Neil Murphy Big Ang
"Mob Wives" star Angela "Big Ang" Raiola split with husband Neil Murphy in January. Above, the couple is pictured Sept. 8, 2013. Getty Images

Neil Murphy, estranged husband of “Mob Wives” star Angela "Big Ang" Raiola, did not immediately issue a statement after rumors swirled that the VH1 reality star died Wednesday. The hoax started after "Entertianment Tonight" published an inacurrate report Wednesday. She is still fighting her battle with lung and brain cancer.

He and Raiola, who were together for six years, had a falling out, even though they worked on their relationship on VH1’s “Couples Therapy.” “I felt like he never stepped up to the plate, so I was done with it,” she said on “The Dr. Oz Show” a day before she died. “Now, it’s too late. I would rather be by myself. I would rather be alone.”

Raiola said their relationship went sour in January. “Instead of taking care of everybody, I am taking care of myself,” she told Radar Online in an exclusive report at the time. “I think it’s time I just do Angela, it’s time for me to worry about Angela.”

One of the things the couple fought about was that Murphy, 43, was not able to afford her extravagant lifestyle. Another thing was that they apparently did not use the methods Dr. Jenn Mann taught them in therapy. “I use the tools and she tells me, ‘Shut the f--- up,'” Murphy said in January. “She needs to spend more time with me,” he added. “Once her career settles down we’ll have more time for each other.”

Her sister, Janine Detore, is one of Raiola’s biggest supporters through her cancer battle. She takes the reality star to all her doctor appointments, and even started a GoFundMe account when chemotherapy was no longer working and they turned to alternative remedies.

Murphy last posted a photo to his Twitter account, which is not verified. He still has a picture of Raiola in his profile photo and background image.

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