A new TLC docuseries is bringing renewed attention to allegations surrounding The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and the church she leads with her husband, Robert Cosby Sr.
Titled The Cult of the Real Housewife, the three-part series examines claims from former members of Faith Temple Pentecostal Church who allege spiritual manipulation, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation tied to church leadership.
The documentary traces Faith Temple’s origins back to its founder, Rosemary “Mama” Cosby, Mary’s grandmother, who was widely respected within the congregation.
Following her death, leadership transferred to Robert Cosby Sr.—Mary’s step-grandfather—whose subsequent marriage to Mary marked a turning point that former members describe as a dramatic cultural shift inside the church.
Among those featured in the docuseries are Mary’s cousin, Dan Cosby, and his wife, Kim, who detail their experiences at Faith Temple. According to Fox News, Dan alleges that church leadership relied on authoritarian tactics to maintain control, describing an environment where members were publicly humiliated and discouraged from questioning authority.
“How he would do it, how he would use his form of authoritarian-style leadership and how he would talk to other brothers in the church … pitting them against me or against other members,” Dan said. “I wasn’t the only one. There are others that left because they saw the writing on the wall.”
Dan also claims that fear played a central role in keeping members from leaving. “You were just afraid to leave. People were afraid of leaving,” he said. “This is detrimental to people.”
The series includes allegations of physical and emotional abuse, with Dan stating he endured punishments as a child and witnessed other children being harmed.
He described one incident in which Robert Cosby Sr. allegedly shoved him during a prayer session, an encounter he said ultimately led him to leave the church.
Financial pressure is another primary focus of the docuseries. Former members allege they were shamed for not giving enough money, with scripture used to reinforce guilt.
One former congregant, Cameron, previously appeared on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and claimed he took out a $300,000 second mortgage on his home and gave the money to Mary Cosby.
“It wasn’t necessarily what’s going to happen to you,” Dan said, “but the pressure that you know you had to give more.”
Kim Cosby echoed similar concerns, describing an environment where devotion was framed as a competition. “If I said I’m going to go home and cook… then I’m putting him above God,” she said. “It was always a competition.”