Update (Sept.1, 2021): Gregg Leakes, the husband of reality TV star NeNe Leakes, has died from colon cancer at the age of 66.
According to People, family friend Ernest Dukes confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday, saying Gregg died peacefully in his home while surrounded by loved ones.
"Today the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart. 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," Dukes said. "We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family & allow them to mourn in private during this very very difficult time."
NeNe, who has publicly discussed her husband’s condition in recent years, said at one point that the stress was also causing a strain on their relationship.
"It's been a big transition for Gregg and I and our entire family," she told People in 2018. "To learn that Gregg has cancer? Our lives just changed that day. Our whole routine changed. Just everything changed. I don't have cancer. Gregg has cancer. But I feel like our whole house has cancer."
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star said her husband appeared to be a changed man after being diagnosed with cancer.
"I feel like that day I lost my husband,” she said. “Our whole dynamic changed. Sometimes I forget that he's sick and I need to remind myself because he's so on edge. He's not nice, but he can't help it."
When he later went to Instagram, Gregg said he is tired of hurting his wife.
"We always hurt the ones we love because they allow us to hurt them rather than snap back," he wrote. "I'm tired of hurting my wife who is only trying to take good care of me and wants only the best for me too."
Original (Aug. 29, 2021): Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes shared somber news when she recently addressed patrons at her Atlanta lounge, telling them that her husband could possibly lose his battle with cancer.
According to Page Six, footage from The Linnethia lounge showed NeNe Leakes talking about Gregg's condition while responding to customers who called her “rude” for not acknowledging a birthday in the crowd.
“I hope you guys are enjoying the lounge tonight,” she said after picking up a microphone to address the patrons. “Please, I’m asking everybody in this lounge, I had no idea that I was going to walk in here and grab this microphone and make this announcement, but I want to say this, I want to be at peace. When you see me and you see my son, give us a lot of love, OK? My husband is transitioning to the other side. You don't know what we’re dealing with right now.”
The TV personality continued to express her feelings as some in the crowd acknowledged her plea during the speech.
“We walked in this lounge because we had to walk in this lounge because this is our business. So, when people approach and say, ‘you’re rude because you don’t want to say happy birthday,’ my husband is at home dying. I don’t want to say ‘happy birthday,’ OK?” NeNe said.
Gregg was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018, Revolt reported. After the cancer went into remission following treatment, NeNe confirmed in June that it had returned.
“If you’ve ever been around somebody who’s had cancer before, he’s different,” the Real Housewives of Atlanta star said earlier this year. “I’d love for everybody to pray for Gregg, that would be beautiful. Pray for his strength."
The couple first married in 1997. In 2011, they divorced but went on to remarry in 2013.
