16.10.2026 10:16
Alpay's companion of 34 years, Gizem Pekiner, reacted to the funeral being taken to Ankara, saying that the artist had willed to be buried in Bodrum. While Pekiner announced that she would not attend the ceremony, Alpay's legal wife and children described the statements in question as “untrue”.
The funeral arrangements of singer Alpay, who died in the hospital where he was receiving treatment in Antalya, brought his 34-year life partner Gizem Pekiner and his family face to face. While Pekiner announced that, in accordance with the artist's will, he would be buried in Bodrum, his legal wife Bilge Nazikioğlu and his children took the funeral to Ankara.
HE WILL BE BURIED IN ANKARA
Alpay's legal wife Bilge Nazikioğlu, his daughter Zeynep Nazikioğlu and his son from his first marriage, Tuluğ Nazikioğlu, announced that the funeral ceremony will be held today at noon at Ankara Bilkent Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque. It was stated that the artist will be buried in the family cemetery at Cebeci Asri Cemetery.
34-YEAR LIFE PARTNER: I CANNOT ATTEND THE FUNERAL
Gizem Pekiner, who said that Alpay loved Bodrum very much and had willed to be buried there, reacted to the decision taken. Stating that she would not attend the funeral ceremony, Pekiner said:
“I cannot attend the funeral because I am not well at all. His daughter (Zeynep Nazikioğlu) wanted it that way, and I did not want to have anything to do with her. The grave site had even been dug, but unfortunately I encountered such disrespect. Alpay also had a will for me; he would say, ‘You will dress all in black, adorn yourself, come to my graveside, and talk to me.’ I will do those things, but not now.”
JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY
After Pekiner's words, Bilge Nazikioğlu, Zeynep Nazikioğlu and Tuluğ Nazikioğlu made a joint statement. In their statement, the family included the following:
“On this painful day of ours, it is obvious how inappropriate it is to try to create an agenda other than properly bidding farewell to a great value of ours, our one and only, and to make false statements. Above all, it is disrespectful to his precious memory and to the care he showed for the privacy of his private life for all these years. My dear husband and our one and only father lived and let live a wonderful life. He loved very much and was very much loved. We were always proud of him, and we always will be.”
“I WAS VERY HURT BY TULUĞ”
Pekiner also described her dispute with Alpay's children in these words:
“Tuluğ collaborated with his sister. I was very hurt by Tuluğ and erased him from my life. I was going to make the plans and inform everyone. But his daughter came, took her father's body, and left. Alpay and I had not been in contact with her for 5 years.”
HIS LEGAL MARRIAGE WAS STILL ONGOING
Alpay, who married four times, has a son named Tuluğ from his first wife, Aysun Oğuzutku, and a daughter named Çağla from his second wife, Dikmen Kirivak. The artist, who made his third marriage to Feyza Nazikioğlu, last married Bilge Nazikioğlu. The couple, who have a daughter named Zeynep, did not officially divorce despite living apart for many years.
Gizem Pekiner, regarding the marriage, said: “A contested divorce case was ongoing. Alpay wanted the divorce very much.”