Today (Sept. 1), Gregg Leakes, husband to “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star and entrepreneur NeNe Leakes, has passed away following a three-year battle with colon cancer. Publicist and family friend Ernest Dukes confirmed the news in a statement to press:

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.”

Gregg and NeNe Leakes first met back in 1996, before marrying a year later. Their first child together, Brentt, entered the world in 1999. Unfortunately, in the midst of NeNe’s eventual rise to stardom, trouble entered the marriage — they then divorced in 2011. Fortunately, the duo once again began working on things before remarrying two years later, all of which was seen by the world via “RHOA.”

It was June of 2018 when Gregg was first diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. At that time, he posted a heartfelt message on Instagram reaffirming his love for NeNe:

“We always hurt the ones we Love.. because they allow us to hurt them rather than snap back. I’m tired of hurting my wife … I Pray to God to get it together…She’s done NO wrong… this is ALL on me……Cancer WILL change your Life.”

It was then revealed that Gregg was cancer-free the following year. Tragically (and as we now know), his affliction had since returned.

Since the news broke, fans of “RHOA” and the Leakes family sent an outpouring condolences and support on Twitter. You can see some of those tweets below.