Social media personality and rapper Lil Tay is alive and well, her family has confirmed.
The 14-year-old internet sensation has finally spoken out to shut down claims that she and her brother had passed away, claiming her Instagram account was ‘hacked’.
Her family has since released a statement to TMZ, which read: “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.
READ MORE: Is Lil Tay dead? ‘Help me’ message emerges after dad can’t confirm rapper’s death
“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.”
(Image: Getty)
It went on: “My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not ‘Claire Hope’.”
The controversial star has gone on to thank Meta – the social media site which owns Facebook and Instagram – for helping her get her accounts back and remove the phony death statement.
However, there has still been some confusion over why it took more than 24 hours for the star to reassure fans that she’s alive and well.
(Image: liltay/Instagram)
Speaking about the shocking post that sparked the death rumours, Tay insisted that her Instagram account was “compromised by a third party” and “used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours” about her online.
The young star also confirmed that she now had access to her account again.
She went on to reveal that she no longer goes by her birth name Claire Hope – which was the moiker used in the since-deleted phony death announcement.
(Image: @liltay/instagram)
Lil Tay explained that she now goes by the legal name Tay Tian, appearing to drop her father’s name in favour for her mother’s, Angela.
On Wednesday (August 9), the TikTok star’s fake death was announced on her Instagram Story with a statement which said her “sudden and tragic passing” is an “unbearable loss” leaving her family in complete shock.
It read: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing.
(Image: @liltay/instagram)
“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.”
It concluded: “Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.”
(Image: liltay/Instagram)
Lil Tay first shot to fame back in 2017 after she posted a series of controversial videos online which showed her using the N-word and getting into fights with strangers.
She quickly raked in millions of followers on the social media platform, but her bizarre clips left many concerned for her wellbeing.
Soon, rumours began to swirl that the star was being forced to take part in the videos by her family, which was only made worse when footage emerged of her then 16-year-old brother Jason appearing to coach her on what to say.
(Image: @liltay/instagram)
But the drama didn’t end there, when the rapper hit the headlines in July 2018 after she posted a chilling message on her Instagram Story asking for help just hours before she deleted all of her videos hours later.
Just four months later, an anonymous person started sharing harrowing posts to her account which claimed her “abusive” dad, Chris Hope, was trying to take her away from her mother.
Chris has vehemently denied these allegations, claiming that he was actually protecting her.
(Image: Instagram)
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He insisted that he was trying to “stop tings that he felt were dangerous to her physical and mental health and her future” and to separate her from people who were solely motivated by “the possibility of making money off of her.”
Then three years later, her brother issued a plea for help through a GoFundMe page, in which he claimed that Lil Tay was “fighting for her life, future and freedom” after being “physically and mentally” abused by her “absentee” father, who wanted to “gain control” of her and her earnings.
He alleged that Chris had stolen millions of dollars from his sister, took control of her career, forced her into silence and was now trying to gain full custody over her.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
