Mary Cosby isn’t just a Bravolebrity. She’s also a cult leader, several people allege in an explosive new docuseries that will air on TLC in January 2025.
The Cult of the Real Housewife will dive into a side of Cosby’s life fans don’t see on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. The three-part series investigates Cosby and her husband Robert Cosby Sr. and the “claims of spiritual and financial misconduct” that are circling the couple’s Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. Through interviews with insiders, it “unpacks the allegations behind the headlines and reveals the darker and more unsettling truth,” according to TLC.
Specifically, the TLC doc tackles the rise of Faith Temple, which was founded by Mary’s grandmother, Rosemary ‘Mama’ Cosby, the transfer of leadership after her death in 1997, and her husband’s marriage to Mary the following year.
All three episodes of The Cult of the Real Housewife will air on Thursday, January 1 from 8-11 p.m. ET/PT. They will be available to stream the next day on HBO Max and discovery+.
Among those who will share their insight into Mary’s relationship with Faith Temple – and her controversial marriage to Robert – are her sister, Denise Jefferson Odinaka, her cousin, Dan Cosby, and Dan’s wife, Kim.
Viewers will also hear from former Faith Temple congregants, including members of the Enoch family. The docuseries also features commentary from investigative journalists and bloggers who have been following Mary’s story, as well as a leading cult expert who offers insight about how mind-control cults are able to enforce loyalty among their members.
In addition,The Cult of The Real Housewife features recordings of sermons delivered by Mary and Robert Cosby Sr., as well as extensive archival material from the early days of Faith Temple.
Yes! TLC has shared a trailer for The Cult of the Real Housewife. It features snippets of interviews, including a moment where Denise addresses Mary’s marriage to Robert, who was previously her step-grandfather.
“He was saying that God was telling him to marry my sister,” she says. “Next thing you know, she’s in his house and they’re doing God knows what.”
“I absolutely believe that Mary and Robert are running a cult,” another interviewee says.
Mary was a main cast member in the first two seasons of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She did not appear in season 3 but returned as a friend in season 4 and was upgraded to Housewife status for seasons 5 and 6. She has not commented on the upcoming docuseries. However, she’s previously denied being a cult leader.
“Clearly I’m not gonna get on national television, be a Housewife and be in a cult,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2021. “Like, come on. I believe in my church.”
Mary and her husband have been accused of pressuring church members to give generously to Faith Pentecostal and then using that money to fund a lavish lifestyle. That’s nonsense, she says.
“They’ve been saying that since my grandmother started at the church,” Mary said. “There’s no cult. … My church members, they know those are false allegations. Those are ridiculous. It’s the people that are looking for fault.”
“I have intelligent church members and they know that was all to God,” she continued. “I’m so not in it for the money. Oh my goodness, I believe in what I do, I believe in what I’m saying, and I love my church and I love what they are. … Money can’t fulfill that, not for me.”
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