Online influencer and rapper Lil Tay has passed away at the age of 14 – five years after the controversial social media star – whose real name was Claire Hope – rose to fame online.
The news of her “sudden and tragic” passing was confirmed by an unnamed relative in a statement shared on the teen’s Instagram account today – when it was revealed that her 21-year-old brother, Jason Tian, also died.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of the sudden and tragic passing of our beloved Claire,” the post began – which did not reveal the cause of death.
“We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain.”
Online influencer and rapper Lil Tay has passed away at the age of 14
News of her “sudden and tragic” death was confirmed by an unnamed relative in a statement shared on the teen’s Instagram account today.
“This outcome was totally unexpected and has 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.”
Lil Tay, who is originally from Canada but moved to Los Angeles, gained viral fame on YouTube and social media after she started posting videos in 2017 at the age of nine.
Her controversial videos showed her swear words, insulting passers-by, flashing piles of cash and even starting fights.
She had previously posted videos using language such as n****, p**** and c*** to generate interest in her content and had later appeared on Good Morning America with mother Angela Tian to defend her image.
At the time, it was revealed that Angela had worked as a real estate agent in Vancouver, Canada before she lost her job for letting her daughter “flex” in some homes that she would show to other clients.
But despite the critics, Lil Tay soon had more than 3.3 million followers on Instagram alone and was considered one of the internet’s biggest rising stars.
Lil Tay, who is originally from Canada but moved to Los Angeles, gained viral fame on YouTube and social media after she started posting videos in 2017 at the age of nine.
Her controversial videos showed her swearing, insulting people, flashing piles of cash and even starting fights
However, she’s been noticeably absent from social media for the past five years, with her last post on the platform honoring rapper XXXTentacion after his death in 2018.
It said, “X you really changed me. You were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you were there to give me advice, you were there.
“As a father figure, if I don’t have one, you were here, FaceTimed me and called me for hours when I was down…
“I can’t believe this, the evil in the world, this is not goodbye. I love you brother.’
She had previously sparked serious concern among her fanbase after she deleted all of her social media posts and wrote the words “help me” on her Instagram story.
She had previously posted videos where she used language like n****, p**** and c*** to generate interest in her content
In May 2018, it was alleged that the young girl was actually being exploited by longtime brother Jason after a series of videos came out of him coaching her on what to say in her controversial posts and clips – with one capturing him and instructing her to’ to be ignorant’.
After the videos appeared online, Lil Tay’s Instagram and YouTube accounts were quickly taken down – prompting speculation that the pressure of the spotlight had become too much for her and her family.
A family spokesperson told Buzzfeed News at the time that Lil Tay’s brother was “rebranding” her, urging fans to stay tuned for future updates on the young star.