Lil Tay, rapper and social media star, dies at 14

 

Lil Tay, who came to fame as a rapper and social media influencer, died at the age of 14, according to a note posted on her verified Instagram account on Wednesday.

Claire Hope, the young rapper, was 9 years old when she received national prominence for her controversial recordings that flaunted a lavish lifestyle and went popular on social media.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of our beloved Claire's untimely and tragic death." "There are no words to express our unbearable loss and indescribable pain," added the statement. "This result was completely unexpected and has left us all stunned."

Lil Tay's brother, Jason Tian, also died, according to the statement, and their deaths are being investigated. It is unknown where or when they died, but Lil Tay is a Canadian who relocated to Los Angeles in 2018 to explore possibilities in the entertainment business.

"Her brother's passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief," the statement read. "We kindly ask for privacy during this time of immense sorrow as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother's deaths are still under investigation." Claire will live on in our hearts forever, her absence leaving an enormous emptiness felt by those who knew and loved her."

Lil Tay's last Instagram post came on June 18, 2018, and it looked to be a screenshot of the late rapper XXXTentacion, whose true name is Jahseh Onfroy. The post is an homage to the rapper, who was shot and died on June 18, 2018 in Broward County, Florida. He was twenty years old.


"X, you truly changed me," states the post. "You were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you gave me advice, you were there." You were here, FaceTiming me and calling me for hours while I was down, 3 hours ago you announced the Charity event we were going to host, we had everything organised, I can't believe this, the evil in the world, This isn't good. "Goodbye, I love you, Bro."

The expletives in Lil Tay's social media videos and her impersonations of so-called gangster rappers – in one, she pretends to take drugs and in another, she uses the n-word – sparked outrage and raised concerns about the possible exploitation of youngsters on social media.

In a 2018 Nightline interview, Lil Tay, then nine years old, discussed her social media fame and being the internet's self-proclaimed "youngest flexer."

In an interview with Nightline, her mother, Angela Tian, and her brother defended Lil Tay's videos.

"A lot of people are going to say this and that we just keep going," Jason, who was 16 at the time of the Nightline interview in 2018, said.

Her mother told Nightline she is a "proud mom" and "a great parent."

"My daughter has accomplished so much by herself," she added, adding that her child would be a "superstar."

"No one's forcing me to do this," Lil Tay said at the time, adding that she maintains her own Instagram account.