Mary Cosby revealed that Bravo gave her the option to step away from RHOSLC filming after the death of her son, Robert Jr., but she chose to return instead.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star said work gave her something constructive to focus on while she grieved. Production had already stopped after Robert Jr. died at age 23 on February 23.
The RHOSLC star says she wanted work to keep her mind focused on something positive
Cosby said NBC Universal executive Noah Samton assured her that she would not lose her place on the show if she needed an extended break.
“When it first happened, Noah told me I didn’t have to come back,” she recalled. “He’s like, ‘You don’t have to worry about your job. You take a year off, you take a season off, you will have your job.’”
However, Mary Cosby worried that staying home would leave her consumed by questions about what she could have done differently.
She ultimately decided against taking the offered break.
“No, I want to work. I want to distract myself. I want to keep my mind on something positive,” she told Samton.
Bravo had halted production immediately after Robert Jr.’s death. Executive producer Andy Cohen said the team wanted to protect Cosby’s privacy and allow her to determine when, or whether, she felt ready to return. About a month later, Cosby told producers she wanted to resume filming.
She also explained that continuing Real Housewives gave her a sense of purpose.
“I need to keep going to see what’s in the end,” Cosby said while reflecting on why she chose to move forward.
Her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., also agreed to film a scene with her at their church after she asked for his support.
When Cosby returned to the cameras, her castmates rallied around her. She said their visits, conversations and gestures helped give her strength during an extremely difficult period.
Cosby later said her motivation for continuing The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City came back to Robert Jr.
“For my son. He would want me to keep going. He would want me to shine,” she said.