We’ve all witnessed the hardship that reality star Gregg Leakes has faced as he’s struggled to clear all the skeletons out of his family’s closet before his wedding to his now-wife, NeNe Leakes.
Now, that he and NeNe are back together for what seems to be a lifetime, Gregg has taken full control of his relationships and is working hard toward building one big blended happy family. But it’s not an easy journey.
On tonight’s episode of “I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding,” the Leakes sit down to mend their wounds only to end up in a massive blowout that nearly derails their nuptials.
“I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding” airs tonight, Tuesday Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo TV.
Read what Gregg had to say about the drama along with why he admires his wife, NeNe here …
What prompted you to ask NeNe for her hand in marriage a second time?
What prompted me, was that I never felt her hand leave me for the first time. I never lost that feeling. My wife and I were definitely made for each other — this time it’s forever!
What was the most exciting thing about remarrying NeNe?
The most exciting thing to me, is opportunity. I really appreciate that more now, that my wife, was loving enough, to give me another opportunity and to have that belief and trust in me to do it. Just the opportunity she gave me, I admire her and I thank her for that.
How did you select your groomsmen? Were they friends or family?
Each one of my groomsmen were guys who I have known for a very long time. Each one of them during our divorce, I would call to talk about different things that were happening and so, each one of them had a special meaning.
We all witnessed the drama that went down between NeNe and your son, Damien. How did it feel to be so open and bring all five of your adult children on the show to air out their concerns? Were you at all hesitant?
I wasn’t hesitant because I knew at some point what happened, had to happen in order to go forward. Now at this particular time, it just happens that it was captured for the world to see. But as heartbreaking as that is, it is going to help other families. It had to happen. There had to be time for healing and then the mending and blending of families.
Do you have any regrets about not blending your families sooner?
Absolutely! I should have blended my families earlier. Now let me tell you why — I always had a plan to blend this family together. I’m a family man. I had to take my relationship with all of my children from where it was, to a different point. I then had to take my wife’s relationship — or lack there of because I hadn’t given it to her — with my children and get her to a certain point. And that’s how I got everyone to where they needed to be and I started things and it took some time, now it’s time to merge again. But when we do, there will be some crisis that we just have to go through. I know that. That’s the hard part. But it’s necessary.
What is your relationship like today with your boys and only daughter?
My children are great. We talk almost every day. I’m trying to invest in some interesting things that they have going on. My daughter, who you saw a little bit on the show, is well. My next step would be to just get deeper with them and get honest and real, because we have work to do.
What advice do you have for fathers who are faced with connecting siblings from different relationships?
A husband and a father sets the temperature of the house. In saying that, you have to man up! There is no cost big enough when it comes to truly manning up and being there for your children. Exercise patience, beyond your level of understanding of what patience is. Develop the deepest form of communication that is humanly possible and it will redeem you. Those key things along with enhanced love and prayer is what will get these families through. And just remember that giving up is not an option.
ruthie hawkins/@ruubabie
