Lee Najjar, ex of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Kim Zolciak, dies
Lee Najjar, ex of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Kim Zolciak, dies
James Powel, USA TODAY Thu, April 23, 2026 at 5:09 AM UTC
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Lee Najjar, ex of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Kim Zolciak, dies
Lee Najjar, the former boyfriend of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member Kim Zolciak, died at the age of 68, according to multiple reports.
TMZ, citing the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner, reported that Najjar died on April 18. USA TODAY reached out to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's office for confirmation.
His daughter, Katelin Najjar, confirmed the death in a series of Instagram Story posts, according to People.
"I loved when he wrote me cards, he knew it meant everything to me," an April 21 Instagram Story post, reviewed by USA TODAY, said. The collection of posts saved to the profile includes an emotional tribute and videos of the two together.
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TMZ was first to report Najjar's death. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Najjar, nicknamed "Big Poppa" on the popular reality television show, was a largely off-screen presence. Najjar was never named, and his face was never shown during the show, according to People.
Najjar and Zolciak's relationship was a plot point in the show's early seasons, with Zolciak praising him for funding a lavish lifestyle. Other cast members questioned Najjar's estranged relationship with his wife, People reported.
Throughout his relationship with Zolciak, Najjar was married to Kim Najjar, according to E! News. They share four children.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'RHOA' star Kim Zolciak's ex boyfriend Lee 'Big Poppa' Najjar dies
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
