Lil Tay's alleged death gets even more confusing: Here's everything we know

Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope, rose to fame on social media in 2017 when she was said to be just 9 years old. She created content that showed off her foul-mouthed rap and lavish lifestyle; she famously used the N-word and once referred to herself as ‘the youngest flexer of the century’.

Her elder brother, Jason Tian, is said to have been behind her success as he pushed his own ideas through her, creating an outrageous alter-ego in the body of a little girl. In an interview with Good Morning America, Lil Tay denied her family were forcing her into online fame. She claimed: ‘This is my decision, I’m happy with what I’m doing.’

What about the abuse claims?

However, in 2018, the family faced yet more controversy as Lil Tay posted a chilling message on her Instagram asking for help, only to suddenly delete all her other videos hours later. A few months later, an anonymous person started posting to her account, claiming that her dad, Christopher Hope, was ‘abusive’ and trying to take her from her mother, Angela Tian.

In 2021, Jason Tian started a GoFundMe page, where he said that his sister was being 'physically and mentally' abused by Christopher Hope, who is not Jason’s father. Her brother claimed that Lil Tay was 'fighting for her life, future and freedom' and that her father Christopher had stolen millions from the child star, taken control of her career, forced her into silence, and was now trying to gain full custodyover Lil Tay.

The announcement of her death

Fast forward to yesterday (9 August), when an Instagram post announcing her death - and that of her brother, who the post strangely does not name - was uploaded onto Lil Tay’s page, where she has three million followers. The post reads:

It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing. We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock. Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief.

The statement goes on to ask for privacy ‘as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother’s passing are still under investigation’.

What about the car accident rumours?

On the night of 9 August, rumours circulated as a man called Jesse Ryan posted on X that he was ‘at the scene’ and witnessed the pair die in a car accident. The tweet claimed that local officials suspected the brother had been ‘texting and driving’ and caused the collision.

However, later that night, another Twitter user posted a screenshot of an exchange with Ryan where he admits this tweet was a mistake and explains that it has since been deleted.

Indeed, in a statement to The Independent, published on 10 August, the Vancouver police department said that they were ‘not aware’ of death reports of either Lil Tay or her brother, and were therefore ‘not investigating’.

Furthermore, the star’s alleged manager, Harry Tsang, said that he was unable to ‘definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement’ shared on her social media account.

Speculation continues as social media users have noticed that Lil Tay’s Youtube bio reads ‘help me’. X user @TerryGhostBtw has posted to say that, according to the internet archive Wayback Machine, the earliest date that this message could have appeared is March 7th, 2023.

The story is still developing.

Read more:

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Sources used:

The Independent: Lil Tay death: Influencer has died ‘unexpectedly,’ statement on her Instagram announces

New Zealand Herald: Controversial rapper Lil Tay dies age 14: Family reveals ‘sudden and tragic’ passing in Instagram post

Daily Mail: Inside the very sinister world of Lil Tay: Influencer and rapper faced fury over vulgar N-word videos at age NINE - before mysteriously VANISHING amid claims she'd been ABUSED by her dad and 'exploited' by brother Jason Tian