The world has lost a bright young soul, as Robert Cosby Jr., the beloved son of *The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* star Mary Cosby, passed away at the age of 23. The Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed his untimely demise to *The Hollywood Reporter*. On Monday, police responded to an overdose call at 6:14 p.m., which unfortunately turned into a death investigation.
"Our beloved son, Robert Jr., has returned home to the Lord. Although our hearts are in pain, we find comfort in God's promise and the knowledge that he is finally at peace," shared Mary Cosby and her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., in a statement to *THR*. "We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow."
Bravo echoed their grief, stating: "We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mary's beloved son, Robert Jr. Mary is a cherished member of our family, and our thoughts, love, and deepest condolences are with her and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."
Robert Jr. made appearances alongside his mother on the Salt Lake City-based *Real Housewives* series. During season five, he candidly spoke about his substance abuse problems with his mother, revealing that he had started taking drugs such as Xanax, acid, Molly, and cocaine at the age of 16. "I wanted to die at the time," Robert confessed to his mother, who responded, "You know how that would kill me?" This was a standout moment in the wider *Real Housewives* franchise.
During the season six reunion of *RHOSLC*, which aired on Jan. 20, Mary revealed that Robert was in jail facing eight charges, including a violation of a protective order involving his wife, Alexiana Smokoff. Earlier in the season, she had opened up about Robert's relapse after he attended rehab in 2024. In December of that year, Mary confirmed during a *Watch What Happens Live* appearance that her son had been in rehab. "He did an excellent job. He came out a new person," she said.
In early February, Robert celebrated his release from jail alongside his mother with posts on Instagram. "Thank you all for your prayers," Mary wrote on a photo of her son. "Love you."
Following Robert's candidness about his addiction on *RHOSLC*, Mary reacted to the outpouring of support she and her son received from viewers, telling *The Hollywood Reporter* that "my son and I didn't even plan [to talk about that on camera]." "The cameras started rolling, and he and I just started talking. He was shocking me and I was shocking him, and we were just being ourselves as if cameras weren't there," she said in September. "To be able to get that reaction and feedback from people is mind-blowing. It's humbling. It feels good. I'm glad I did it. I wouldn't change anything."
Bravo boss Andy Cohen shared his condolences on *Threads* on Wednesday, writing: "Devastatingly sad news out of SLC. This is every parent's worst nightmare. My heart is broken for Mary, and I am sending all my love to her and Robert Sr."
Mary's *RHOSLC* co-stars and a plethora of Bravo personalities shared their condolences following the news. Under an Instagram post sharing her statement confirming Robert's death, Heather Gay wrote, "There are no words big enough. We love you, Mary." Lisa Barlow commented with a series of red heart emojis, while Whitney Rose added, "Sending you all my love, Mary. So sorry for your loss."
Clayton Simms, an attorney for the Cosby family, shared a statement with *THR*: "Robert Sr. and Mary Cosby are mourning the loss of their beloved son, Robert Clinton Cosby Jr. His untimely passing is hard to comprehend, and the Cosby's are struggling to understand how someone so young and full of life could be gone so soon. Robert Jr.'s warm spirit, humor, and kind heart will be missed."
"A favorite bible passage of the Cosby family is Ecclesiastes 1:2-8, which touches upon the idea that human pursuits, pleasures, and accomplishments are fleeting and futile without spiritual purpose," Simms continued. "This loss is sudden, and the family asks for privacy during this difficult time."
---
