Online influencer and rapper Lil Tay has died at the age of 14 – five years after the controversial social media star – whose real name was Claire Hope – shot to online fame.
The news of her ‘sudden and tragic’ passing was confirmed by an unnamed family member in a statement shared on the teen’s Instagram account today – when it was revealed that her 21-year-old brother, Jason Tian, had also died.
Lil Tay became embroiled in furious controversy in 2018 amid allegations that she was being physically and mentally abused by her father as well as being exploited by her brother.
‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing,’ the post – which did not reveal the cause of death – began.
‘We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain.’
Online influencer and rapper Lil Tay has died at the age of 14 – five years after the controversial social media star – whose real name was Claire Hope – shot to online fame
The news of her ‘sudden and tragic’ passing was confirmed by an unnamed family member in a statement shared on the teen’s Instagram account today
The statement also revealed that Lil Tay’s 21-year-old brother, Jason Tian (pictured center), had also died
Lil Tay’s father, Christopher Hope, (pictured together previously) declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com
She had previously posted videos using language like n****, p****, and c*** to spark interest in her content and had later appeared on Good Morning America with mother Angela Tian to defend her image
‘This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock. Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief.
‘During this time of immense sorrow, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother’s passing are still under investigation.’
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.’
Speculation has begun circulating on social media about the cause of deaths with one user, Jesse Ryan, claiming to have witnessed the incident.
He wrote: ‘As someone who was at the scene I can confirm that both were together when passing. Due to car collision. The brother was driving.
‘Local officials are speculating “texting and driving” being the cause. The other vehicle occupants were okay with minor injuries.’
Lil Tay’s lawyer father, Christopher Hope, declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.
He and the social media star seemingly had a strained relationship – with Lil Tay herself claiming she ‘did not have’ a father figure in a tribute to rapper XXXTentacion following his death in 2018.
Her brother Jason had previously set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise $19,000 for Lil Tay after both levelled allegations of physical and mental abuse against Hope and his wife, Hanee
Lil Tay became embroiled in furious controversy amid allegations that she was being physically and mentally abused by her father
Jason claimed that Hope had been abusing Lil Tay (pictured) as well as claiming her father had ‘stolen millions of dollars’ from the rising star
In May 2018, it was claimed that the young girl was actually being exploited by older brother Jason after a series of videos came out that showed him coaching her
Her controversial videos showed her cussing, insulting passersby, flashing stacks of cash and even starting fights
Multiple clips shared online showed the young girl being coached by her brother from behind the camera
Her brother Jason had previously set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise $19,000 for Lil Tay after levelling allegations of physical and mental abuse against Hope and his wife, Hanee.
Attempting to explain Lil Tay’s absence online, Jason, who is not Hope’s son, wrote: ‘My sister Tay has been silent on social media for the past three years because her absentee father (Chris Hope) served my mother a court order demanding control over Tay’s money, career, and custody, and as a result it was court ordered that my sister had to return to Vancouver, Canada.
‘He also requested through a court order to prevent her from speaking out about the truth.’
Jason then claimed that Hope had ‘stolen millions of dollars’ from the rising star for his own benefit.
Following the allegations, Harry Tsang, a spokesperson for Hope, told The Daily Beast in 2018 that the father did not want any money from his daughter – despite trademarking ‘Lil Tay,’ arguing ‘it was obvious that her mom hadn’t taken any steps to do things in a business-like manner.’
‘There are only three things he wants to see,’ Tsang said. ‘First, no more crazy videos of cursing from Tay.
‘Second, 25 percent of the gross earnings going to a trust fund dedicated to Tay. The third thing is, there has to be structure in her operation, in her public image.’
Her brother Jason had previously set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise $19,000 for Lil Tay after both levelled allegations of physical and mental abuse against Hope and his wife, Hanee
Lil Tay had previously sparked serious concern among her fanbase after she deleted all of her social media posts
At the time, the rising star also wrote the words ‘help me’ on her Instagram Story amid claims she was actually being exploited by older brother Jason
In an interview with the publication about her online presence, Lil Tay said: ‘Right now I’m in a bad situation and I don’t want to talk about these things.’
When prompted for further clarification, she simply responded: ‘With Chris Hope.’
It had also previously been revealed that Lil Tay’s mother, Angela Tian, had worked as a real estate agent in Vancouver, Canada, before she lost her job because she let her daughter ‘flex’ in the employee cars as well as the homes she was supposed to be showing to other clients.
Lil Tay 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 has been noticeably absent from social media in the recent years with her last post on the platform being in honor of rapper XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Onfroy, who was shot dead aged 20 in 2018.
It read: ‘X you truly 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, when I don’t have one, you were here, FaceTiming me and calling me for hours when I’m down…
‘I can’t believe this, the evil in the world, This isn’t good Bye. I love you Bro.’
In May 2018, it was claimed that the young girl was actually being exploited by older brother Jason after a series of videos came out that showed him coaching her on what to say in her controversial posts and clips – with one capturing him giving her an instruction to ‘be more ignorant.’
Lil Tay, who was originally from Canada but moved to Los Angeles, garnered viral fame on YouTube and social media after she began posting videos in 2017 aged just nine
Lil Tay she claimed to be the ‘youngest flexer in the century’ and ‘above the haters’
She had previously posted videos of her using language like n****, p****, and c*** to spark interest in her content
After the videos emerged online, Lil Tay’s Instagram and YouTube accounts were quickly scrubbed – prompting speculation that the pressures of the spotlight had become too much her and her family to handle.
A spokesperson for the family told Buzzfeed News at the time that Lil Tay’s brother was ‘rebranding’ her, and urged fans to stay tuned for future updates on the young star.
Lil Tay, who was originally from Canada but moved to Los Angeles, garnered viral fame after she began posting videos in 2017 aged just nine.
Her controversial videos showed her cussing, insulting passersby, flashing stacks of cash and even starting fights as she claimed to be the ‘youngest flexer in the century’ and ‘above the haters.’
She had previously posted videos using language like n****, p****, and c*** to spark interest in her content and had later appeared on Good Morning America with her mother to defend her image.
But, despite the critics, Lil Tay quickly racked up more than 3.3 million followers on Instagram alone and had been pegged as one of the internet’s biggest rising stars.