- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Survivor Star Monica Culpepper Mourns Son Rex's Death
The reality TV personality opened up about her 'gut-wrenching grief' following the passing of her 28-year-old son.
Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:07am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Culpepper family's profound grief over the loss of their son Rex is palpable in this abstract, high-fashion texture study.Syracuse TodayMonica Culpepper, a former contestant on the reality TV show Survivor, is expressing her profound grief and gratitude following the death of her son, Rex Culpepper. Rex, a former Syracuse football player, passed away on March 14 at the age of 28. In her first public statement since his death, Monica described the 'gut-wrenching grief' her family is experiencing and thanked the Survivor community and others for their outpouring of love and support.
Why it matters
The death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy, and Monica Culpepper's public mourning sheds light on the profound impact of such a loss. As a well-known reality TV personality, her openness about her grief may help raise awareness and compassion around the grieving process for others who have experienced similar tragedies.
The details
Rex Culpepper, the oldest son of Monica and Brad Culpepper, died on March 14 at the age of 28. In an emotional Instagram post, Monica described the 'gut-wrenching grief' her family is experiencing, saying their 'world stopped' when Rex passed away. She expressed gratitude for the 'love, prayers, cards, texts, calls, meals, flowers, posts and hugs' from the Survivor community and others who have supported the family during this difficult time. Rex had previously overcome testicular cancer at the age of 20 while playing football for Syracuse University.
- Rex Culpepper died on March 14, 2026.
- Monica Culpepper shared her first public statement about her son's death on April 6, 2026.
The players
Monica Culpepper
A former contestant on the reality TV show Survivor and the mother of the late Rex Culpepper.
Brad Culpepper
Monica Culpepper's husband and the father of the late Rex Culpepper, who is also a former Survivor contestant.
Rex Culpepper
The 28-year-old son of Monica and Brad Culpepper, who passed away on March 14, 2026.
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick
A former Survivor contestant who expressed her condolences to the Culpepper family.
Rob Cesternino
A former Survivor contestant who sent his love and prayers to the Culpepper family.
What they’re saying
“I know we have never met but I've been meaning to reach out to you. I want you to know you have been in my thoughts and prayers non stop! I'm so incredibly sorry, words can't explain. I'm praying for you all.”
— Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick
“Monica, we are sending all of our love to you, Brad and the Culpepper family.”
— Rob Cesternino
The takeaway
The Culpepper family's grief over the loss of their son Rex highlights the profound impact of such a tragedy, even for public figures. Monica Culpepper's openness about her 'gut-wrenching grief' and the outpouring of support from the Survivor community demonstrate the power of empathy and community in the face of unimaginable loss.
