Meta Confirmed Lil Tay Was Telling The Truth

Did Lil Tay Die?

Did Lil Tay die? TMZ confirmed that the Internet rapper is not dead.

In a statement provided to TMZ from Tay’s family, she tells TMZ, “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 says, “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”.”

According to TMZ, Meta, who owns Instagram, also confirmed that Lil Tay was unable to reach her account.

Her last post before the now-deleted announcement was a tribute post to rapper XXXTentacion. “X you truly changed me ❤️ you were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you were there to give me advice, you were there,” she captioned. “As a father figure, when I don’t have one, you were here, FaceTiming me and calling me for hours when I’m down, 3 hours ago you announced the Charity event we were going to throw, we had everything setup, I can’t believe this, the evil in the world, This isn’t good Bye
I Love you Bro ❤️💔😔😢❤️”

In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Lil Tay’s last known manager Harry Tsang could not confirm or deny Lil Tay’s death.

“I am writing to keep you informed about the evolving situation related to the reported passing of Liltay. I, Harry Tsang, her last-known manager, feel it is important to provide you with the most accurate and timely information possible,” the former manager’s statement began. “At approximately 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time, Liltay’s family released an official statement announcing her passing, as well as the passing of her brother. Subsequent to this announcement, I have been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation.”

“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,” Tsang continued. “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.”

He signed off, “Thank you for your understanding and discretion as we navigate through this situation.”

The statement comes after Lil Tay’s father Christopher Hope released a statement to Business Insider that he could not confirm or deny his daughter’s death. The site also reported that the Los Angeles Police Department and the county medical examiner had no information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope. The Vancouver Police Department, where Lil Tay grew up, also said they had no reports of her death and were not investigating the case.

How Did Lil Tay Become Famous?

Lil Tay became a viral sensation after videos emerged of her living her luxurious lifestyle, cursing, and picking fights with other Internet personalities. As her alleged backstory goes according to the Cut, “She grew up “broke as hell” in Atlanta but worked really hard “moving bricks.” Eventually, she got into Harvard and then dropped out.”

She amassed more the 3.3 million followers on Instagram and collaborated with Jake Paul and producer Rick Rubin. In an interview with Good Morning America in 2018, she talked about her own virality. “People think it’s funny, I guess, cause I’m 9 years old and I’ve accomplished so much,” she said “I’m the youngest flexer. I can do anything I like. If they don’t believe me, I don’t care.”

Who Are Lil Tay’s Parents?

In 2019, Lil Tay’s social media accounts became inactive after a custody battle between Hope’s mother Angela Tian and father Chris Hope. A real estate agent, Angela Tian was reportedly forced to resign when she was found to have used empty houses for Lil Tay’s videos. Her brother Jason Tian was also allegedly involved in making her persona and success, according to The Cut.

“My daughter is hurting and she is angry. I regret that I was unable to stop all the negative things from happening to her,” Chris Hope said in a statement Hollywood Life. “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. 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.”

“When my daughter’s social media began to go viral this year, I disagreed with most of the social media activity, the statement continued. “I took legal steps to stop things which I felt were dangerous to her physical and mental health and to her future,” Chris explained. “I do not think a 10-year-old girl should be put in those situations and made to drop out of school so that she can make money for other people.” 

“Everyone else involved in this situation is motivated by money and the possibility of making money off of my daughter. I am not fighting about money; I am fighting for my daughter – for her happiness and her future,” Chris revealed. “My daughter wants to pursue acting and singing, and I support her 100 percent in following her dreams. I think she was given bad advice about many things earlier this year, and she was steered in the wrong direction by various people. I hope my daughter is able to follow a path that will make her happy, keep her safe, and allow her to grow up into the amazing person I know she is.”

A GoFundMe was created by Jason Tian in 2021 alleging that Chris Hope and his wife Hanee Hope had physically and mentally abused her. The GoFundMe raised $17,000.