The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby shared an update on how her son Robert Jr. is doing amid his substance abuse struggles.
“He’s steady, which I think is good,” Mary, 52, exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting the limited-edition RHOSLC-themed Van Leeuwen ice cream flavor, The SLC Scoop, alongside costar Angie Katsanevas on Tuesday, November 19.
Mary shares Robert Jr., 19, with husband Robert Cosby. Robert Jr. has made multiple appearances on the Bravo series since his mom joined the cast in 2020. Season 5 saw Robert. Jr. opening up to his mom about his personal struggles with substance abuse.
“It’s a heavy topic,” she said of her son’s ups and downs. “But for me, because it all just came at once on me and I didn’t expect it, but I’m taking it day by day.”
She added that Robert Jr. is currently “doing good.”
Angie, 50, added that when she has spent quality time with Robert Jr., she noticed what a “kind, engaging and sweet” person he is.
Mary Cosby. Clifton Prescod/Bravo
On the recent episode of RHOSLC, Mary stayed behind with her family while her fellow Housewives took a group trip to Palm Springs. While speaking to Us, Mary confessed she preferred “missing the trip” so she could be “attentive” to Robert Jr.
While Robert Jr. navigates life and his personal struggles, Mary has been by his side. Robert Jr. still lives at home with his parents and is currently not in college or working. While Mary joked that she needs to “kick him out of the nest,” she shared that Robert Jr. plans to get his own space soon.
“He told me the other day, ‘Mom, I’m going to get my own place.’ And I said, ‘Well, how are you going to pay for it?’” she said. “Because it was his birthday [recently]. He goes, ‘I’m going to use my birthday money.’ I said, ‘You don’t even get life babe.’ He goes, ‘No, it’s a down payment’ and I [asked], ‘The down payment on what?’ He goes. ‘A house.’”
Mary joked that her son had a “good birthday.”
In 2022, Robert Jr. made headlines when he was arrested for a DUI in Utah. According to court documents obtained by In Touch at the time, he told police officers he took oxycontin and Xanax in addition to smoking marijuana before his arrest. Earlier this year, The Sun reported that Robert Jr. went to rehab to treat his struggles with substance abuse.
Last month, Mary spoke to Entertainment Tonight about how she’s been by her son’s side throughout his sobriety journey.
“It was an eye-opener for me,” Mary said of the conversation she had with Robert Jr. where he said he “didn’t want to live” at times. “I don’t have thoughts like that. I came to the realization — its substance and they alter your thoughts and your brain and they can make you go dark.”
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
