Mary Cosby is accused of being a cult leader, here’s what she’s said about the wild claims
These allegations have been swirling since season one
If you’ve been watching The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, you’re probably already acquainted with Mary Cosby, the ultra-glam First Lady of Faith Temple Pentecostal Church, known for her bold fashion, philanthropic ventures and a marriage that’s raised more than a few eyebrows.
But behind the sequins and sermons lies a persistent set of allegations. People are convinced that she runs a cult, uses her congregation to fund a luxe lifestyle and controls followers under the guise of faith.
Mary has publicly responded several times. So, let’s unpack what she’s said.
National TV and cults don’t go together, apparently
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In an early interview back in January 2021 with Entertainment Tonight, Mary addressed the swirling “cult” rumours head-on.
She said: “Clearly I’m not gonna get on national television, be a Housewife and be in a cult. Like, come on, I believe in my church.”
She framed the cult label as absurd from the start, and pointed to her role on national television as proof that she’s not secretly running some kind of shadow operation.
‘False allegations’ and ‘ridiculousness’
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In the same interview, Mary dug deeper: “They’ve been saying that since my grandmother started the church… It’s no… cult,” she explained.
“The people that know me, my church members, they know those are false allegations. Those are ridiculous… it’s the people that are looking for fault.”
She positioned the controversy as external noise rather than internal truth, attributing it to spectators rather than to the congregation itself.
‘That’s so cruel’
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When the rumours started leaning into the idea that her head-to-toe designer wardrobe, and even her growing property portfolio, were being bankrolled by church members’ tithes, Mary pushed back with her own take.
She responded: “That’s so cruel… I feel like it’s so judgmental because I am African American and a woman, and I do have an eye for finer things in life,” per Monsters and Critics.
She made it clear she believed the accusations of profiteering were not simply false but actually tied to prejudice, and reiterated that she’s “so not in it for the money.”
She called the claims ‘outlandish’
Fast forward from January to December 2021, and Mary dropped another succinct denial.
On Bravo’s AfterShow, Mary called the cult claims “outlandish” and said that “rumours are for mean-spirited people.”
She reaffirmed that despite the ongoing chatter and investigative headlines, she stands firm on her position. She denies being a cult leader and insists the rumours are built on nothing substantive.
Mary added: “If it’s a cult, I’ll tell you. If I’m God, trust me, I’m gonna do some powerful things if I’m God… don’t give that stuff life because it’s not true…”
“If it’s true, why did it come out now?” she continued, before adding: “It’s outlandish and kind of funny and untrue…”
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