The final episode of the Finnish version of The Traitors, known as Petolliset, has been delayed after contestant Janne Puhakka was tragically murdered. Puhakka, a former professional ice hockey player and Finland’s first openly gay athlete, was shot and killed by his ex-partner, Rolf Nordmo, in Espoo over the weekend. Nordmo, who is 66 years old, confessed to the crime, with police revealing that the motive was tied to their recent breakup. The murder was described as premeditated and carried out in a particularly brutal manner.
Puhakka, 29, had been a participant in the show’s second season, and his death has deeply shocked both the Finnish public and the show’s production team. The network, Nelonen, released a statement expressing their condolences to Puhakka’s loved ones and announced that they would delay the airing of the season finale, originally scheduled for October 24. The episode, which was filmed earlier in the year, will now be postponed, with the network deciding on a later date for its release.
Puhakka’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and the sports community, with many remembering him as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ athletes. Puhakka had kept his relationship with Nordmo private during his career, fearing how he would be perceived in the traditionally masculine world of sports. After retiring, he came out publicly in hopes of helping future athletes feel more comfortable about their identities.
This tragic incident has cast a shadow over the conclusion of the Finnish Traitors series, with the final episode now indefinitely postponed as the nation mourns the loss of a beloved figure.
