Teen internet rap sensation Tay Tian, better known as “Lil Tay”; is reportedly dead, according to her Instagram and several other sources. However, other sources are claiming that she is in fact alive, and her loved ones haven’t confirmed the death.
It all started with a since-deleted post to the star’s Instagram on Wednesday; stating “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. The outcome was entirely unexpected and has left us all in shock. Her brother’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.” “Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her”, according to TMZ.
The news left fans in shock; many sources have commented on her death, but others have claimed that she is in fact alive, according to TMZ she released a statement to them provided by her family saying: “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.” She also told TMZ, that her account was hacked and that her name is “Tay Tian” not “Claire Hope”.
A lot of people understandably expressed doubts regarding the accuracy of the news as her “father and former manager would not confirm her death”, and the “several police departments that were contacted by media outlets did not have reports of her death,” according to Time Magazine. If the matter isn’t confusing enough her father Christopher Hope and her former manager Henry Tsang not only didn’t comment on her “death”, but refused to. Her father “declined to comment” and her former manager told the Daily Beast, “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”, all according to Time Magazine.
Lil Tay, according to Variety Magazine, achieved fame as a 9-year-old social media influencer and was known primarily for her expletive-filled music videos depicting her lavishly rich lifestyle. According to Yahoo Entertainment, Tian had a reality show in 2018 called “Life with Lil Tay”, that same year she suddenly stopped posting to her Instagram, and her parents were involved in a nasty custody battle over her and her fortune. In 2019, Tian sat down with her mom to speak to The Daily Beast regarding the custody battle, and she told them her father had filed court papers saying, “she was in danger” and was going to have her “mother arrested”, she said that “she hadn’t seen him (speaking of her father) “for multiple years,” and “it’s obvious he just came back because he wants money”, all according to Yahoo Entertainment.
Whether you like Lil Tay or are a social media lover or not, one thing does seem to be clear in this whole situation: Hackers are on a whole new level, and people will go to great lengths for fame/attention these days.
