04.09.2025 19:21
Nihal Candan, who lost her life due to anorexia, had an emotional moment on live television with her father, Prof. Dr. Hakan Candan. The grieving father, who described how his daughters changed with fame, said, "We were a normal family; I can no longer recognize them," and urged parents to "know when to say no to their children."
Social media influencers Nihal and Bahar Candan were arrested in November 2023 on charges of 'fraud' and 'money laundering'. While in prison, Nihal Candan was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and was temporarily released due to the worsening of her health issues. After undergoing treatment for a long time, Candan faced difficult days due to the progression of the disease and a decrease in her body resistance. The young influencer, who was hospitalized after falling ill on June 20, passed away the next day as her heart stopped for the second time. Nihal Candan's death caused deep sorrow for her family and loved ones.
EMOTIONAL MOMENTS
The program "What's Happening in Life," which aired on Kanal D, brought emotional moments to viewers today. The guest of the program, hosted by Hakan Ural and Ferda Yıldırım, was Prof. Dr. Hakan Candan, the father of social media influencer Nihal Candan, who passed away on June 21 due to anorexia nervosa. The father, unable to hold back his tears during the live broadcast, made striking statements about his daughter's journey to fame.
"I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPETITION"
Prof. Dr. Hakan Candan emphasized that he was not informed about his daughters' entry into the television world while narrating the process, stating, "My children were very well-behaved. However, they changed due to the influence of fame. If I had known they were participating in that competition beforehand, I would have definitely not allowed it. But the contracts had already been signed. Their mother was more lenient and said 'yes' to them more often."
"WE WERE A NORMAL FAMILY, I COULDN'T RECOGNIZE THEM"
Candan described the changes that occurred after fame as "horrifying," expressing that he felt great discomfort from what he saw on screens, saying, "Horrific scenarios were being created for the sake of ratings in those broadcasts. There was literally violence. Until the competition entered our lives, we were a normal family. I became unable to recognize my children."
"I MOVED TO ISTANBUL TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN"
The academic father living in Konya stated that he came to Istanbul to protect his daughters, saying, "On days when I didn't have classes, I constantly went to Istanbul to try to save them from this system. The reason I separated from their mother was our differences in opinion on this matter. I was stricter, while their mother was more lenient. This difference drove us apart."
"THEY LOST THEIR TRUE IDENTITIES"
Father Candan also touched on the changes in his daughters' personalities, saying, "Nihal was very gentle, polite, and sensitive. Bahar, on the other hand, had a tougher character. But especially with the program, Bahar's identity completely changed. Her way of speaking, her expressions, even her tone of voice were different. That magical screen atmosphere transformed them into someone else."
Father Candan stated that his other daughter Bahar was greatly affected by the loss of her sister, saying, "I thought Bahar needed therapy after the trauma she experienced and took her to doctors for support. I rented a house in Istanbul. I was constantly going to see them, but I live in Karaman due to my job and can't always be with them. However, now I have video calls with Bahar for an hour every day, even though it's not my style. Because losing her sister affected her a lot. She was the most affected in the family. I sent my youngest daughter Su to a boarding school so that she wouldn't be influenced by them. There are strange, provocative types around Bahar, and she can't get away from them." he explained.
HE DID NOT ACCEPT HER ILLNESS
Hakan Candan spoke about Nihal Candan's illness and hospital process, saying: "This phenomenon we call virtual reality triggered Nihal's death. Nihal did not even accept that she was on the brink of death. Despite the doctors' words, she said, 'I am fine.' She even refused to take sugar in the serum."
WARNING TO PARENTS: THEY SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SAY NO
Prof. Dr. Hakan Candan ended his remarks by addressing parents with an important message, saying, "We often take a step back to avoid upsetting our children. I think this is a big mistake. Parents should know how to say 'no' when necessary. I am very afraid that my daughter Bahar will experience the same fate. I do not want the provocative people around her."