The 21-year-old son of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby is facing divorce proceedings just three years after his secret wedding, following a turbulent period marked by substance abuse issues and multiple arrests.
Troubled Marriage and Legal Battles
Robert Cosby Jr.'s wife, Alexiana Smokoff, filed for divorce this Monday at Salt Lake County District Court, according to documents obtained by People magazine. The divorce petition includes stringent provisions preventing either spouse from harassing, intimidating or disturbing the peace of the other party through any means, including electronic communication.
The couple's relationship began with a clandestine courthouse wedding in August 2022, which they kept hidden from Robert's reality star mother. Their union remained secret until it emerged during season four of The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Substance Abuse Struggles Laid Bare
Robert Jr.'s battle with addiction has been publicly documented on his mother's reality show. He confessed to beginning drug use at age 16, starting with what he called "natural stuff" before progressing to Xanax, which he mixed with other substances including acid, molly and cocaine.
The young man revealed he reached a turning point when he took ten 30mg OxyContin pills "at once" and couldn't feel the effects. His substance abuse problems became a central storyline during season five of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Mary Cosby shared during the January reunion episode that her son had completed a 30-day rehabilitation programme and was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. However, she later suggested he had relapsed, causing him to miss her sermon at the reopening of her Pentecostal church.
Multiple Arrests and Legal Consequences
Robert Jr.'s legal troubles escalated significantly this year. He was first arrested on September 6 after authorities responded to a domestic violence call. Police reports claim he attempted to break into his father-in-law's home through a dog door and assaulted someone in the front yard.
His legal problems continued on November 9 when he was arrested again for allegedly violating a pretrial protective order. The charges against him include criminal trespassing, assault on a peace officer, property damage, interfering with an officer and failing to stop at command of law enforcement.
Robert Jr. remains in custody at Salt Lake County Jail in connection with his latest arrest. His booking record shows previous charges including assault, criminal trespassing and failure to stop at police command, plus three counts of violating court orders.
Taking Responsibility and Moving Forward
Through his attorney, Robert Jr. acknowledged his mistakes and the pain caused to his estranged wife and her family. "Today Robert Cosby took responsibility for the mistakes he has made", the lawyer's statement began.
The statement continued: "Robert was slow to recognize that his marriage was over. He continued to make contact with his ex-wife in an effort to reconcile. He now realizes that the relationship is over and he must move on."
Despite her devastation, Mary Cosby described her son's November arrest as being "for his good", explaining that she felt he needed to face serious consequences for his actions.
The divorce filing includes comprehensive protections for both parties, prohibiting either from committing domestic violence, using the other's identity to obtain credit or services, or cancelling insurance policies including health, homeowner's, automobile or life insurance.
