Why RHOSLC's Mary Cosby's Husband Is Not On The Show

Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has been crazy with feuds between the cast members. But one of the show's talked-about moments was Mary Cosby's emotional talk with her son, Robert Jr., about his substance abuse issues.

Fans praised Mary for having the courage to film such a heartbreaking conversation on reality TV. However, they also questioned the whereabouts of her step-grandfather-turned-husband, Robert Sr., who seemed to be away amid his wife and son's difficult time.

Robert Sr.—who's accused of running a cult with Mary—initially appeared on the show in Season 1. But after some controversies, he decided not to film with his wife in the next seasons (2 and 5). Here's what Mary has said about Robert Sr.'s absence from the RHOSLC.

Mary Cosby's Husband Doesn't Appear On RHOSLC Due To "Grudges" On Production

Robert Cosby Sr. Isn't Happy With His Portrayal On RHOSLC

When asked why Robert Sr. hadn't appeared on RHOSLC with her, Mary told Andy Cohen that her husband holds "grudges" on production. "He's good. He's a man and they hold grudges," she said on Watch What Happens Live in October. "But once he gets over his grudge, he'll be better and he'll probably show his face."

Mary clarified that Robert Sr. only had issues with other producers but not with Andy. "He loves you," she told the host, adding that her husband doesn't "trust" them and "doesn't want them to give [Andy] bad press." Mary left the show after Season 2 due to the increasing backlash on their controversial Faith Temple Pentecostal church.

Mary doesn't regret skipping the Season 2 reunion amid the scandal. "100 percent, I stand by my decision," she told People in September. "I am glad I did what I did. I believed in what I felt, I believed in my choices and to this day, I have no regrets. If I could do it over again, I would do it over again."

Fans Think Mary Cosby And Her Husband Live Apart

Mary Cosby and Robert Sr. Have Multiple Homes Across The U.S.

Due to Robert Sr.'s absence from RHOSLC, many fans think he lives a separate life from Mary. "Technically they've lived separately for a while now from what I've gathered," wrote a Redditor. "He has been in Vegas for literal years now not living in the same house." Neither of the couple confirmed these rumors.

But Mary said in Season 1 that Robert Sr. "does love checking on all of the homes that we own." They have five houses in total. When her grandmother, who was married to Robert Sr., passed away, the matriarch left the new couple "her empire: homes, churches, daycares, a mortgage company, restaurants."

It's unclear if Robert Sr. is actually with Mary at the home she's seen living in on RHOSLC. But she confirmed that Robert Jr. and his girlfriend were living with her before their rehab stint. "They both live in my house," Mary said in a confessional. "But I don't see them much." The house is that big...

In November, news broke that Mary and Robert Sr.'s home in Salt Lake City might be in foreclosure. But an X user clarified that "It's not true" and that the snowflake holder "is suing their church finance person who allegedly took out this second mortgage by forging Robert's signature, among other things."

Robert Cosby Sr. Was There For Mary Cosby During Robert Jr.'s Substance Abuse Battle

Mary Cosby "Needed" Robert Cosby Sr. During Robert Jr.'s Recovery

Early in December, Mary updated Andy about Robert Jr.'s rehab treatment, saying that he "came out a new person." The host then asked about Robert Sr. again. "I needed him," she said on WWHL. "... Because he's experienced drugs when he was younger, so he would be able to guide Robert better."

Robert Sr. must have been proud of his wife and their son's emotional conversation on RHOSLC. The patriarch was initially "hesitant" about Mary joining RHOSLC because he doesn't "like people messing with my wife at all." And after all their scandals, Mary redeemed their image with that vulnerable moment.

But "it wasn't planned," Mary said of that scene, which fans deemed "courageous." She then revealed to Andy that they "just came together, Robert [Jr.] and I. And I said we're going to do this because we're going to help someone." It certainly worked, both for them and their fans.

New episodes of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 5 air on Bravo every Wednesday at 9/8c (same day on Hayu and the next day on Peacock).