Lil Tay, the young controversial Internet personality who went super viral in 2018 has reportedly passed away.
A statement was posted to her official Instagram account this Wednesday morning sharing brief details about the sudden passing of not only the young star but also her brother.
“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 read. “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.”
More On Lil Tay
In 2018, Lil Tay gained national attention when she was just 9 years old. Social media users appeared to be intrigued with her controversial videos of her showing off her luxury cars, and money while rapping and getting into arguments with other young stars like Bhad Bhabie.
She was the self-proclaimed “youngest flexer of the century” who debuted her first single that same year. It was a trap-influenced track that featured lyrics like: “I keep a chopper on me, f*** that b**** up all my diamonds on freeze”.
In late May 2018, Lil Tay gave an interview to Good Morning America, with her mother to defend herself against accusations that the treatment of the nine-year-old was “exploitation or borderline abuse”. However, Tay herself had said she started her own Instagram account “around the beginning of 2018”, saying “I just wanted to do that.”
Despite that, a bitter custody fight broke out between her parents. At one point, all of her previous posts were wiped and replaced simply with the words “help me”. Since then, her account had been inactive for years. Though it made a slight return in 2021.
The posts, seemingly from her brother at the time, made unsubstantiated claims that her father had “abused” her and “stolen all of her money.” A video of Lil Tay, real name Claire Hope, showed her crying alongside a caption claiming that her father Christopher Hope, and his wife Hanee have been “physically and mentally” abusive to her.
Her brother Jason Tian claimed to have commandeered the profile in a post on the page. He also started a GoFundMe asking for $150,000 to help Angela Tian, her mother, regain full custody.
Many fans were hoping for Lil Tay to make a full return but sadly that won’t happen due to her sudden passing. While we wait for more details, let’s take a moment to send prayers and our deepest condolences to their family during this difficult time.