Lee Najjar, known to many reality TV viewers as Kim Zolciak’s former partner “Big Poppa,” has died at the age of 68.
His daughter, Katelin Najjar, confirmed the news via a series of Instagram Stories posts, in which she shared personal moments and tributes to her father.
“I love you,” she wrote over a video featuring the song “Dancing in the Sky.”
A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Najjar was a topic of conversation during the early seasons of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, where Kim frequently referenced him by his nickname but kept his identity largely private at the time. Kim constantly showed off his lavish gifts and his habit of spoiling her, but his being married was often used against her during fights.
In a past interview, Kim spoke about their connection, saying, “We were engaged. And he’s a great person.”
She also described their bond as ongoing during that period, adding, “He’s still a part of my everyday life at this point. I don’t know what the future holds.”
Their relationship faced public scrutiny, particularly around his marital status. Kim addressed those questions at the time, saying, “He is legally married, but he’s estranged from his wife.”
The pair eventually ended their relationship after several years.
Najjar was known in business circles and kept a relatively low public profile outside of his association with the show despite a very public arrest back in 2012.
‘Real Housewives’ — Big Poppa ARRESTED in Atlanta http://t.co/eEcmZGMe pic.twitter.com/k5vujeus
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 8, 2012