“Former Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes revealed over the weekend that her husband, Gregg, is near death from Stage III colon cancer, which was first diagnosed in 2018.
“My husband is transitioning to the other side,” the 53-year-old reality TV star told guests Saturday at her Duluth club Linnethia Lounge, according to a video of the moment shared to social media the next day.
She was forced to explain herself after someone in the audience reportedly called her out for having a gloomy demeanor during a birthday party at the Atlanta-area venue, US Weekly reported.
After becoming aware of the complaints, NeNe grabbed the mic on stage to set the record straight that she was not trying to be dismissive.
“I hope you guys are enjoying the lounge tonight,” Leakes said, according to copies of the video now circulating widely over the internet. “Please, I’m asking everybody in this lounge. I had no idea that I was going to walk in here and make this announcement. But I want to say this to you. I want to be at peace. When you see me and you see my son, give us a lot of love, OK? My husband is transitioning to the other side. I’m not in the mood to say, ‘Happy Birthday’ to you. You don’t know what we’re dealing with right now.”
She continued: “We walked in this lounge because we had to walk in this lounge because this is our business. 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.’”
Later Sunday, NeNe shared a poignant message on her Instagram that simply read “Broken” and included emojis of a broken heart and praying hands. Numerous fans shared their sympathies on the post.
NeNe and Gregg Leakes dated for years before getting married in 1997. They filed for divorce in 2011, but soon reconciled and renewed their vows during an episode of “Real Housewives” in June 2013.
Five years later, Leakes was diagnosed with colon cancer, and after treatment he was in remission for two years, US Weekly reported. But last June Nene told her fans that his cancer had returned. He spent six weeks in the hospital at the time and has been in deteriorating health ever since.
NeNe was part of the original cast on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” for seven seasons and returned for seasons 10 through 12. She finally left the show last year to focus on her family and various businesses, according to US Weekly.
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