Meredith Marks praised Mary Cosby’s resilience while filming “RHOSLC” Season 7 after her son’s death.
Marks, 54, told the Australian radio show “Jase, Lauren & Clint” on Thursday that Cosby, 53, handled the aftermath of Robert Jr.’s passing “so beautifully.” The Bravo star emphasized that viewers would find Cosby’s strength inspirational when the season premieres.
“Mary, you’ll see, her strength is so inspirational,” Marks said on the program. “And I think it will be really incredible to watch.”
Marks acknowledged the emotional toll the broadcast would take. “It will be very tough” for Cosby to relive the family tragedy on screen, she admitted. Despite that difficulty, Marks believes the reality show “gave [Cosby] another focus during a difficult time.” The jewelry designer also noted the medium’s cruel irony: “That’s the downside to reality TV. You relive things later.”
The upcoming season marks Cosby’s return to full-time Housewife status after her son’s death on Feb. 23. Salt Lake City police confirmed officers responded to an overdose call that evening at approximately 6:14 p.m., finding Robert Jr., 23, unconscious and not breathing. Dispatch audio revealed someone administered one dose of Narcan before authorities arrived, but the effort proved unsuccessful.
Cosby and her husband, Robert Sr., addressed the loss in a joint statement shared on her Instagram page. “Our beloved son Robert Jr. Has been called home to the Lord,” the couple wrote. “Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God’s promise and in knowing he is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow.”
Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen posted his condolences on Threads shortly after news broke. “Devastatingly sad news out of SLC,” he wrote. “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.”
The network itself also issued a statement. “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mary’s beloved son, Robert Jr.,” Bravo shared. “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.”
Production on Season 7 was originally scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 23 but was immediately paused following Robert Jr.’s death. Sources connected to production said that Cosby made the decision herself to continue filming, viewing the work as a way to “maintain some structure” during her grief. The cast reportedly set aside all on-camera feuds to rally around her, with every member reaching out through visits, calls, or texts.
In the Season 7 trailer, Cosby directly addresses her co-stars’ support. “I could not have got through without you guys,” she says in one scene. “You all was there for me.”
Marks and Cosby are returning alongside Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow, Whitney Rose, Angie Katsanevas, and Bronwyn Newport.
In the viral moment that preceded this season, Robert Jr.’s addiction struggles became central to Cosby’s storyline across multiple seasons of “RHOSLC.” In a raw Season 5 conversation filmed in late 2024, the then-21-year-old admitted to his mother that he had been using Xanax since age 16, later mixing acid, Molly, and up to 10 oxycodone pills at once. “I couldn’t even feel it,” he recalled. He also shared his darkest thoughts, telling Cosby, “I felt like a stain — I just felt like this world wasn’t for me,” and credited her as “the only reason I didn’t kill myself.” Cosby responded by calling him “the only thing that ever made me happy.” After completing a 30-day rehab program, Robert Jr. Faced legal troubles including assault and protective order violations, spending two months in jail before his release on Feb. 3. His estranged wife, Alexiana Smokoff, had filed for divorce in November 2025 after three years of marriage.
Cosby herself had posted hopefully about her son just weeks before his death. On Feb. 7, she shared a photo of Robert Jr. On Instagram with the caption, “Thank you all for your prayers. Love you,” adding in a comment, “#godfirst Love you all. My Beautiful Son.. I love him sm.”
“RHOSLC” Season 7 premieres Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.