RHOA star Kandi Burruss divorcing husband Todd Tucker after 11 years of marriage - what happened to her late ex-fiancé Ashley ‘AJ’ Jewell?

The reality TV star and singer has announced that she's splitting from her husband after more than a decade of marriage and two children together.

"After deep thought and a lot of prayer, I've made the decision to move forward with a divorce," she said in a statement to PEOPLE. "This is a difficult and emotional time, but my focus remains on protecting my peace, being the best mother I can be, and co-parenting with love and respect."

The 49-year-old mum went on: “I'm stepping into a new chapter pouring into my work, my family, and my own growth. I'm grateful to everyone who supported us throughout the years, and I ask for privacy, grace, and understanding as we navigate this transition with our family."

Kandi’s marriage split comes 16 years after the sudden death of her former fiancé Ashley ‘AJ’ Jewell.

RHOA viewers will remember that AJ featured alongside Kandi in the earlier seasons on the hugely popular reality show, and his death - and the impact on Kandi - also played out on the show.

The 34-year-old died in October 2009 after being involved in a violent altercation outside an Atlanta strip club. He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to Piedmont Hospital, where he later died.

Police charged a man named Frederick Richardson in connection with the fight, and AJ’s death was officially ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, according to 6abc. AJ and Kandi had met a year prior to his death through mutual acquaintances. By the time she joined season 2 of RHOA in July 2009 the couple were already engaged.

Kandi has previously candidly spoken about AJ’s death and the day he died. During a RHOA reunion episode, she said: “That day I talked to him on the phone, like a couple of hours before I got the call that he was in the hospital . . . He was stressed out about the club that he was trying to buy into. So, I know he was stressed about a lot of things, but I wasn’t there when it happened. But, I was just told that he had got into a fight with the manager at the club . . . they were having issues or whatever, and I guess it just kind of boiled over.

“I still don’t really know the exact cause of death. People speculated so many things. All I know is when I saw his body, he didn’t have any bruises, scratches or anything on him to look like he had been beaten up . . .”

She cried as she continued: “AJ, he just looked like himself. And, it was just unbelievable. It was just weird, shocking, unbelievable to see somebody you just talked to . . . the doctor said he stopped breathing by the time he got here… I kind of went numb, you know?” She added that she “broke down” after doctors told her he had died.

Two years after AJ’s death, Kandi met Todd, now aged 52, while he was working as a line producer on season 4 of RHOA in 2011. They got engaged in 2013 and married in 2014. The now former couple share two children; son Ace, 9, and six-year-old daughter Blaze.

As well as starring on RHOA together, Kandi and Todd co-starred on the spin-off shows Kandi's Wedding, Kandi's Ski Trip, and Kandi & the Gang. The couple also produced a number of Broadway plays together, including The Wiz, The Piano Lesson and Othello.

Kandi is member of the group Xscape, who also co-wrote hit songs like Destiny's Child's Bills Bills Bills, as well as a reality star. She is also mum to 23-year-old reality star Riley Burruss, who she shares with former partner Russell Spencer, the founder of Block Entertainment.

Todd, who also has a grown-up daughter, 29-year-old Kaela Tucker whom he shares with ex Keema Parker, has not spoken out publicly about the split.