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Tarkan does not like to talk about his private life, which has partly fueled the "is he-is he not gay" discussion, and the subject of his relationships often fills the front pages of Turkish newspapers and magazines. In 2001, when Tarkan was moving houses in New York, a worker stole what the domestic media tried to portray as compromising photos which suggested his homosexuality, but were simply photos with other men in swimwear in public places.[73]
In a special interview to Hürriyet, Tarkan finally declared that he was not gay.[72] Tarkan subsequently gave fewer and fewer interviews and television appearances, limiting himself to a small number of trusted journalists. In 2006, he claimed that his relationship with the media had gone wrong:
"There´s a trust crisis between me and the media. I´m fed up with being forced into arguments, that all my words are twisted around. I don´t want to do it any more. It´s no fun any longer. They are aiming right for my head ... When I go to America, I´m so jealous of their talk shows. There are no such things in Turkey. Who shall I talk to in Turkey, in which talk show? They will definitely show what I am not. And in the end, it will all come down to the same question: "Are you gay?"[74]
He has been together with female lawyer Bilge Öztürk for 7 years; the couple currently have no plans to marry.[75] The artist has been quoted in the media several times as regarding the institution of marriage to be outdated, stating he would only get married if he had children for their benefit.[76] Tarkan owns a ranch-like property in Polonezköy, Istanbul, where he cultivates fruit trees and keeps animals.[77] Tarkan also owns a flat in Murray Hill, New York, worth approximately 5 million dollars, according to the Turkish press.[78]
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