After a short break from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Mary Cosby is back and funnier than ever — even though she doesn’t know it. That nonchalance is what makes her the unsung hero of the Bravo series and landed her a spot on Us Weekly’s list of Reality Stars of the Year.
Bravo viewers have also come full circle with the 52-year-old Cosby, who was one of RHOSLC’s original cast members but took a brief hiatus (without attending the reunion or saying goodbye) after season 2 due to the controversy surrounding her church. The break, she says, was necessary after the church was referred to as a “cult” following the show’s first season.
“I had to take a step back and reevaluate the situation, because I didn’t realize — believe it or not — being on this show, I didn’t know what I was getting into,” Cosby exclusively tells Us Weekly. “I didn’t understand that it was going to be so chaotic.”
Mary’s grandmother Dr. Rosemary Redmon Cosby founded the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church in 1968. Following her death, Mary took on the role of first lady and evangelist alongside her husband, Robert Sr., who is the church’s bishop.
The criticism of her church and relationship (Robert Sr. was Cosby’s stepgrandfather before their 1998 marriage) was the “worst” and “darkest part” of her first stint on RHOSLC. According to Cosby, the speculation “stemmed from” former costar Jen Shah.
“She put that out there, and then people took it and ran with it,” Cosby claims, noting that her feud with Shah “came with the territory” of the show and she has since “let it go.”
“I just understood that this was part of my journey,” Cosby explains. “When you’re strong enough, you go through some type of trial. Some type of change, some type of darkness, like I did, because I was able to get through it, I was able to handle it, and I was ready, but at the time, I didn’t know that.”
The drama between Cosby and Shah (which was initiated when Cosby said Shah “smelled like hospital”) during the show’s first season is part of the reason RHOSLC was talked about almost immediately after its November 2020 premiere. (Shah is currently incarcerated after being convicted of fraud charges in 2023.)
After Cosby’s absence during the show’s third season, she returned as a “friend of” in season 4 and seemed more subdued, memorably sitting out a night of partying to eat McDonald’s alone in the Sprinter van. But when she returned as a full-time cast member in season 5, her quick wit came back with a vengeance.
If you ask Cosby, however, she’s not a comedian.
“I have no idea that I’m funny. I still don’t believe I’m funny. I even watch myself and crack up,” she admits, explaining that “all my family is funny,” but she thought those genes skipped her.
“I’m serious. I’m no-nonsense. I’m direct. I’m trying to get to life where I need to be, and I want to live my life in the fullest,” she adds. “I didn’t know that I make people laugh. So, I am funny? I don’t know that I’m funny.”
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After seeing Cosby’s take on Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl song lyrics, Us begs to differ, but we digress.
Aside from her unintentional humor, Cosby’s return to the franchise also brought a wholesome friendship with Angie Katsanevas that fans didn’t see coming but absolutely loved. Cosby notes that their bond is “probably one of the pleasures of being on the show,” even though it seems the two women might have some tension as season 6 continues.
“Finding sisterhood is good in this world, just in general,” Cosby explains. “I feel like people are just different now, even after COVID. People are just more anxious. There’s just more stress, they’re [angrier].”
She adds, “People are not looking for friends, and they’re not looking to be a friend to the point where it feels like family, and you just don’t find that anymore.”
Cosby’s relationship with her family has continued to resonate with viewers as well. During season 5, it was revealed that her 22-year-old son, Robert Jr., was battling drug addiction. The mother and son’s tear-filled conversation was caught by Bravo cameras, and the world applauded as Cosby responded with compassion rather than anger.
“That actually, truly shocked me,” she recalls of learning about Robert Jr.’s issues. “I immediately started blaming myself, because I thought, ‘You can’t judge him and his life and his choices.’”
As for how she maintained a cool head, Cosby explains, “I don’t believe in judging people. I’m just not a judger. I don’t like judging people, and I don’t like to do it. … If he’s opening up enough to tell me something this crucial, then why would I judge? I have no choice but to sit there and receive it and accept it and hope that I can help him.”
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Cosby tells Us that her emotional conversation with Robert Jr. has led to “a lot of feedback from the audience,” but there’s one place she “always” goes for help during the tough times.
“I need God for that kind of support and that kind of help to get me through,” she says. “Because my tests and trials and my journey in life [are] way, way bigger than I make it out to be, so I need the higher help.”
And how is Robert Jr. doing now?
“I can honestly sit here and say he’s doing very good,” Cosby tells Us, sharing that her son “had a little bit of a setback” recently. But she’s praying that he “stays good.”
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.
For more with Cosby and the other Reality Stars of the Year, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
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