The estranged family of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby has voiced profound concern following the tragic death of her son, Robert Cosby Jr., suggesting the young man may have faced immense 'pressure' from publicly discussing his personal battles on the popular reality television show.
Family Estrangement and Public Scrutiny
Dan Cosby, Mary's cousin, exclusively told the Daily Mail, 'It’s sad because nobody wants to lose their child, but he’s in the hands of a just God.' Dan, whose mother was sisters with Mary's mother, revealed the cousins lost contact over a decade ago, partly due to conflicting views about the management of Mary's Faith Temple church. He does not anticipate being welcomed at Robert Jr.'s funeral, highlighting the deep family division.
Reality TV Spotlight and Personal Struggles
Dan, a youth basketball coach who had not seen Robert Jr. since childhood, admitted to occasionally watching social media clips of the mother-son duo discussing Robert's substance abuse issues on RHOSLC. 'You're being watched on national TV and everywhere you go, people are going to know you and ask you questions - that's a lot of pressure,' Dan remarked, pointing to the intense public scrutiny.
On the show, Robert Jr. vulnerably opened up about grappling with suicidal ideation and addiction to substances including marijuana, cocaine, and prescription drugs. In a poignant November 2024 episode, he tearfully told Mary, 'I just barely started being happy again,' to which she responded, 'Please, baby, recognize it, own it, and change it. Because you can.'
Spiritual Interventions and Relapses
Dan shared that he was recently updated on Robert Jr.'s mindset by Bishop Galvin, a former member of Mary's church, who visited the young man in prison last month after feeling divinely called. 'He visited him two or three times and he said, "If you don't want to tell your parents I came, that's fine," but he had to do what God told him to do and he prayed for him,' Dan recounted.
'He was very thankful and I hope this doesn't hurt anybody's feelings but Robert felt that he was lost. And Bishop Galvin told him, "God will help you. Don't worry about anything and just hang in there" but he did feel lost.' Despite undergoing rehab, Robert Jr. sadly relapsed. Late last year, he was jailed for assault and violation of a protective order, and his wife, Alexiana Arian Smokoff, filed for divorce in November 2025 after three years of marriage.
Legal Troubles and Maternal Perspective
During a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Mary expressed sympathy over her son's incarceration, noting she felt some comfort in him being behind bars, stating, 'I know he's somewhere where he's not using.'
Investigation and Family Discovery
Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed Robert Jr. died of a possible overdose. Officers responded to a medical emergency on Monday at 6:14 p.m. local time for 'an overdose investigation that morphed into a death investigation,' with the death probe described as standard procedure.
Dan revealed that he and other estranged family members learned of the sad news by reading about it online two days after it occurred. 'We're just hearing it,' he said on Wednesday. 'They don't talk to us, so we're finding out just like everybody else is. I was in disbelief when I first heard it.'
Memories and Irreparable Rifts
While Dan fondly recalls Robert Jr., mentioning his daughter Whitney used to babysit him and they shared many memories, he does not expect the death to reunite the family. Since leaving Mary's church, Dan has appeared in the docuseries The Cult of the Real Housewife, which investigated the church. 'My love is for the family, but they will never invite us to the funeral. They won't even allow us in the church,' Dan lamented.
'There's such a division between the family now. They won't talk to us. It's, like, taboo. I've heard they're not supposed to talk to us.' Reflecting on Robert Jr.'s passing, Dan concluded, 'His soul is up to God and God sees and knows what he was going through, so all things are for the good.'
Official Statements and Media Outreach
Mary Cosby issued a statement to TMZ on Wednesday, saying, 'Our beloved son Robert Jr. has been called home to the Lord. Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God's promise and in knowing he is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Mary and Bravo for additional comment, awaiting further responses.
