‘The Cult of the Real Housewife’: Did Mary Cosby Actually Marry Her Step-Grandfather?
What To Know
- TLC’s upcoming three-part documentary, The Cult of the Real Housewife, investigates Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her husband.
- The series features personal accounts from Mary’s relatives and ex-church members.
- Mary Cosby is not involved in the docuseries.
When a trailer leads with the line “Mary was married to her step-grandfather,” it’s safe to say that people will automatically lock in.
On January 1, TLC is set to release a three-part docuseries, The Cult of the Real Housewife, investigating the life of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her church, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. Per the official release, “With claims of spiritual and financial misconduct circling Cosby and the church, The Church of the Real Housewife unpacks the allegations behind the headlines and reveals the darker and more unsettling truth.” Since the announcement, Mary has made it clear that she is not associated with the docuseries.
Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about TLC’s newest docuseries, including a look into Mary Cosby’s time on RHOSLC, the story behind her marriage, and what she’s said about The Cult of the Real Housewife trailer. Spoiler alert: She’s not happy.
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What is The Cult of the Real Housewife documentary about?
According to TLC, The Cult of the Real Housewife “traces the dramatic rise of Faith Temple from its founding by the beloved Rosemary ‘Mama’ Cosby, grandmother of Mary Crosby, to her passing, the controversial transfer of leadership, and her husband’s marriage to Mary.” Viewers can expect to see an exploration of the church and its controversy, featuring ex-members who are “speaking out for the first time.”
While Mary is not involved in the exposé, her sister, Denise Jefferson Odinaka, cousin Dan Cosby, and cousin-in-law Kim Cosby are set to “provide deeply personal and disturbing accounts” from inside the church. The docuseries will also feature investigative journalists and bloggers, including the popular Bravo podcaster behind Up & Adam, Adam Newell.
“Featuring access to recordings of controversial sermons delivered by Mary and [her husband] Robert Cosby Sr., as well as extensive archival from the early days of Faith Temple,” TLC’s synopsis says. “The Cult of the Real Housewife pulls back the salacious headlines and social media takes to dive deeper and unpack one of the most enduring mysteries at the core of the scandal: how have Mary and Robert Cosby Sr. managed to avoid accountability for so long?”
When does The Cult of the Real Housewife air?
The Cult of the Real Housewife will premiere Thursday, January 1, from 8/7c to 11/10c on TLC. After the premiere, all three episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max and Discovery+ starting January 2. What a way to ring in the new year!
Who is Mary Cosby?
Reality TV fans met Mary Cosby in 2020, when she became an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, a NBCUniversal Television and Streaming head revealed that the show was originally crafted around Mary. He explained, “It originally came to Bravo through Mary Cosby. Somebody had discovered her as a great character. She was pitched, and we started to find other characters along with her.”
Outside of her reality TV stardom, Cosby is the First Lady of Faith Temple Pentecostal Church, where her husband is the Bishop. The documentary is set to feature “access to recordings of controversial sermons delivered by Mary and Robert Cosby Sr., as well as extensive archival footage from the early days of Faith Temple.”
Why did Mary Cosby marry her step-grandfather?
Don’t worry, Mary Cosby and her husband are not related by blood. However, before Mary and Robert Cosby Sr. tied the knot, he was married to her grandmother, Rosemary “Mama” Cosby, who died in 1997 of natural causes. Following her death, a legal battle between her widower and her children ensued over her estate. Oh, and Robert decided to marry one of Mama’s grandkids.
In a 1998 Salt Lake City Tribune article, Robert Sr. revealed that his late wife wanted him to remarry someone from her family. He explained, “She always told me that if anything happened to her, she would want me to marry one of her children.” Following their marriage, Mary’s mother, Rosalind Cazares, told the Salt Lake City Tribune, “It hurts me so bad I’m just sick to my stomach. It takes my strength.”
What has Mary Cosby said about the TLC docuseries?
During BravoCon, Mary responded to a fan question about the TLC docuseries. When asked what she thought of the trailer, Mary revealed, “I think it’s sad and a shame. It’s horrible, that’s what I think.” As the crowd cheered, Mary added, “And it’s not true.”
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The Cult of the Real Housewife, Series Premiere, January 1, 8/7c, TLC and Streaming the Next Day on HBO Max and Discovery+
