The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes' husband, Gregg Leakes, has passed away after a long battle with cancer at age 66.

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"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," NeNe's publicist told Us Weekly in a Wednesday statement.

"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, 53, disclosed in June 2018 that Gregg had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.

NeNe revealed in April 2019 that Gregg had completed six months of chemotherapy and was doing great, but his remission reportedly only lasted two years before his cancer returned in June 2021.

"My husband is transitioning to the other side," NeNe explained to patrons at the Linnethia Lounge in Duluth, GA, in August.

"You don't know what we're dealing with right now... 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.'"

NeNe and Gregg tied the knot in 1997, two years before welcoming son Brentt together.

They pair split and made divorce proceedings final in 2011, but NeNe and Gregg later reconciled and remarried in 2013.

When Gregg was first diagnosed with cancer, NeNe opened up about the impact it had on her relationship.

"Honestly, it's a really tough time. Like, it's really hard, you know? I never knew that cancer could come into our lives and change it the way that it has," NeNe admitted to Us in November 2018.

"It's been really hard for me, it really has. I mean, it's been like a roller coaster. There are days where we have good days and Gregg has good days, then we have bad days and, you know, I feel alone, he feels alone."

NeNe also said sleeping in different rooms was a huge adjustment for the couple.

"He sleeps downstairs; I sleep upstairs. Out of all the years we've ever been together, we've never done that before," NeNe said at the time.

NeNe reportedly added, "I feel like the day they told me that he had cancer, I feel like I lost my husband. I prayed so many nights, 'Just please give me back my husband because I do not have a partner right now.' And you realize all the things that your partner really did."

Gregg later expressed his gratitude to NeNe on Instagram and how he had previously taken her for granted.

"We always hurt the ones we love... because they allow us to hurt them rather than snap back. 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," Gregg reportedly wrote.

"She deserves much more for her hard efforts and tireless hours spent on me. I pray to God to get it together... she's done NO wrong... this is ALL me. Cancer WILL change your life."

In addition to Brentt, NeNe also has a son Bryson Bryant from a previous relationship, and Gregg has five more children: Denton, Daryl, Damian, Dexter and Katrina.

NeNe announced in 2020 she wouldn't be returning to The Real Housewives of Atlanta for Season 13.

She is also famous for having competed on Season 11 of The Celebrity Apprentice and the 18th edition of Dancing with the Stars with her professional partner Tony Dovolani. NeNe and Tony finished the reality dancing competition in seventh place.

NeNe and Gregg also participated in the second MasterChef Celebrity Showdown together.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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