A reality TV contestant who was competing on the Finnish version of The Traitors has been allegedly murdered by his boyfriend.
Janne Puhakka, 29, died on Sunday night after he was allegedly shot and killed by his 66-year-old boyfriend Rolf Nordmo. According to The Independent, Nordmo reportedly confessed to murdering Puhakka after their relationship broke down recently.
Puhakka has been appearing on The Traitors as a traitor, with the final episode supposed to be airing this Thursday. However, in light of his death, the TV channel Nelonen has postponed the episode and no future airdate has been confirmed.
“The final episode of the season of Petolliset (The Traitors) was scheduled to be shown on Thursday of this week,” the network’s statement reads.
“We have come to the conclusion that right now is not the right time to air an episode. We will return to the question of the possible presentation of the episode later. We share in the grief of Janne’s loved ones.”
Finnish publication YLE reported that Nordmo used a hunting shotgun. Police investigator Matti Högman said that Puhakka had moved out of their shared property “several weeks” before, and had returned for “practical matters” when Nordmo grabbed the gun.
According to Högman, violence was “[used] more than necessary” in Puhakka’s death.
The couple originally met in 2014 in an online chat room before beginning their relationship.
As well as being a reality TV star, Puhakka was also known in Finland as an openly gay professional ice hockey player.
When news of his death broke, the top Finnish ice hockey league Liiga paid tribute on X (formerly Twitter) as “an important role model”, saying his “courage and openness left an indelible mark on Finnish hockey”.
Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin also shared an image of Puhakka on Instagram along with a broken heart emoji.
X was filled with other tributes from fans and former colleagues as well, with one writing: “My heart’s so heavy, my condolences to his family and friends.”
Rest in Peace Janne Puhakka (1995-2024), the first openly gay ice hockey player in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga) ❤️🩹
According to the Finnish police his own partner shot Janne in their home on Sunday.
My heart’s so heavy, my condolences to his family and friends 🫂 pic.twitter.com/Zdz8DeOGwK
— ilya 🐻❄️🐻 (@kotikappa) October 14, 2024
“As one of the first openly gay professional hockey players in the public eye, he played a big role in breaking down sexual stigmas in our sport,” another added.
“My heart and spirit are broken by the murder of the beautiful, talented Janne Puhakka, Finland’s first openly gay professional hockey player. Janne played Junior Hockey with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. His smile, ambition and wit could light up a room or a whole city. May he RIP,” a third wrote.
“It has been a horrible, horrible Monday. Horrible news and I’m very speechless and I can’t even imagine how [everybody is] feeling. RIP Janne Puhakka,” another penned.
Nordmo has been held in police custody since the alleged murder took place.
Lead image: Instagram @jannepuhakka
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