Lil Tay’s mom’s friend has admitted he still doesn’t know if the death hoax was a publicity stunt or a prank, but insisted it wasn’t orchestrated by the teen rapper.
Chuck Wigg, who says he is in a relationship with the Canadian girl’s mother, Angela Tian, said he was relieved to learn that Tay and her older brother Jason are alive, but is “upset about the situation.”
Speaking to DailyMail.com at Tian’s home just outside Vancouver on Thursday, he said, “Tay and Jason are very much alive and living in LA with their mother, Angela.”
There are still questions about the bizarre death scam involving 14-year-old social media star Lil Tay and her older brother Jason
Chuck Wigg, the partner of Angela Tian, Lil Tay’s mother, told DailyMail.com that the death hoax was not a publicity stunt by the teen. He is pictured above outside Tian’s home in Vancouver
Big interview: Lil Tay pictured performing on Good Morning America alongside her mother Angela Tian in 2018
“I don’t know if it was a PR stunt, it surprised me. I don’t know what’s going on,” he added. ‘The internet, much of it you can’t believe.
“It wasn’t a PR stunt by Tay. Jason told me her account was hacked and I have to believe them.’
Wigg, who still lives in Canada, began dating Tian after her divorce from Tay’s father, Vancouver attorney Chris Hope, several years ago, but said he has known the family for two decades.
When a statement was shared on her Instagram account on Wednesday claiming that the young rapper and social media star and her brother had passed away, Wigg said he was as “blindsided” as the rest of the world and that it was only wash the next morning. that he would find out that the two siblings were, in fact, okay.
“I was as shocked as anyone, even more so when I first heard the news,” he said.
“I was at work when a relative of mine texted me a story about Tay passing. I was devastated, as you can imagine.”
Wigg said he immediately tried to get hold of Angela, but got no response.
He was finally able to get through it via text several hours later, when he was told the story was false and Jason told him the account had been “hacked.”
Tay, who was born Claire Hope but appears to have changed her name to take her mother Angela’s surname, said she was “heartbroken” by the fake news of her death
In her statement to TMZ, Lil Tay – whose real name is Tay Tian – confirmed that her brother Jason is also alive
A post shared on the teen’s Instagram account on Wednesday stated that Lil Tay and her 21-year-old brother Jason Tian had both passed away, referring to her by her birth name, Claire Hope
More than 24 hours after their alleged deaths were announced on August 9, Tay’s family released a statement affirming that she is alive and well, while claiming her account was “compromised by a third party” and revealing that she and her sibling are both “safe and alive.”
But by then, multiple news outlets around the world had reported their passing based on the statement shared on her verified profile.
The fake obituary, which has since been removed, read: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of the sudden and tragic passing of our beloved Claire.
“We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. This outcome was completely unexpected and left us all in shock. Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief.
“At this time of immense grief, we kindly ask for privacy in mourning this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Claire and her brother are still being investigated.”
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.”
Influencer and rapper Lil Tay has confirmed she’s alive – more than 24 hours after a post on her official Instagram account announced that she and her brother had passed away
She has not revealed why it took her so long to stop the rumors of her death
Keep quiet: Lil Tay’s father, Christopher Hope, (pictured together previously) declined to comment when DailyMail.com contacted him
But the post was shrouded in mystery and doubt soon after when her own father stated he couldn’t confirm whether she was alive or dead.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Wigg argued that Tay wouldn’t have been behind the hoax if it was indeed a publicity stunt, as people suspected.
When asked if her older brother was responsible, he said, “I don’t know, I’m not going to comment on that. I really do not know.’
“Tay is a great kid… You don’t know what goes through a kid’s head,” he added. “Jason told me her account was hacked, which is quite possible.”
Wigg said the family has been living in Los Angeles since January, where Tay “works and records music,” but declined to elaborate on what she’s been up to in her career.
“Tay is gifted if anyone can make it, it’s her. She is focused on her music, singing and acting, she can play piano and guitar. She speaks and sings in Mandarin.
“I’m relieved they’re alive, but angry at the whole situation. I’m just glad they’re okay.’