#ThrowbackThursday: Simon Barney Explains How ‘Fame Is A Drug’ A Year Before Divorce From Tamra

It's #ThrowbackThursday (or #TBT if you prefer), which means RadarOnline.com is taking a look back to move forward on some of today's hottest stories.

This week, we take you back to 2011, when Simon Barney, then married to Tamra, spoke with Dr. Drew in the wake of Russell Armstrong’s suicide.   

Simon, of course, remains a hot topic this week in his custody battle with Tamra, complete with jarring allegations made in court and social media meltdowns adding to the train-wreck.

Prodded by Dr. Drew, Simon reluctantly opened sup about the salacious nature of programs like the Real Housewives franchise.

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“You gotta understand what the object of the whole show is: It’s for drama,” Barney said, explaining that producers will take the 5 percent of your life that constitutes “the bad side” and blow them up to be major storylines for the sake of ratings.

“They’re gonna exaggerate it to fulfill the pressures of the show, the network, the cast, the producers … they have an agenda.”  

Asked if situations, at times, were contrived for the sake of the show, Simon balked due to his then-contractual affiliation with Bravo, but gave a telling, “It’s pretty easy to figure out.” 

Watch the video on RadarOnline.com

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The articulate Barney went on to say how he believed that “fame is a drug,” and “that there are certain endorphins given off when people are recognized.

“It’s like a fix, you need that next fix, that next piece of fame, that recognition,” he said. “It’s … I don’t know, I guess it’s a disease I’m immune to.”

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The appearance came a year before Simon’s divorce from Tamra after a 12-year marriage; Tamra subsequently re-married her new husband, Eddie Judge, with a Bravo crew on hand for the televised special that chronicled the big day, Tamra’s OC Wedding.