For the past five years, an Instagram account remained barren, with over 3.4 million followers. But all these millions of followers experienced a collective whiplash on August 9, when suddenly a post popped up on their timeline.
The post stated that the child star Lil Tay had breathed her last. This heartbreaking news took a disturbingly mysterious turn when the post also revealed that the young rapper’s brother had also passed away at the same time.
While this tragic loss of loved ones can be the most harrowing time for parents, netizens believe otherwise. The online speculations that something horrible has happened in the dysfunctional family are spreading like wildfire, and conspiracy theories are afloat too.
The main points of contention are– why was there not a single post in five years? What is the coincidence that both siblings died at the same time? Why maintain secrecy regarding their death? Why have the police not yet confirmed their deaths? Who is Lil Tay’s brother?
The online forums are debating whether the siblings are actually dead or if it is another stunt. In contrast, some netizens also believe that something extremely severe must have happened with the two siblings for such an abrupt announcement. Regardless, no confirmed reports have been released yet, and only a proper investigation will provide any solace.
While the focus is on Claire Hope, aka Lil Tay’s sudden demise, her brother’s death is also concerning since he was actively involved in Lil Tay’s online presence. While the post does not mention the brother’s identity, some reports reveal that he is Claire’s stepbrother, Jason Tian. After Lil Tay’s videos went viral, people couldn’t fathom that such a young child could spew such foul language and crude behavior. After a while, some behind-the-scenes videos resurfaced that implied that Jason was responsible for directing Lil Tay and creating her online persona.
Who Is Jason Tian?
The inception of “Lil Tay” can be dated back to 2018, when influencer culture was at the height of breaking the mainstream media. The I-celebrities were gaining traction owing to the online fan following.
Viners, TikTokers, Youtubers, and more unconventional personalities were rising in popularity ranks. Meanwhile, people who became memes also grabbed any opportunities to extend their 15 minutes of fame.
One such personality was Lil Tay, whose videos seemed more like spoofs of rappers and the other breed of influencers who liked to flash their assets and flex their money. The entire Lil Tay schtick was a little girl pouring out wads of cash, climbing up her luxury cars, and calling out her “haters” while displaying blatant cultural appropriation of black people.
When Claire’s mother was interviewed about her young daughter’s antics, she expressed nonchalantly that she would support her endeavors regardless. But it turns out that Claire’s stepbrother Jason was the mastermind behind Lil Tay’s videos. The 21-year-old directed his young sister, although the real intentions for these videos are unknown.
However, Jason also accused his parents of child neglect and abuse. He alleged that Claire’s father, Christopher Hope, had been physically and mentally abusing the little girl, and he was totally against the Lil Tay facade. The parents have been involved in a legal battle for Claire’s custody.
In 2021, Jason Tian started a GoFundMe page for Claire to pay for the legal fees.
Meanwhile, a mysterious account by the username Termanii posted that they are Jason Tian, and the claims that the siblings are dead is a vile attempt by the parents. But netizens also pointed out certain discrepancies in this narrative since Jason was the last one to handle Lil Tay’s Instagram account.
LATEST UPDATE
As per the latest reports, the Vancouver police department confirmed that they have not received any death reports regarding the two siblings. Nor is there an active investigation, as stated in the post.
The L.A. County Coroner’s office also confirmed to The Daily Beast that they received no record of Claire Hope, Claire Eileen Qi Hope, or her brother Jason Tian in their system.
What is your verdict on this case? Do you think the parents are conspiring against the children? Or is Jason Tian spewing a publicity stunt?
Let us know in the comments section below.
