Lil Tay Isn't Dead, Claims Social Media Was Hacked
"I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say."
Lil Tay (Instagram)
UPDATE: It turns out Lil Tay and her brother are both alive and well, with the now-14-year-old star claiming her Instagram had been the victim of hackers who penned a statement claiming she had died.
Speaking to TMZ, Lil Tay said: "I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It’s been a very traumatizing 24 hours. All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess."
“My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not ‘Claire Hope"."
It comes following a bizarre message posted to the Instagram star’s Instagram account, which hasn’t been active since 2018. The post claimed that both Tay and her brother, 21-year-old Jason Tian, had apparently died and that both deaths were currently “under investigation.”
“We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribably pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock,” the statement said.
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“Her bother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief. During this time of immense sorrow, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother’s passing are still under investigation.”
The statement concluded, “Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.”
One of Tay's former managers, who asked to remain anonymous, told The U.S. Sun they were shocked and concerned to learn of the "talented" girl's apparent passing, though they admitted the statement appeared suspicious to them.
"One thing I would question is who posted that statement and why isn't it signed by anyone from the family," said the former manager, who hasn't been in contact with Tay for a few years.
"Why is it not signed, 'This is Tay's mom', or 'This is the dad of Lil Tay', or from an official representative? Why is there no attachment?
"To me, that is a very telltale sign. It doesn't make sense. Even when you have passings, there's a group of people that come together to make the statement, usually the family, and we don't see that here.
"I send my condolences and I'm shocked by the news. But I'm curious as to who the statement has been released by and [why it hasn't been signed by anyone.]
"I should be grieving right now [...] but I just have so many questions."
Harry Tsang, another former rep for Tay, also told the publication he has been unable to confirm the legitimacy of the statement from the family.
"I have been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family's situation," Tsang wrote in an emailed statement.
"Given the complexities of the current circumstances, I am at a point where I cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family.
"This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed.
"In times like these, it is imperative that we prioritize accuracy and empathy.
"I encourage everyone to rely on reputable and official sources for information. We must exercise patience while awaiting further developments before drawing any conclusions."
As well as this, according to DailyMail.com, cops in both Vancouver (Lil Tay's place of birth) and Los Angeles, where she had been residing with her mother said they had no record of her or Jason's deaths.
When asked to comment on her supposed death, Duane Laventure, Claire’s social media manager, said he could not comment on Wednesday under instruction from Claire’s mother.
Even more strangely, when reached by phone on Wednesday by The US Sun, Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, who is no longer with Tay’s mother, refused to comment on the situation.
The U.S. Sun asked Hope whether or not his daughter and son had died, to which he casually responded: "I'm not going to comment on that right now."
Who Is Lil Tay?
A figure of intrigue and fascination, Lil Tay captivated audiences back in 2018 at the age of nine with her larger-than-life persona that flexed her ostentatious lifestyle that regularly featured wads of cash, mansions, and luxury sportscars.
She quickly gained a major following of over 3.3million on Instagram and showcased snaps on her Instagram alongside rappers like Chief Keef, while posting videos calling out fellow rapper Bhad Bhabie.
However, just as fast as she’d gone viral across Instagram and YouTube, the young star seemed to vanish.
The Daily Beast later reported that she and her mother, Angela Tian, had received a “court order” to move back to Vancouver from Los Angeles to be with her father.
“He was threatening to arrest — to have my mum arrested if we didn’t go back,” she said. “I didn’t see him for multiple years. He never saw me for so long, it’s obvious he just came back because he wants money.”
A spokesperson for her father later denied the claims.
"There are only three things he wants to see,” the rep, Charles Wong, said at the time. “First, no more crazy videos of cursing from Tay. Second, 25 per cent of the gross earnings go to a trust fund dedicated to Tay. The third thing is, there has to be structure in her operation, in her public image.”
After years of no activity on social media, Lil Tay’s Instagram account was reportedly hacked and posted bizarre accusations about her father, though he once again denied the claims.
Two years ago, Lil Tay 's brother posted on her Instagram. He wanted to raise money for a legal defense.
— Elegiac (@Argo_Panoptes__) August 9, 2023
He claimed that Lil Tay's father was "physically and mentally" abusive pic.twitter.com/d9DyyWz7FU
“I am heartbroken about what has happened, not only to her, but also to my other family members, due to past events and now, due to the lies and harassment that were posted on Instagram,” he told Hollywood Life at the time.
“I don’t know if the Instagram was hacked or not; all I know is that the person or people controlling the Instagram did things that are crimes in Canada and in California, and we will see what happens with that.”
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