Update: Lil Tay and her brother are alive and well, the social media personality confirms on Thursday, August 10, via a statement to TMZ. She noted that the past 24 hours has been a traumatic experience for her and that her Instagram account was compromised.
“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 said in the alleged statement. “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.”
She also stated that her legal name is not Claire Hope, and is Tay Tian.
“My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not “Claire Hope”.
Her statement comes hours after fans started speculating that her death statement might’ve been a hoax.
ORIGINAL DEATH HOAX POST: Lil Tay, the 14-year-old social media viral star who rose to fame in 2017 for her controversial videos has reportedly died at age 14. Her family confirmed her death and the death of her brother in a statement posted on Lil Tay’s official Instagram page on Wednesday (Aug. 9).
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing,” the statement said. “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.”
It continued, “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 cause of death has not been released. However, her family said that it was “sudden and tragic.”
Born in Vancouver, Canada, in 2009, Lil Tay, real name Claire Hope catapulted into fame at the tender age of 9 in 2018. Her rise to prominence was marked by a series of controversial videos that she posted on platforms like Instagram and YouTube. Notably, she gained attention for her audacious use of profanity, her extravagant lifestyle displays that often revolves around her holding stacks of cash, and her public feuds with various internet personalities, including RiceGum, Bhad Bhabie, and Woah Vicky.
She was also associated with Chief Keef and the late XXXTENTACION, who she referred to as a “father figure.”
In 2018, Tay issued an public apology for her vulgar use of the N-word, saying, “I really apologize to everyone I offended … I’m not racist at all,” during an episode of her short-lived reality series “Life With Lil Tay,” which streamed on the Zeus Network.
Following allegations that she was being forced to create ‘ignorant’ viral videos by her family for profit, Tay dispelled rumors the rumors in 2018 during a “Good Morning America” interview, saying, “No one is forcing me to do this. It’s not true that [my family] wants to make money off of me… I run my own Instagram,” she shared.
In a separate interview with the Dailymail that same year, Tay reiterated that she was not being taken advantage of by her mom or brother, “I’m an independent person so I do it all myself,” the pre-teen said at the time.
“Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her” the statement from her family concluded.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
