NeNe Leakes' husband Gregg dies at 66

Sept. 2 (UPI) -- NeNe Leakes' husband, Gregg Leakes, has died.

People reported Wednesday that Gregg Leakes died after a battle with colon cancer. He was 66.

The family's publicist Ernest Dukes confirmed Gregg Leakes' death in a statement to Variety.

"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 and allow them to mourn in private during this very, very difficult time."

Gregg Leakes was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018. His cancer went into remission in 2019 after he underwent six months of chemotherapy but had returned as of June of this year.

Leakes told patrons at her Atlanta lounge, The Linnethia, over the weekend that Gregg Leakes was "transitioning to the other side."

Leakes and Gregg Leakes originally married in 1997 and remarried in 2013 after divorcing in 2010. Leakes has a son, Brent, 22, with her late husband, and a son, Bryson, from a previous relationship. Gregg Leakes had five other children, Denton, Daryl, Damian, Dexter and Katrina.

Gregg Leakes appeared with Leakes on the Bravo reality series Real Housewives of Atlanta. Leakes starred in Seasons 1-7 and 10-12 of the show and also appeared as a guest in Season 8.

Real Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen was among those to pay tribute to Gregg Leakes on social media.

"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 & commanded great respect among the entire #RHOA team. I am sending love and strength to @neneleakes & the entire Leake family," Cohen tweeted.