I am using code from here
library(leaflet) m <- leaflet() %>% addTiles() %>% addMarkers(lng=174.768, lat=-36.852, popup=\"The birthplace of R\")
I had the same issue, found this and worked very well for me:
%>% addProviderTiles(providers$OpenStreetMap) %>%
found it here: https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/187926/leaflet-output-is-grey