Lil Tay Dead at 14, Says Family

Reports have surfaced claiming the alleged passing of 14-year-old internet star and rapper Claire Hope, known by her online moniker "Lil Tay," PEOPLE reports. The news initially emerged through a statement posted on her Instagram account, subsequently confirmed by her management.

The statement on Hope's Instagram account, which boasts 3.3 million followers, conveyed the heartbreaking news of her sudden and tragic death.

It expressed the profound sorrow and pain experienced by her family and those close to her.

Contradictory to the Instagram statement, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner have no official record of her alleged passing.

Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, declined to comment when contacted.

The shared Instagram post also mentioned the reported passing of her brother, Jason Tian. It stated that the circumstances leading to their deaths are currently under investigation. However, the exact Lil Tay cause of death was not disclosed.

Amid the ongoing investigation and mourning process, the Instagram post requested privacy for the family during this period of immense sorrow.

The statement acknowledged the even deeper grief caused by her brother's passing and highlighted the ongoing investigation into the circumstances of both deaths.

The post concluded by emphasizing that Claire, known as Lil Tay, will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, with her absence leaving an irreplaceable void.

Lil Tay's Former Manager Speaks Out

Harry Tsang, Lil Tay's former manager, told Insider that due to the complex nature of the situation, he cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the family's statement.

Tsang's commitment remains focused on delivering reliable and appropriately timed updates.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Police Department has not received any reports of her death and is not investigating the matter.

Furthermore, despite the uncertainties surrounding the reported Lil Tay's passing, the news rapidly spread across the internet.

Lil Tay's Life and Career

Lil Tay gained fame at 9 by showcasing her extravagant lifestyle on social media, according to Marca.

She often engaged in online feuds with well-known rappers and accumulated a significant following, particularly on Instagram, where she garnered 3.3 million followers.

Her rise to prominence in 2017 was characterized by a brash onscreen persona, marked by expletive-laden monologues boasting about her opulent lifestyle, including mansions, cars, and wealth.

She vanished from the internet in 2018, following the release of a video that raised suspicions of a voice behind the camera feeding her lines, believed to be her brother.

Subsequently, a battle ensued over her career's direction, involving her Tsang, her father, promoter (Chris Jones), mother (Angela Tian), and brother.

Following Lil Tay's rise to online fame, she became entangled in a custody dispute involving her parents, Angela and Christopher, in late 2018.

The situation led to a court order requiring her to return to Vancouver and be placed under her father's custody, as reported by The Daily Beast.

During this period, Lil Tay expressed her perspective to The Daily Beast, asserting that her return was motivated by her father's financial interests. She stated, "He just came back because he wants money."

In response, Lil Tay's father refuted these allegations in an interview with HollywoodLife.

He emphasized that his motivations centered on his daughter's well-being and future rather than financial gain.

He clarified, "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."

Lil Tay's dormant Instagram account became active again in 2021, with posts allegedly from her brother accusing their father of abuse and mismanagement of Tay's funds. Her father refuted these allegations with a cease and desist order to Instagram at that time.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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