Gregg Leakes, the husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes, has died from colon cancer. He was 66 years old.
Publicist and Leakes family friend Ernest Dukes that Leakes died “peacefully” at home surrounded by family.
“Today the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart,” he said in a statement received by Shadow and Act. “After a long battle with cancer, Gregg Leakes has passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife Nene Leakes. We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family & allow them to mourn in private during this very very difficult time.”
Leakes appeared alongside his wife on 12 seasons of Real Housewives of Atlanta. He was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2018. His cancer was in remission for two years before his cancer came back. Nene Leakes told fans during an Instagram Live that her husband was recovering from surgery to treat his cancer, saying that the illness was “difficult.”
“He’s super small,” she said according to People. “If you’ve ever been around somebody who’s had cancer before, he’s different.”
NeNe Leakes spoke publicly about her husband’s health over the weekend at Duluth, GA’s Linnethia Lounge.
“When you see me, you see my son, give us a lot of love,” she said in a video from the night posted to social media. “My husband is transitioning to the other side.” She also posted an image to Instagram that reads “Broken” with a broken heart emoji and prayer hands emojis. Celebrity friends, including Tamar Braxton, Tami Roman, Brandy, Marlo Hampton, Keke Wyatt, Trina, and others left their condolences in the comments.
Nene says Gregg is “transitioning to the other side.” #RHOA
— LoveAndyC (@LoveAndyC) August 29, 2021
(Teachertales on TikTok) pic.twitter.com/IhMzPbRlRy
Our thoughts are with the Leakes family during this difficult time.