Man, what a sad day for Real Housewives of Atlanta fans. Longtime husband of NeNe Leakes, Gregg Leakes, passed away on Wednesday (Sept. 1) after battling colon cancer — the same disease that took actor Chadwick Boseman. Leakes was only 66 years old.
Leakes passed away at his Atlanta home surrounded by his family.
“Today the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart,” said a statement from publicist Ernest Dukes. “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.”
In 2018, we learned that Leakes was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, which was documented on season 11 of RHOA. However, it appeared that he was doing better over the last couple of years after he went into remission. The cancer would return causing Leakes to obtain surgery and to be hospitalized for six weeks.
Earlier this week, NeNe, 53, expressed that her husband was “transitioning” and it had been difficult for her and the son they share, Brentt, 22. The couple originally married in 1997, but would divorce nearly 14 years later, only to remarry in 2013.
We first got to know Gregg Leakes as a successful business man and knight in shining armor that was able to take NeNe away from her night gig as an exotic dancer. Although there were some ups and downs, over the years, he proved to be an endearing husband, supporting his wife’s decision to be a part of the epic Bravo reality show and her dreams of acting. As viewers of RHOA grew to love (or dislike) NeNe, so did they begin to appreciate the balanced and calm demeanor Gregg brought to his wife and the show. He will be missed.
Condolences to the Leakes and RHOA family as they deal with this challenging time.
