*MIBabe03*
02-15-2005, 01:47 PM
NBC 'CONTENDER' COMMITS SUICIDE
February 15, 2005
A promising young boxer, who was scheduled to appear as a contestant on NBC's upcoming reality competition "The Contender," committed suicide on Monday in Philadelphia. Network officials offered no other details about the death of 23-year-old NAJAI TURPIN, though they said they thought it was not related to any of the events of the television series. All segments for the show have already been taped, with the exception of a live championship finale, and network executives say the series will premiere as scheduled on March 7. "The Contender" producer, MARK BURNETT, said in a statement that he would not edit the show any differently, in light of the tragedy, but would most likely include a message about Turpin's death at the end of one of the episodes.
February 15, 2005
A promising young boxer, who was scheduled to appear as a contestant on NBC's upcoming reality competition "The Contender," committed suicide on Monday in Philadelphia. Network officials offered no other details about the death of 23-year-old NAJAI TURPIN, though they said they thought it was not related to any of the events of the television series. All segments for the show have already been taped, with the exception of a live championship finale, and network executives say the series will premiere as scheduled on March 7. "The Contender" producer, MARK BURNETT, said in a statement that he would not edit the show any differently, in light of the tragedy, but would most likely include a message about Turpin's death at the end of one of the episodes.