Real Housewives Cover Real Issues

If there is one thing I have learned from watching REALity television it is can often be difficult to identify real relatable issues from episode to episode. This holds especially true when watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid fan of the reality show that airs on Bravo, but sometimes it seems hard to find the realness in throwing a $50,000 birthday party for a four year old or spending $25,000 on one pair of sunglasses. However, this season there is one thing that is extremely real and unfortunately very relatable for millions of viewers and that is the issue of domestic violence.

In an episode that aired on September 20, 2011 Taylor Armstrong talks about painful feelings she has over her failing marriage and admittedly reports that she is scared for her child. Although Armstrong did not talk about the abuse directly in the episode she spoke out in an interview with Entertainment Tonight describing the violence she endured for several years before she decided to end her marriage. She talks about the challenge of identifying where to draw the line when it came to her husband’s unpredictable rage, and the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, painting a seemingly real and relatable picture.

In last years season of Real House Wives of Beverley Hills viewers learned that Armstrong grew up in an abusive home and later was in fact a domestic violence advocate. Leaving this relationship and seeking safety for herself and her daughter is brave and a step towards breaking the generational cycle of domestic violence that we know exists. However the end result is a true tragedy as Armstrong’s husband committed suicide shortly after the season 2 filmed, an outcome that is truly devastating. Yet this does not mean Armstrong’s story of abuse should be silenced.