World3 min(s) read
Published 11:23 09 May 2026 GMT
It has been suggested that a late influencer was allegedly blackmailed shortly before she suffered an untimely death.
Turkish content creator Ayşegül Eraslan, 27, was found dead in her home in the northeastern municipality of Kağıthane, according to local outlets Sözcü and Cumhuriyet.
But it seems that Eraslan's family has been critical of the ongoing investigation into her passing.
Local police have used forensic laboratories to take a closer look at the influencer's phone, written notes in her home, and blood samples found on the knife, which was believed to have been used to kill Eraslan.
Yet her family isn't satisfied, as Sözcü obtained a statement from their lawyer, claiming that they have more evidence.
Allegedly, the Turkish influencer was blackmailed with sexually explicit photos before her death, while the lawyer asked the police to be more transparent in their investigation.
Eraslan had over 361,000 followers on Instagram, where she would share outfits and travel snaps with her fans.
She appeared on popular Turkish fashion competition show İşte Benim Stilim (meaning "This Is My Style"), which launched her to stardom and allowed her to pursue a career as an influencer.
The Turkish publication reveals that Eraslan's relatives visited her home on March 13 after they couldn't contact her, as they alerted authorities when nobody came to the door.
Once police entered, they found the influencer lifeless, before a medical team pronounced her dead at the scene.
It was later revealed that the 27-year-old had just returned home from a trip to Egypt on March 11 and entered the building she lived in with her luggage.
Police then reviewed security footage, revealing that actor Sunay Kurtuluș had entered the apartment just an hour before her death, as he stayed there temporarily before leaving.
Turkish outlet Cumhuriyet reported that police did question Kurtuluș, who was released after giving his statement to them.
The actor's lawyers took to Instagram to share a statement on the matter, revealing that he was "only questioned as part of the investigation and has provided the necessary statements to the relevant authorities from the very beginning of the process."
They further claimed that he wasn't at the scene of the incident when it occurred, also criticising news outlets that painted him as the "primary party involved".
The statement also read: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ayşegül Eraslan,
"We pray for God's mercy upon her and offer our condolences to her family, relatives, and loved ones," they added.
