The word “influencer” has been a prominent keyword since the 2010s, when social media promoted a culture of bloggers, content creators, and more. The “celebrity” umbrella widened with a new kind of popularity. Some people earned fame by simply being a meme. While others caught the eye through controversies.
Lil Tay was one such name that emerged out of pure chaotic, unhinged content. But on August 9, the internet couldn’t fathom the post that stated that Lil Tay and her brother Jason Tian had passed away. No other information was disclosed about their death, except that it is still under investigation.
Let’s start from the very beginning of her journey–
It was the year 2018 when celebrity was defined by their social media following, engagement, and presence. At the same time, Youtubers, former viners, Instagram celebrities, TikTokers, and more such unconventional personas started dropping music videos left and right. I mean, who can forget the cringe raps and flashy videos (ahem, Jake Paul)?
The flexing phenomenon and rubbing one’s money on others’ faces was a fad then.
What Happened to Lil Tay?
Amidst all such influencers uploading their music, one video went utterly berserk on social media. People couldn’t believe their eyes when a literal child was flexing assets and talking about haters. Mind you, Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope, was only nine years old in 2018.
Her Instagram page was fueled by money, cars, a house, and a language a child should not speak.
The comments unanimously blamed the parents/guardians for condoning such behavior by a child. Yet her videos were blowing up on social media because society loves watching a trainwreck. The 9-year-old even had beef with other meme celebrities like the “Cash me outside” girl and Woah Vicky. 2018 was indeed a weird year!
But at the peak of her fame, insiders spilled tea behind the scenes of Lil Tay’s videos. Some video evidence suggests that her older brother Jason Tian was directing her on what and how to say.
This sparked outrage, where netizens called out the family for child abuse and neglect. Due to the growing backlash, Lil Tay went on an indefinite hiatus from social media. But the latest post on her Instagram page, dated August 9, shocked everyone when it was announced that Claire Hope, who is now 14 years old, has passed away along with her brother.
Is Lil Tay Really Dead? Fact Check
The Instagram post states that Lil Tay and her brother have passed away. But there is no mention of the cause of their death. The statement also implies that mysterious circumstances for their sudden death are still under investigation.
A point to be noted: Claire’s parents were in the middle of a custody battle, where her father, Christopher Hope, demanded full authority over Claire’s finances, guardianship, and other assets. Mr. Christopher was also accused of mentally and emotionally abusing Claire. Her mother, Angela Tian, was heavily criticized for neglecting or encouraging Claire’s online presence. Netizens inferred that Lil Tay’s parents might be shady and unreliable guardians.
POLICE STATEMENT: Several news articles have confirmed that neither Vancouver nor Los Angeles Police departments have received any death reports for the name Claire Hope.
MANAGER’s STATEMENT: Lil Tay’s former manager Harry Tsang did not divulge much since he couldn’t verify the Instagram post yet. He told the Insider that–
“Given the complexities of the current circumstances, I am at a point where I cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family.”
“This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed.”
MYSTERIOUS ACCOUNT RESURFACES: A social media account under the alias Termanii has come forward with a major revelation. This account is suspected to be operated by Claire’s brother, Jason Tian.
As per the post, neither Lil Tay nor her brother are dead. The parents seem to have taken over her Instagram account and spread misinformation. There is an alleged family feud where a minor is abused. Even though these claims are unverified, this case has taken a really dark turn.
Our take is that it is too soon to infer anything from a single Instagram post. We shall post an update on any further developments in the investigation.
What is your conclusion to this case? Do you think the parents are spewing a publicity stunt? Do you believe that Claire is facing abuse from her parents?
Let us know in the comments section below.
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