Hi, I'm Megan Zagura, and I'm Eric J. Matt, and this is the Daily Dish Bravo's official podcast. So, as you guys know, I've been catching up with Bravo Alums and BravoTV.com's exclusive series Life After Bravo. And most recently, you chatted with Taylor Armstrong, a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, OG.
Obviously, I always say this, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is my favorite franchise, and seasons one and two of Beverly Hills, in particular, I have watched over and over and over, so the chance to talk to Taylor was such a gift to me. I asked her all about those early seasons, especially everything that came to light about her abusive marriage. But we also talked about those iconic moments, like the dinner party from hell and game night. Slutpig, if anyone remembers.
And we talked about her life in Orange County today. Let's take a listen. How did you come on to the show all those years ago? When I originally came on Beverly Hills, Adrian Malook and I were a really good friend, and the producers reached out to me and I went in for, and it was definitely some hesitation to go on housewives.
For one reason, I was having physical abuse in my home. I wasn't sure how that was all going to play out on TV. I think part of me thought that the cameras might provide some protection. When did the abuse in your relationship start?
When I was pregnant. So about five and a half years ago. And I actually think subconsciously I thought it might make things better and it might help my relationship. Season one gave me hope that I would have some means to take care of myself and my daughter, and going forward, I knew that I wanted to stick with the show because it was an opportunity to leave.
Was there ever a moment, whether it was in season one or any time in the housewives episodes that you were on, that you thought maybe I should quit? And Camille outed my abuse at least a tea party. He broke your jaw or that he threw you out and he hit you. I remember staring at one of the producers just dead in the eyes because I didn't even have anything to say.
I knew in that moment that my life was about to change and I didn't know if that meant my life would be over or my life would get better. I would get divorced. It was a very scary moment for me. So after season one aired, that's a chance for even your husband to see these things that you said.
Sometimes when you just want to, I just want to scream, what's he critical of your actions on the show? He felt like it appeared as though we didn't have a happy marriage and I think he wanted me to put up a better facade than that. But I didn't even realize how unhealthy our relationship looked until I watched season one. I was set back as to looking at the differences between my relationship and the other relationships on the show.
And I remember having a conversation with Lisa about it and just asking her to kindle through your phone and all these things that I was living with. And she said, no, I would divorce them, but with a much better accent, but I remember doing an interview with Wendy Williams after season one, and she said, he abused the dude over. And I was paralyzed. And that was not a good day when I got home.
I know after his death, there was a lot of controversy over whether season two should err or not. I was supportive of season two errand despite all that I was going through, because I did want people to see what it was like, what I went through so that they could also have hope that there was something on the other side. My family life today is very happy and I'm glad to be able to share with you that it's much different than it was during the first season of Real Health Life. I was remarried by John Brewer, who was on a few episodes of the show with me as well, and he had a wonderful relationship.
And my daughter just turned 14. I do a lot of public speaking, and I have my own foundation for women, children, and families of domestic violence, and it's really an incredible experience. So I spend a lot of my time doing that. There was so much drama in just even the first season of Beverly Hills, and it felt like any of the drama you were involved in had to do with Kim Richards.
She's really mad at you. That's how it starts right now. What do you think it was about you two that you just would always go head to head? I don't know what it is about our chemistry, but we just seem to always be the ones getting into it.
I sometimes thought it was because Kim didn't have anyone else to fight with. She didn't fight with her sisters. She was probably afraid of Lisa. You know, I was only in.
And plus, Camille and Kyle were so busy fighting. There was no room for her there, so I was the only target, but we definitely had her tough time. What was game night like for you? I haven't thought about game night in so long.
That's really funny. And we had a lot of interesting evenings, but that one was a little crazy. I remember more specifically than anything, Kim hiding Brandy's crutches, and Kim was in weird spirits that night too. Oh, the best rapper in the whole entire world.
Revit. Revit. Revit. I think it's a bad fact.
I don't know what was going on with her, but then again, half the time I never know what was going on with Kim. I thought Brandy and Kim were going to get in a fist fight, and I all of a sudden just said enough. You're a pig. Okay.
No. No. No. He's touching anyone in his house.
I knew that things were going way too far. When Kim showed up, she didn't seem like she was in a good place, and I wasn't exactly sure why that was. I didn't know if maybe she was taking some antidepressants or if she was medicated because she was acting very strange. And the relationship between Kim and me was always really complicated because I was so close with Kyle.
And it was always a fine line to make sure I was somewhat protective of Kim in honor of Kyle, but to also be realistic about what was going on. I know that your lips became a talking point. Like, I think it was one of the first times that people like me who like what it lip implant was. When you suck on something, like when I suck on things, I never had any complaints.
How long had you had it before you were on the show? So the lips, like I'm a lip implant when I was in my 20th. You do an incision and then they dig a tunnel with a probe all the way through your lip to pull it through the other side. And it was so painful and such a regret and they were so swollen and it was horrible.
But that's what it is. And people constantly still tweet me and they stop in your lips. I just want to set the records straight. They are implants.
It was in the States and they're here to stay. Paul Nassup and I have talked about taking them out before and he's warned me against it just because it's probably so much starch that you have to all these years that you really don't know what that result would be like. So even though Andy calls him pillow lips, it's like we kiss him once. I'm going to keep you.
What is Kennedy like today? Does she ever want to watch herself on the early seasons of Beverly Hills? I don't know. She watched any of the early seasons of Beverly Hills.
I never encouraged her to once she was young because of the language and obviously the fighting and I didn't think that was a great influence for her. At least I don't do crystal meth in the bathroom all night long, bitch. Maybe I don't want her to. She just turned 14, which is kind of crazy because she turned four in season one.
So being a teenager, Kennedy is a handful, but she's also an incredible athlete and she's so fun to watch. She does also are competitive cheerleading at a world championship level. And so she practices nonstop and she's always working out and taking care of herself. But again, she's a typical teenager.
So when she finds out with her cell phone down and comes out of her room, it's great to see her. But it's rare with teenagers. She's still young, but I imagine like Kennedy at least thinks about boyfriends or maybe has one. Is that particularly nerve-wracking?
Well, this is the first year in Kennedy's life that she's really had guy friends around her and it's completely nerve-wracking to me. It makes me crazy. I know what boys are about. She does not have a boyfriend.
We're going to wait on that. And so when she don't have to drive a car, she's going to think about having a boyfriend. Who from the group of the Beverly Hills ladies do you keep in touch with? The original six are best.
We'll always have a special bond. Probably be more so for me because of all I was going through for those first few years of health life. I'm going to make you all better watching. And just having them there to support me when my husband lives with side and all of the aftermath of that, I always have a really special place in my heart.
Their family can be more than with friends, but we don't see each other as much as we used to. Obviously, I'm now Leylin in southern Orange County. It's much more of a climb to get up to Beverly Hills than it used to be. And I'm busy with Kennedy and my husband and also my foundations, but we try to keep in touch of the attacks.
They're DMing. And I probably see Lisa the most. But Kyle and I have been texting a lot through all the memes that have been out. And when all was first started, we were texting and sharing the memes.
And now there's so many potential. So if you live in Orange County, do you know any of the OCs in housewives? I do know the OCs. I see Gretchen on occasion.
I was texting with Vicki who were going to do lunch a couple of days ago. I do see them. I run into quite a few of them. How did you find out or decide you weren't going to come back to real housewives?
After season three and all that I was going through in my life, I decided I needed to take some time away from LA and all of the paparazzi. It was a little bit frightening for a while because I couldn't go anywhere and I had my little girl and I wanted to take her away for a while and not have her exposed to people constantly yelling and asking me questions about what had happened. So I took her to Bail, Colorado. I speed about 100 days a year.
I just needed some time up on that mountain to let go of what had happened and to try to find myself again. And remember, watching Bravo isn't a guilty pleasure. It's self-care. Guys, let's keep the conversation going.
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Bye. We all have our favorite movies and our own opinions on cult classic. Take a personal favorite of mine. Sister Act II, back in the habit.
Lawless, iconic, amazing. Oddly enough, critics didn't love it, but audiences do myself included. It has the perfect 90s trifecta of Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and of course Lauren Hill, not to mention Kathina Jimmy and Dame Maggie Smith. Honestly, what's not to love?
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Listen this episode in more from Rotten Tomatoes is wrong, wherever you get your podcasts.