On Wednesday, the Instagram account of Internet rapper and influencer Lil Tay reported that the 14-year old had been found dead. <\/p>\n
No cause of death was released at the time, but a statement by Lil Tay’s family revealed that both<\/em> the teenager and her brother had passed away<\/a> in some manner.<\/p>\n Here’s the thing, though:<\/p>\n In a statement provided to TMZ, allegedly from Lil Tay herself<\/a>, the controversial social media user is, well, ALIVE<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n “I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I\u2019m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say,” reads this new message. <\/p>\n It\u2019s been a very traumatizing 24 hours. <\/p>\n “All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess.”<\/p>\n We can understand their confusion.<\/p>\n On August 9, Lil Tay’s 3.3 million Instagram followers were surprised to see a posting on this young woman’s account… considering it hadn’t been updated since 2018.<\/p>\n Referring to Lil Tay by her real first name, this post read:<\/p>\n \u201cIt is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire\u2019s sudden and tragic passing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock.<\/p>\n \u201cHer brother\u2019s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring this time of immense sorrow, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother\u2019s passing are still under investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cClaire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.\u201d<\/p>\n Lil Tay became famous in 2018 due to her controversial videos on social media \u2014 which included her driving expensive cars and flaunting piles of cash.<\/p>\n In June of that same year, amid allegations about her family situation and safety, Lil Tay\u2019s Instagram was wiped clean\u2026 and the words \u201chelp me\u201d were posted to her account.<\/p>\n We later learned about accusations against Lil Tay’s father, Christopher, who was reportedly trying to take his child back to Canada in order to profit off her earnings.<\/p>\n In a phone interview back then The Daily Beast Lil Tay cited a “bad situation,” but not elaborate beyond that.<\/p>\n On Thursday, meanwhile, Lil Tay told TMZ:<\/p>\n “My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not “Claire Hope.”<\/p>\n The death posting is no longer on Lil Tay’s Instagram page.<\/p>\n Before Lil Tay addressed the confusion, her former manager questioned the legitimacy of the death announcement.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven 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,\u201d Harry Tsang told Insider in a statement on Wednesday. <\/p>\n \u201cThis situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. <\/p>\n “My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed.\u201d<\/p>\n Lil Tay: You Guys, I Am NOT Dead!<\/a> was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-09-at-2.59.06-PM-1024x922.png\")
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