Brother of Contender Contestant That Committed Suicide Speaks Out

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Brother of Contender Contestant That Committed Suicide Speaks Out 3/1/05

Press Release:

Diediera Turpin: "The Show Was Never the Problem"

SHOW AIRS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2005

BURBANK, Calif. – March 1, 2005 – In an interview with "Access Hollywood," Diediera Turpin, brother of Najai "Nitro" Turpin, the "Contender" contestant who committed suicide, says "the show was never the problem" in regards to what might have influenced his brother's actions. The interview airs on "Access Hollywood," Tuesday, March 1, 2005 (check local listings for time and station).

Turpin says he feels that it was the lifelong personal struggles that Najai endured and not his participation in "The Contender" that propelled him to turn a gun on himself in a parked car in front of his girlfriend of six years this past Valentine's Day. "He strived," says Turpin. "He came from nothing to do something because it's hard out here. The show was never the problem, boxing and all of that was never the problem. It was a personal problem."

According to Turpin, Najai's girlfriend hasn't spoken to any member of their family since she witnessed the former "Contender" hopeful take his own life, so they are all left wondering what exactly happened on Valentine's Day. When "Access Hollywood" called Najai's girlfriend for a response, she said that no altercation occurred between she and Najai the day he ended his own life.

Whatever the case, Turpin says that he, Najai's four other brothers, his sister and his daughter are still looking for answers. "We don't have any knowledge of what happened," he says. "We just know that we don't have a brother anymore, he is gone."

"Access Hollywood" is produced by NBC and distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Rob K. Silverstein is the executive producer.

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