Taylor Armstrong Shares How Daughter Kennedy Handles Father’s Day 14 Years After Russell Armstrong’s Death

Taylor Armstrong is opening up about whether she and her daughter, Kennedy, honor Kennedy’s dad on Father’s Day 14 years after his passing. “We don’t,” Taylor shared with People. “She was 5 when he passed, and he worked nonstop. He was a true workaholic.”

According to Taylor, Kennedy and her father, Russell Armstrong, didn’t get to spend a lot of time together due to his demanding work schedule, which is partly why Father’s Day is not that difficult for the family. “…I guess in some ways, thankfully, that loss wasn’t as significant as it would’ve been if she were older and they had a lot more interaction,” Taylor explained. “So I don’t really think of it as a day to commemorate the loss.”

Taylor Armstrong’s Resilience

Taylor and Russell Armstrong were married in 2005 and welcomed Kennedy, now 19, that same year. Taylor, an original cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” was candid during her time on the show about her relationship with Russell, which was revealed to be abusive.

However, it was not Taylor’s choice to open up on TV about what had been happening in her marriage. It was co-star Camille Meyer (formerly Grammer) who outed the dark secret Taylor was keeping. During an argument on an episode of “RHOBH” season 2, Meyer told Taylor, “We’re all protecting you about what you told us about your marriage.” 

Russell Armstrong died by suicide at age 47 in August of 2011, one month after Taylor filed for divorce, citing verbal and physical abuse. Following Russell’s death, Taylor revealed why she chose to put her life in the spotlight on reality TV amid her marital strife. “I thought one of two things would happen: either the cameras would force him not to be aggressive and abusive or it would give me a way out,” she shared with The Los Angeles Times. 

Taylor and Kennedy’s New Family Unit

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Taylor Armstrong found love again with attorney John Bluher, and the couple married in 2014. It appeared to be a happy ending for Taylor and for her daughter as well. “Today, John, Kennedy and I became a family,” Taylor told People after tying the knot. “I married my best friend and Kennedy’s family circle became complete.” Bluher later adopted Kennedy, solidifying the family’s strong bond. 

After her painful experiences with Russell, Taylor was up front with Bluher about her needs. “…when I married John, I just said, ‘I’m just now figuring out again how to be the person I used to be before my first marriage,” she told People. “‘And so you’re just going to have to let me be the Gemini that I am, all eight of me.’”