The Real Housewives of Atlanta actress NeNe Leakes’ husband Gregg Leakes passed away due to cancer, the family's publicist Ernest Dukes informed in a statement to Variety. He was 66. Dukes said, "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. We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family and allow them to mourn in private during this very, very difficult time."

Over the weekend, Nene Leakes, 53, told the patrons at her Atlanta bar, The Linnethia, that Gregg Leakes was "transitioning to the other side". He underwent chemotherapy for six months after he was first diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018 and went into remission the next year. Later in June, NeNe Leakes issued a statement informing that her husband's cancer had once again returned. The couple got married first in 1997 and divorced in 2011 after NeNe completed filming The Real Housewives of Atlanta - Season 4. However, they decided to reconcile and remarried once again in 2013, with their wedding planning and ceremony being shot for I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding, which is dubbed as a Bravo spinoff. 

NeNe Leakes has been a member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta from seasons 1-7 and seasons 8-10. During the period from 2008-2019, Gregg Leakes appeared in more than 80 episodes of the reality show. Apart from garnering popularity as a reality TV star, Gregg Leakes was a real estate investor. Condolences have been pouring in ever since the news of Gregg Leakes' death was announced, including Andy Cohen, executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise who tweeted, "I am heartbroken over the passing of Gregg Leakes, a wonderful man. I jokingly called him ‘Pastor Leakes’ but in truth he was a strong voice of reason and commanded great respect among the ‘RHOA’ team. I am sending love and strength to NeNe Leakes and the entire Leakes family." Real Housewives of Atlanta actress Cynthia Bailey also paid her tribute and wrote, "Heartbroken. So many good times & so many amazing memories. Gregg was always so loving, funny & kind. So blessed to have had him in my life. Sending my heartfelt condolences to NeNe Leakes and her family. Thinking of you & my heart and prayers are with you."