OUT: The chill between Russell, who killed himself, and wife Taylor had baffled execs. (David Livingston/Getty Images)
They finally got it.
Network bosses always wondered why sparks never flew between “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Russell Armstrong and his wife — until his kinky, gay sex life was exposed after he hanged himself.
Top execs at Bravo now believe his cold and callous demeanor can be traced to the fact that he was in the closet while playing the role of a ladies’ man, a network source told The Post.
“People with skeletons in their closets should not go on reality shows, because sooner or later, it’s going to come out,” a Bravo insider told The Post.
“I’m constantly amazed at what people think they can hide. He was a fraud, and it was coming out,” the insider said of the facade Armstrong maintained as a married millionaire when he was secretly gay and possibly penniless.
Meanwhile, Armstrong’s family blamed the cable network for his suicide and blasted producers for portraying the venture capitalist in an unflattering light.
Armstrong’s crumbling marriage was a key story line on the show last season.
He frequently treated his estranged wife, Taylor, 40, with disdain and would attempt to undermine her, especially in matters concerning their 5-year-old daughter, Kennedy.
He was equally cold to his real-life girlfriend and ex-wife, both of whom took out restraining orders.
Armstrong’s bad behavior turned him into the target of vicious barbs from other members of the cast.
In an interview on CNN’s HLN channel, Armstrong’s mother, John Ann Hotchkiss, said he was hurt by the insults and anxious about the new season.
“Mom, they’re just going to crucify me this season,” he told her recently, according to Hotchkiss. “I don’t know what to do. I’ll never survive it.”
Hotchkiss said her son’s marriage was destroyed by the reality show.
She said he was hurt by the criticism from other cast members, especially Lisa Vanderpump.
“The bashing got so bad last season I had to stop watching. I just couldn’t bear it. I said, ‘Russell, can’t you stop this?’ ” Hotchkiss complained.
“He said, ‘No. All the network cares about are ratings. They don’t care if people are hurt, or if it destroys their marriage.’ And I watched it slowly destroy their marriage.”
Taylor found him hanging in a house where he had been staying on Los Angeles’ Mulholland Drive on Monday night.
Bravo officials declined to comment on Hotchkiss’ accusations.