UPDATE 7:46 a.m.:
Early Thursday morning, a message posted to Big Ang's Twitter confirmed her passing. "It is with sad regret that we inform you that at 3:01 a.m., Angela Raiola peacefully ended her battle with cancer, and was called home," the message reads. "She was surrounded by nothing but love from her immediate family and closest friends."
Read the full message here.
Rest in peace, Big Ang.
UPDATE 10:10 p.m.:
Previous reports that Big Ang died from cancer were called "totally inaccurate" via a release on Big Ang's Twitter.
See original story below.
Reality TV star Angela "Big Ang" Raiola best known for starring in VH1’s Mob Wives has died from cancer.
55-year-old Raoila’s death was confirmed by a family member to Entertainment Tonight. Big Ang reportedly passed away on Wednesday at a hospital. She had been facing stage 4 cancer since 2015. ET reports a "lemon-size" tumor was discovered in Big Ang's throat back in March and was removed from the left side. Then in June Big Ang had the same procedure again on the right side of her throat reports ET. Unfortunately the throat cancer was reported to have returned by December. Raiola also had stage 4 brain and lung cancer according to ET.
Big Ang was the lovable larger than life character on Mob Wives where she often played peacemaker to the other women over six seasons, earning herself a solo self-titled spinoff about her life and then another spinoff Miami Monkey.
On Wednesday Big Ang's Dr. Oz appearance aired where she gave an update on her health. There she thanked her children for helping her along the way. "If it wasn't for them, how would I get through this?" she said.
Big Ang is survived by two children and six grandchildren. Rest in power.
