Elli Hakami and Julian P. Hobbs, the creators of the new TLC docuseries *The Cult of the Real Housewife* — which focuses on Mary Cosby, a star from *The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City*, being accused of running a mind control cult — say they were inspired to investigate Mary Cosby after she appeared on the Bravo show.
Hobbs told *The Hollywood Reporter* that they started looking into Mary Cosby before the show *The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* reached the point where rumors about her being a cult leader became more public.
In the second season of the show, co-star Whitney Rose hinted at the idea that Mary was leading a cult, and that season featured an appearance by Cameron Williams, someone who had previously worked with Mary Cosby and claimed he was abused by her.
Hobbs and Hakami, who run Talos Films together, decided to go further than just letting the show itself handle the story.
They wanted to dig deeper and uncover more information.
In the TLC docuseries, it's claimed that Mary Cosby and her husband, Bishop Robert Cosby, used their positions in the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church to get members to empty their bank accounts to help them buy houses and live a luxurious lifestyle.
It's also said that Mary Cosby had an affair with Cameron Williams, who allegedly gave them around $300,000 of his savings.
Williams made some indirect accusations against Mary Cosby during an appearance on *The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* with other cast members back in 2021.
He passed away shortly after due to complications from brain tumor surgery.
Getting former members of the Faith Temple church, like the Enoch family, Mary’s sister Denise Jefferson Okinada, and her cousin Dan Cosby, along with his wife Kim, to speak on camera was a challenge.
That’s because Mary and her husband were seen as important spiritual leaders by the congregation. Many current and former members felt guilty and ashamed after learning about the supposed misuse of spiritual power and accusations of extortion and sexual misconduct.
Hakami explained to *The Hollywood Reporter* that the people in the church believed in the leaders and saw them as guides to the divine.
Their investigation was supported by Cheyenne Roundtree, a reporter from the *Daily Beast*, who also appears in the TLC series, now available on HBO Max and Discovery+.
Many of the former followers were shocked by the contrast between the Mary Cosby who led a church founded by her grandmother and the wealthy lifestyle she showed on the show.
Hobbs said that when Mary Cosby appeared on the show as a wealthy spiritual figure, many people felt it was too much.
They felt the need to speak out about what really happened with Mary Cosby, compared to the image that was shown on TV.
The docuseries also includes real-time social media discussions that fueled the speculation about Mary Cosby’s church.
Hobbs said that while the *Real Housewives* show set the story in motion, it was the digital media world that kept the conversation going and asked for the truth.
Much of the online buzz about Mary Cosby since she joined *Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* in 2020 centered around an alleged affair with Cameron Williams.
In the series, Dan Cosby reveals a clip of a phone conversation he had with Williams before he died, where Williams confirmed the affair and said he was manipulated in many ways.
The series also features Steven Hassan, an expert on cults, to help explain how Mary and her husband might have used manipulation to get followers to give away their life savings.
Hobbs explained that it's a known method used in controlling people.
It's based on behavioralism, the idea that the human mind can be influenced and that anyone can be controlled with the right techniques.
Mary Cosby didn't appear in season three of the show but came back briefly for season four and was back in a starring role for season five.
There’s no mention of her running a cult in the series. The sixth season is currently airing on Bravo.
Hobbs and Hakami tried to contact Mary Cosby and her husband to respond to the accusations in the series, but they didn’t get a response.
Hobbs believes there may be a shift in public opinion now that the series has been released.
He says that Mary Cosby has shaped the narrative for a long time, and their goal is to present an alternative view, allowing those who haven't had a chance to speak to tell their story.
Hobbes says it will be a fascinating time when the film is released, because people will finally hear a viewpoint that hasn't been shared before.
THR has also contacted Bravo to get comments from the reality show's producers and co-star Mary Cosby regarding the claims in the TLC docuseries.
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