Why Is 'RHOSLC' Star Mary Cosby Getting Accused Of Running A Cult? All About Her Church Controversy

Mary Cosby has faced relentless scrutiny ever since she joined the Bravo reality show, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, thanks to her highly controversial marriage to her step-grandfather and her questionable involvement with the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. After years of whispers surrounding the reality star's "cult-like" leadership behaviour in the church, a new TLC docuseries has amplified the accusations, as ex-congregants and family members shared their experiences.

Titled The Cult of the Real Housewife, the 2026 exposé unpacks explosive claims surrounding Mary's involvement with the church in Salt Lake City, a congregation founded by her grandmother, Dr. Rosemary “Mama” Redmon Cosby, in the 1960s. After her grandmother’s death, Mary took on the role of first lady of the church and has since been accused by former members of running it like a cult and living off the money donated by parishioners.

What are the cult allegations, and where did they come from?

Mary's involvement with Faith Temple Pentecostal Church became a subject of public scrutiny ever since she inherited the church's leadership role from her late grandmother in 1998. However, to take over the role under a condition that stunned viewers years later, after she joined RHOSLC. She was allegedly expected to marry her late grandma's widowed husband, Robert Sr., who had previously been her step-grandfather.

Mary, who had previously been married to her first husband, Dana Harris, divorced him in 1998 to marry Robert Cosby Sr. The reality TV star spoke about the controversial marriage during a November 2020 episode of RHOSLC, openly acknowledging how strange it sounded and adding that she did it according to her grandmother's will. She said:

"Don't think it wasn't weird, because it was! I did it because I trusted my grandmother. I'm so glad I did it."

The reality star has maintained that she trusted her late grandmother's wishes by marrying Robert Sr. Besides her controversial marriage, Mary Cosby's cult allegations have only intensified with time, especially after some former members came up with allegations of questionable activities in the church. 

What former congregants have said about Mary Cosby's "cult-like" activities

In 2021, six former members of Faith Temple Pentecostal Church exposed to The Daily Beast what actually went on behind closed doors. Their allegations hinted at cult-like activities: they claimed that Mary demanded extreme loyalty, pressured congregants to donate large sums of money, and used fear-based religious messaging to control members. One former member said:

“It’s cultish what they’ve done. It’s the mental manipulation to try to get people to believe that she has power to either take them to heaven or condemn them to hell.”

Another ex-congregant, who was reportedly raised in the church and left at age 22, described Mary as the "most evil thing that ever walked this Earth." Some other former members even alleged that the reality TV star was an entirely different person in the church, referring to herself as "God". She berated members from the pulpit, threatening that they would go to hell if they left the church.

PC: TLC

During seasons one and two of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, accusations surfaced on-screen when her castmate, Lisa Barlow, met with former church member Cameron Williams on camera. Williams agreed that it was a cult, adding that Mary even called herself divine.

The new TLC docuseries adds to the fire: testimonies, leaked audios

The long-circulating allegations have resurfaced on the internet with TLC's new three-part docuseries, The cult of the Real Housewife, which premiered on Jan. 1, 2026. The documentary dives deep into Mary Cosby's controversy, featuring interviews with family members, former members of her church, journalists, and even a cult expert. What came out was a disturbing picture of things that go on within the church, including alleged spiritual, financial, and emotional abuse.

The documentary included even more ex-members to share their testimonies, and their allegations were shocking, to say the least. Several former congregants claimed that the church pressured them to donate thousands of dollars during so-called “emergency saints meetings". A member claimed that they had to cash out 401(k)s and mortgage homes during these meetings, while another alleged giving USD 5,000 to the church.

Those who could not contribute enough due to financial difficulties were shamed publicly, as shared by some former members. The series also revisits leaked audio in which Mary appears to criticise her congregation for being “stingy” and “poor as hell” after receiving few birthday cards. Mary has insisted the recordings were taken out of context.

What does Mary Cosby say about the cult allegations?

Despite multiple allegations against the church and her actions, Mary Cosby has consistently denied them all. In an interview with ET Online in 2021, the RHOSLC alum dismissed all claims, labelling them as "false" and "ridiculous." Addressing the accusations of money extortion, Cosby said:

"That's so cruel... 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."

During BravoCon 2025 in November 2025, Mary dismissed the TLC docuseries, calling it “sad and a shame,” reiterating that she would never knowingly participate in anything abusive. During the RHOSLC season one reunion, the 53-year-old TV star told Andy Cohen:

“Andy, my church couldn’t possibly take care of me. I’m a God-fearing woman and would never do that.”

Where is Mary Cosby's church? Is it still open?

Well, despite all controversies, the church is still very much functional. After being closed for several years for renovations, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church reopened in 2025, and it was even documented in season six of RHOSLC. The reality star, who has been serving as the church's first lady since 1998, shared that it was like a home to her.

PC: Bravo TV

However, the church's future remains complicated. According to reports, Mary and Robert Sr. sued to executives who handled the church's business arm, accusing them of pocketing millions of dollars from the congregation. The lawsuit is still pending in court as of January 2026 and seeks USD 6.3 million in damages.

With TLC's new docuseries, one of Bravo’s biggest controversies is once again in the spotlight, and Mary Cosby has firmly cemented her place as one of the franchise’s most fascinating Housewives.

Read Next: Who Is Mary Cosby's Husband, Robert Cosby Sr.? Meet Their Son Amid 'Cult Of The Real Housewife' Buzz

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