Lil Tay's "Death" is Suspicious

Former controversial child social media personality, rapper, and Flexer Claire Hope aka "Lil Tay" has reportedly died at the age of 14. A statement was issued on her verified Instagram account confirming her death and her brother.

Statement from her Instagram (@liltay)

"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. 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 indescribable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her."

The statement would later be removed from Instagram. It is unknown how she passed at a young age or her brother's mysterious passing. Their deaths are still under investigation. However, according to reports, it was reported that the Los Angeles Police Department and the county medical examiner did not have any information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope. Even the Vancouver police department where the family was believed to be living said that it was “not aware” of death reports for the influencer or her brother. And it got even more sketchy!!!!! Her father Christopher Hope who has custody of Hope and her ex-manager have refused to confirm whether it is true or untrue. The whole became so mysterious that people on social media started to investigate Lil Tay. Most say that she was killed in a ski accident in Vancouver after someone posted an article about a group of teenagers involved in a skiing accident with a 14-year-old girl killed in that accident which was not confirmed that she was involved, some said it was suicide, some said she was murdered by her neglectful parents, and a man claimed that she witnessed being killed but in the end, it was all cap.

Who's Lil Tay?

In case you are asking "Who's Lil Tay?", well let me break down the story about Lil Tay.

Claire Hope aka "Lil Tay" started her rise to internet fame at the age of nine becoming the youngest flexer of the century. She posted posting pictures and vehicles of herself in luxury vehicles while wearing designer clothes and flashing cash in her hands, cussing, and beefing. While her popularity begin, Tay moved out of her hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, and began homeschooling in Los Angeles, California, and continued flexing. While she was pursuing her flexing career, Tay started pursuing her rap career she released her first single "Money Way". During her limelight, she received criticism from rapper Snoop Dogg, Danielle Bregoli aka Bhad Bhabie, and Youtuber Ricegum. Even Parents would even criticize her mother for allowing her to have a social media platform to cuss and flex on the internet. At the height of her fame, her mother was fired and lost her real estate license. In 2018, she and her mother sit down on Good Morning America where Tay would deny that she was forced to say cuss words or flashing expensive things on social media and she did it on her own even though she was nine.

“No one is forcing me to do this. My mom doesn’t run social media. I use my own Instagram. This is my decision, I’m happy with what I’m doing." Lil Tay on Good Morning America, 2018

However, a leaked video of Lil Tay being coached by her own brother pressured her into what she had to say. Even controversial social media star Woah Vicky said that her brother was pushing her to say these cuss words and flashing things for social media attention.

Things would take a dark turn for Tay, her parents were dealing with a custody battle. The outlet notes that Lil Tay’s Instagram was wiped clean in 2018 and that the words “help me” were posted to her Instagram Story. She told the Daily Beast that Her father has filed to the court and the court ordered them to return to Canada or otherwise her mother would be arrested. Her father got a court order requiring his daughter to return to Vancouver and her Instagram be shut down. Her Instagram stayed but is managed by her brother. Tay flies back to Vancouver after her father was granted custody of Tay. After, Lil Tay hasn't posted anything on social media ever since 2018 and has disappeared from the social media world.

In 2021, numerous posts were made on Tay's Instagram by her brother accusing Tay's father of abuse and claiming that her father had court-ordered Tay back to Canada in order to profit from her earnings. Tay's older brother launched a GoFundMe page citing the abuse allegations in an attempt to earn money on Tay's behalf. In an article by The Daily Beast, Tay's promoter responded to the posts saying they were a result of a hack and that the allegations were false, while her manager Harry Tsang stated that Tay's brother used her Instagram account to perform "defamation and libel".Tsang also alleged that Tay's mother and brother had attempted to plot sexual abuse allegations against Tay's father, according to The Daily Beast.

Honestly, I am not a fan of Lil Tay because she was minor flexing and cussing on the internet which I thought it was dumb for a child to go off on social media flexing all of the luxurious cars and luxurious things that nobody can afford or care to afford. Plus, she was pushed to create content, and she was being neglected by her family. However, her supposed "death" rubs me the wrong way I am not sure if she really is dead or if she and her brother are alive and hiding somewhere trying to escape from her abusive family or trying to post this as a comeback because her father and her former manager are not confirming. Even if she isn't dead and she's alive and using this as a comeback because this isn't funny at all and death is a serious matter and not something to joke about. I hope the police start to seriously investigate her whole ass family because this is too much and too suspicious.

All sources to YouTube, Time, and Independent.