Cydney Henderson|USA TODAY
GreggLeakes, the businessman who appeared alongside wife NeNe Leakes on"Real Housewives of Atlanta,"has died followinga battle with cancer. He was 66.
"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," the family said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Wednesday bypublicist Ernest Dukes.
The statement continued: "We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family & allow them to mourn in private during this very very difficult time."
On Thursday, NeNe shared a video of the couple slow dancing to Johnny Gill's "It Would Be You"as theyserenadedeach other with sweet lyrics: "If I could have anything… That it would be you you you you." NeNe captioned the video with emojis of broken hearts, marking the first time she's posted on Instagram since his death.
NeNe's former "RHOA" co-stars rallied around her, offeringtheir condolences. Porsha Williams commented, "such a beautiful moment."Phaedra Parks added red heart emojis.
Kim Zolciak-Biermann remembered Gregg as "kind, considerate, and the calm in any storm." She added in a WednesdayInstagram tribute, "He was the peaceful voice of reason and will be greatly missed by so many. His legacy lives on."
Kandi Burruss shared an Instagram photo of herself, husbandTodd Tucker, Gregg and NeNe: "@greggleakeswas an amazing man who always brought love & great energy to any room he walked into. I’m thankful for the great memories I have of him. Rest in peace Gregg."
Cynthia Bailey said she was "heartbroken" to hear of his death. "Gregg was a good man, so kind & so loving. I will miss him, and will always honor his memory with love."
NeNe Leakes announces husband's return from hospital after getting diagnosed with cancer again
Gregg was diagnosed withStage 3 colon cancer in May 2018. NeNepublicly announced he was battling cancer that same year in Juneand shared thecouple's "new normal" in a doctor's office. In 2019, NeNe announced her husband was cancer-free.
In May 2020, the businessman reflected on his diagnosis:"2 years ago today I was told I had cancer.I remember being sad inside but I knew I had to be strong on the outside as much as I could…I thank my wife for taking excellent care of me and loving me even tho I wasn’t an easy patient."
Earlier this year in June, NeNe announced that her husband'scancer had returned.
"I'd love everybody to pray for Gregg. That would be beautiful: Pray for his strength," she said during avideointerview withThe Jasmine Brandat the time."And pray for me, too."
Before his death, Nene revealed in late August that her"husband (was) transitioning to the other side" and "dying" duringan emotional exchange shared across social mediaafter she was heckled by fans at an Atlanta bar.
Gregg Leakes apologizes to wife NeNe for hurting her during his cancer battle
The couple first married in 1997 and share two children: Bryson and Brentt. After splitting in 2011, the couple remarried in 2013during a ceremony filmed for Bravo's spin-off "I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding."
"You have been my light,"Gregg told his bride. “I couldn’t do this without you. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t even try. So I want to thank you, baby."
Leakes appeared on Bravo's "RHOA"alongside his wife from2008-2019 (NeNe left the show in 2020).His battle with cancer was documented in the show's later seasons.
NeNe recalled the dire moments leading up to Gregg diagnosis during the Bravo show's Season 11 premiere in November 2018.
"It was Cinco de Mayo,"the reality star recalled. "Gregg was in excruciating pain. Like, I've never seen him say, 'I'm hurting so bad,the pain is so bad in my stomach.' And finally, he said to me, 'Take me to the hospital.' "
'We just weren’t prepared': NeNe Leakes,husband Gregg talk his colon cancer diagnosis
Gregg had to undergosurgeryto remove part of his colon that was "infected."NeNe said they "weren’t prepared to hear that."
"The scariest part about all of this is when we got to the hospital and the doctor saying that, 'We need to do surgery on you tonight or you ain't going to make it,'"Gregg explained.
The businessman survived the surgery,andat the time, shared hisnewfound outlook on life: "You never know what’s in you until you at that door. I never thought I had it in me to fight cancer. Now, I want to beat cancer’s (expletive)."
