'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Reunion: Russell Armstrong Once Tried To Drown Taylor (VIDEO)

In the final hour of the three-part reunion special for "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" (Mon., 9 p.m. EST on Bravo), Taylor Armstrong opened up about the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of her late husband Russell. Russell Armstrong committed suicide after the filming of the most recent season of "Housewives" was over, but before it began airing. His death hung over the entire season.

Taylor broke down several times while talking about her husband's paranoia, jealousy and violence. At one point, he had her take a lie detector test to prove she was being faithful to him. But even after she passed that, he insisted it only proved that she'd learned how to beat a polygraph. It was as if nothing could convince him what he feared wasn't true.

In another instance, after Russell had left a gathering, Taylor's friends told her they would be there to help her should she choose to leave him. Taylor told them to take care of Kennedy if anything happened, and at that moment something did. Russell hadn't left at all; he had chosen to hide in the bushes and listen in.

At that point, he came out of hiding, hit Taylor's friend and threw Taylor in the pool. He nearly drowned her then and there, ultimately putting her friend in the pool as well and assaulting the friend's fiancee. It was a violent encounter, but when Andy Cohen asked Taylor if the friend had pressed charges, Taylor said she'd asked them not to. Trying to cover up for Russell had become just another part of her life.

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Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

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Comments

[dorothydevereau]

04:29 AM on 02/15/2012

Watched show with Kim Richards last night. She is obviously still in really bad shape and it is cruel and irresponsilbe for the producers of this show, AND her sister who purports to love her so much, to allow her to appear on camera. The woman belongs in a treatment facility and then needs a long period out of the public eye. Last night's show was indecent and despicable.

[ta2t2o]

09:11 PM on 02/14/2012

At this point there's nothing that she needs to protect Russel from - so someone should challenge her to produce the friend that this happened to. It sounds like a total lie to me. All she needs to do is have the friend corroborate her story. Funny she doesn't name the friend. She lied to Russell about what happened before he wrote the email - then lied to everyone else last week when she said she didn't know about the email. Russell sure didn't act like she didn't know. She sure didn't act surprised with Russell either when he was confronted by the others about it.

She ended up killing her husband by the embarassment she caused him.

That liar Kim is trying to do the same to the guy she was dating as well. If anyone believes here problem was solely alcohol - they're just simple. Brandi hit it on the head. Anyone who has ever seen a Meth Addict recognizes all the signs here. The tardiness, the skittishness, the mumbling, the frequent and extended time in the bathroom, the way she would dig in her purse like she was looking for something and continuing to dig and dig. I've seen meth addicts. If she isn't one - then she's needs to get checked - because she's sure as heck acting like one.

[Mafdet]

10:39 PM on 02/14/2012

Zip boom bam is all I have to say to YOU! Okay, and bingo! And also: Bulls eye. But what I'm trying to say is: Taylor and Russell were plainly grifters. She was the person distracting the crowd while he was the person picking their pockets. And the Kim and Kyle show was too obvious. I concur with your diagnosis because I, like you, have seen it before. Her speech, even on camera at last night's kangaroo rodeo betrayed some OTHER kind of substance abuse than alcohol. In fact, last night it looked like someone helped her figure out the golden mean of substance abuse - the amount that would get her in front of the camera without making her manic. That woman is self-destructing and those around her seem to want to hasten that.

[hottingers]

07:36 PM on 02/14/2012

Baby fish lips.

[georginaobryan]

07:19 PM on 02/14/2012

I think it's in bad taste for her to keep talking bad about her dead husband. It's in the past and he's been put to rest, so should her past. She needs to move forward and leave it be already.

[Mafdet]

10:39 PM on 02/14/2012

It's called a "revenue stream."

[slarm57]

07:12 PM on 02/14/2012

Taylor can say what ever she wants now that Russell isn't here to defend himself. I just don't believe everything that comes out of the mouth. Give it a rest. Maybe Russells family should get involved. Drinks to much and can't keep up with the Jone's!!!!

[Mooshki]

06:48 PM on 02/14/2012

Her lies keep getting bigger and bigger. Like her lips.

[hollace]

06:45 PM on 02/14/2012

.but through all that I was able to make my botox and hair appointments on time!

[jbad]

06:35 PM on 02/14/2012

I'm sure it was a honest mistake. I'll bet Russell just like myself was thinking w so much silicone and other enhancements, I wonder if she'll float ? And then he tried to get you under water. Both, the friend and Taylor, came floating to the top but their heads remained under.

[TheBestPatriot]

06:32 PM on 02/14/2012

I wouldn't believe this lie if I told it myself.

[Cornel343]

06:28 PM on 02/14/2012

This guy is dead, so why bring this up now? This is woman is an idiot.

[Mafdet]

10:42 PM on 02/14/2012

If I felt comfortable that he had battered her, I would dance on his grave right along with Taylor. I see no honor, value, or moral standing in declining to speak badly of the bad. I just don't think he did anything she says he did.

[Kukulet2]

08:17 PM on 02/15/2012

Agreed.

[Henk]

06:23 PM on 02/14/2012

What is up with those lips? Good Grief who thinks that looks good?

[Aries Warrior]

06:52 PM on 02/14/2012

Steven Tyler.

[Henk]

07:24 PM on 02/14/2012

Good answer.

[lessthanorly]

01:38 PM on 02/17/2012

even steven tyler is appalled.

[f0rTyLeGz]

06:13 PM on 02/14/2012

Lord help us all... she looks like a MONSTER! How can anyone take her talk seriously?

[Red Russet]

06:10 PM on 02/14/2012

What is what that mouth - And the clown lips? Did a surgeon do that? Maybe the Dr. thought she needed a face that matched her IQ. Also, is she slightly cross eyed?

The thing is, her husband was certifiable, true, but she should have checked his police record before marrying him, I know, she was lucky to get anybody to marry her, she couldn't afford to be picky.

[aqua0]

06:10 PM on 02/14/2012

Does this woman really think her artificially ballooned lips look nice?

[belldn3]

06:06 PM on 02/14/2012

Just terrible.