is on a show called "real..." something?

OK, I want a doctor's note.. what part is real?

[kazuo19]

11:16 PM on 07/27/2011

I don't believe anything she says. She is a such a liar.

[MaryAnne Kennard]

10:40 PM on 07/27/2011

Some how, no matter how much you know it is wrong, you seem to always going back to what is "normal" for you. Coming from a childhood of abuse, you tend to marry a man who is an abuser. Without additional help, you remarry another man who is also an abuser. Take a fools advice, don't try for #3.

[duncansdad]

09:05 PM on 07/27/2011

I can see her lips from my kitchen window.

[cybolt]

08:58 PM on 07/27/2011

There is no way she can blame that face on domestic abuse.

[Richbruin]

10:27 AM on 07/28/2011

Welcome to La-La land.

[cybolt]

10:58 AM on 07/28/2011

Been here too long.

Coming up next on KOCE... The Real Housewives of Rancho Cucamonga.