<ul class="summary-list"><li>In August, Lil Tay shocked the internet when an Instagram post announcing her death turned out to be <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">a hoax</a>.</li><li>Nearly two months later, as the source of the hoax remains unclear, she dropped her debut single.</li></ul><p>In early August, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">a post appeared</a> on 15-year-old influencer Lil Tay's Instagram account falsely claiming she and her brother, Jason Tian, had died. The news quickly went viral, but the teen <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/10/lil-tay-social-media-star-still-alive-instagram-hacked-fake-death-hoax/?adid=social-tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told TMZ</a> a day later that she was very much still alive and that her account was hacked. </p><p>While it remains unclear who posted the death hoax,<a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-death-hoax-rumors-explained-2023-8"> rumors have swirled</a> that Lil Tay's family is exploiting her and that her brother has been mostly managing her social media accounts. (The rapper appeared in a recent Instagram Live claiming her father, Christopher Hope, was the one behind the hoax, <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lil-tay-addresses-death-hoax-releases-sucker-4-green-video-1235430067/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Billboard</a>.)</p><p>On Saturday, nearly two months later, Tay <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTzpFvl0F7Y&amp;ab_channel=LILTAY">released her debut single</a>, "Sucker 4 Green." The timing of this following her death hoax has fueled mass internet speculation that it was all engineered to boost her music career. <br /><br />Lil Tay's mother and management team did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p>  <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xTzpFvl0F7Y?si=m-XZ_cKjhan1D2Kr" frameborder="0"></iframe>  <p>The bright dance-pop number "SUCKER 4 GREEN" has already amassed 2.5 million views on YouTube in a day. In the video, Lil Tay is shown dancing in front of fancy cars and with a group of men wearing suits. "YALL BITCHES THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS OVER," she wrote <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx06OeCPZji/?hl=en">in an Instagram post</a> about the track. </p><p>A swarm of users on X (formerly Twitter) have begun to make jokes and devise theories about the curious timing of the song drop.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx06OeCPZji/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx06OeCPZji/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx06OeCPZji/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)</a></p></div></blockquote> <p>"Lil Tay after dropping the publicity stunt of the century and coming back with a banger," one X user <a href="https://twitter.com/xkhyamix/status/1708202899682271249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote in a post</a> with a video of basketball players dunking. </p><p>"LIL TAY???? I TOLD Y'ALL IT WAS A PUBLICITY STUNT," <a href="https://twitter.com/mazzypopstar/status/1708238127381508589" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another X user wrote</a>.</p><p>Other users deliberately accused her of <a href="https://twitter.com/goober99261/status/1708209982590587105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faking her own death</a>. "This what she played dead for," one X user <a href="https://twitter.com/robhimsis/status/1708285846791864602" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote in a quote reply</a> to the music video.</p><p>The replies on the music video are full of quips about how Lil Tay made it "out of the coffin," or "the afterlife," or "the grave" to release this song. One top comment described the leadup to Lil Tay's song release as the "weirdest roll out of all time," referencing the fake Instagram announcement in August.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/M_riah05/status/1708340868065743329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Some users said</a>, "PR stunt or not," the song is "iconic," and the young social media maven deserves praise. Another commenter called her a "legend" and said she "died and RESPAWNED" as a way to promote the music.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-career-scandals-and-family-drama-that-led-to-death-hoax-2023-8">Lil Tay's career has been plagued</a> by rumors and controversies since she first went viral in 2018 at the age of 9. She posted rap videos showing her handling large amounts of cash and collaborated with other controversial influencers like Jake Paul, along with a brief feud with Danielle Bregoli, better known as Bhad Bhabie. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idp0wNHADr0&amp;ab_channel=ZachSangShow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In one interview</a>, Tay called herself "the youngest flexer of the century."</p><p>Shortly after, reports that <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">a behind-the-scenes family battle</a> to control her career began to emerge, which led Lil Tay's social media accounts to be wiped clean. Since 2018, her account has been mostly inactive except for <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-career-scandals-and-family-drama-that-led-to-death-hoax-2023-8">sporadic, cryptic posts</a>. </p>

Lil Tay's new music release is making fans think her death hoax was a PR stunt

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A statement on Lil Tay's Instagram page says the braggadocious influencer is dead.</li><li>But her father declined to confirm the news, and no public corroboration has emerged.</li></ul><p>An Instagram post saying 15-year-old internet star Lil Tay had died prompted confusion Wednesday as no other sources publicly came forward to confirm the news.</p><p>The announcement emerged on the verified Instagram page belonging to Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope. The statement called the internet star's death "sudden and tragic" and "entirely unexpected." It also suggested her brother, Jason Tian, had died as well. The statement didn't give causes of death for either and said the deaths were under investigation.</p><p>But law-enforcement agencies in Los Angeles and Vancouver, British Columbia — two cities where Lil Tay is known to have lived — told Insider there were no active death investigations involving Hope.</p><p>"It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire's sudden and tragic passing," the Instagram message said. "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.</p><p>"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."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuphvirkOz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuphvirkOz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuphvirkOz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)</a></p></div></blockquote> <p>It's unclear who published the message. Lil Tay's mother, Angela Tian, previously told Insider that Jason Tian at one time controlled the Instagram account. In 2019, Insider reported that the star's account was used to level <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-father-harassment-campaign-what-happened-2018-11">baseless allegations against her father during a bitter custody dispute</a>.</p><p>When reached for comment, Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, told Insider he could not comment on the Instagram post and declined to answer whether his daughter was still alive.</p><p>Similarly, Harry Tsang, the star's former manager, told Insider that the situation called for "cautious consideration" and that he could not confirm or deny the news.</p><p>"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," Tsang told Insider in an emailed statement Wednesday. "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."</p><p>Neither the police nor the medical examiner in Los Angeles had information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope.</p><p>The Vancouver Police Department also said it had no reports of her death and wasn't investigating the case. Lil Tay grew up in Vancouver.</p><p>The <a href="https://variety.com/2023/music/news/lil-tay-dead-instagram-rapper-1235692008/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news of the Instagram post quickly traveled</a> across the internet.</p><p>Lil Tay became famous in 2017 when she was nine years old for her brash on-screen persona, with curse-laden monologues boasting about mansions, cars, and bundles of cash. In 2018, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">she disappeared from the internet</a> after a video leaked with a voice behind the camera feeding her lines, which was speculated to be the voice of her brother.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">battle then ensued for the future of her career</a>, with her manager Tsang, her father, and her promoter Chris Jones on one side and her mother and her brother on the other.</p><p>In 2021, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-chris-hope-bad-news-go-fund-me-instagram-2021-4">Lil Tay's Instagram</a> account became active after years of dormancy when posts, seemingly from her brother, accused their father of physical and emotional abuse and stealing all of Tay's money. Hope denied these allegations with a cease-and-desist order to Instagram at the time.</p><p>Angela Tian did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Wednesday's Instagram post.</p><p><em>Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect the uncertainty over whether Lil Tay died, and now includes a comment from Lil Tay's former manager.</em></p>

Lil Tay's Instagram says the rapper has died, but nobody is publicly confirming the news

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A statement on Lil Tay's Instagram page said the braggadocious influencer, who's now 15, had passed away.</li><li>Her brother had passed away too, per the statement, and both deaths are apparently "under investigation."</li></ul><p>The internet star Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope, has passed away, according to an anonymous statement on her official Instagram page on Tuesday.</p><p>The statement called the internet star's death "sudden and tragic" and "entirely unexpected." The statement said that her brother, Jason Tian, had also died. Both cases are apparently under investigation, the statement read.</p><p>"It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire's sudden and tragic passing," the Instagram message said. "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." </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuphvirkOz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuphvirkOz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuphvirkOz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)</a></p></div></blockquote> <p>"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."</p><p>Lil Tay became famous in 2017 for her brash onscreen persona, with curse-laden monologues boasting about mansions, cars, and bundles of cash. In 2018, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">she disappeared from the internet</a> after a video leaked with a voice behind the camera feeding her lines, which people speculated to be her brother. </p><p>Insider reported that a battle then ensued for the future of her career, with her manager (Harry Tsang), father (Christopher Hope), and promoter (Chris Jones) on one side, and her mother (Angela Tian) and brother on the other. </p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-chris-hope-bad-news-go-fund-me-instagram-2021-4">In 2021</a>, Tay's Instagram account became active after years of dormancy when posts, seemingly from her brother, accused their father of physical and mental abuse, and stealing all of Tay's money. Hope denied these allegations with a cease and desist order to Instagram at the time.<br /><br />Insider has reached out to Tay's family and Tsang for comment.</p>

Lil Tay, the brash child internet star, has reportedly died at the age of 15

How Lil Tay rocketed to fame at 9 years old, disappeared from social media, and became the speculation of a death hoax

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Lil Tay cryptocurrency was released on Thursday, a day after the influencer's Instagram reported she'd died.</li><li>That announcement has since been taken down amid speculation that the post was a hoax.</li></ul><p>A cryptocurrency coin named for Lil Tay, real name Claire Hope, was released less than a day after the 15-year-old influencer's verified <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">Instagram account announced that she had died.</a></p><p>The cryptocurrency, called Lil Tay, was <a href="https://bscscan.com/address/0xd80b7645667612e3df307e977aa5af3fd1adb72b">launched on the BNB Smart Chain</a> on Thursday morning with a total supply of 100 coins. So far, nobody has come forward to claim responsibility for the coin.</p><p>Harry Tsang, Tay's ex-manager, told Insider he had been planning to launch a Lil Tay cryptocurrency coin, and had begun developing the token in April, but denied any connection to the one released. On Thursday, he took down a Lil Tay token site he'd launched earlier this year. </p><p>"One hundred percent not me," he said. "I gave a warning to everyone already. That is not us. We just took down the website and everything."</p><div type="image" title="screenshot of lil tay token website by harry tsang" height="998" width="2584" msid="102626068" hostid="261" sizebytes="85848"></div><p>On Twitter, Tsang warned users of a potential scam involving the launched token. </p>  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="undefined"> —Liltay Token  (@LiltayToken) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1689697027033030656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2023</a> </blockquote><p>On Wednesday, Lil Tay's Instagram claimed controversial child star and her brother died.</p><p>"It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire's sudden and tragic passing," the <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">now-deleted post read in part.</a> "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." That post has since been deleted.</p><p>However, Insider was unable to confirm Lil Tay's death, and it is unclear who is in control of the Instagram account. </p><p>"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," Tsang told Insider on Wednesday in an email. "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."</p><p>Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, also told Insider he could not comment on the Instagram post and declined to answer whether his daughter was still alive.</p><p>Local police and medical examiners in Los Angeles, where Lil Tay currently lives, and Vancouver, where Lil Tay spent part of her childhood, did not have any information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope. </p><p>Lil Tay rose to popularity at the age of 9 and was known for her profane and provocative videos in which she cultivated a presence as "the world's youngest flexer," often posing with luxury cars and stacks of cash. She collaborated with controversial YouTubers like Danielle Bregoli and Jake Paul and ignited a firestorm — and countless press cycles.</p><p>During a May 2018 appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnjLSLuEbbI">"Good Morning America,"</a> Tay insisted, "No one is forcing me to do this. This is my decision. I am happy with what I am doing."</p><p>But a month later, a <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-posts-deleted-viral-video-2018-6">leaked video</a> revealed that her brother, Jason Tian, was feeding her lines and giving her cues on what to say. Her social media was then wiped but eventually restored.</p><p>In 2021, Lil Tay and her brother <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-chris-hope-bad-news-go-fund-me-instagram-2021-4">reappeared on social media</a>, accusing their father of physical and emotional abuse, and launching a GoFundMe to raise legal funds with the goal of getting their mother full custody of the pair.</p><p>Christopher Hope denied the allegations with a cease-and-desist order to Instagram at the time.</p>

A Lil Tay crypto coin was released the day after her verified Instagram reported that the 15-year-old influencer had died

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A statement posted on Lil Tay's Instagram page on Wednesday said the influencer, 15, had died.</li><li>But followers are questioning the post, as her death has not been confirmed by her family or authorities.</li></ul><p>The last post that Lil Tay shared before disappearing in 2018, and before her unconfirmed purported death that many of her followers are calling a hoax, features the late controversial rapper, XXXTentacion.</p><p>Followers of the internet personality Lil Tay, real name Claire Hope, were left shocked after an <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">Instagram post announced the 15-year-old's death on Wednesday.</a> But they soon began questioning whether the post was a hoax when her father and former manager could not confirm whether she had died.</p><p>As Insider reported on Wednesday, the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLwH8NH2kv/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram post</a> said Lil Tay's death was "sudden and tragic," that her brother, Jason Tian, had also died, and that both cases were under investigation.</p><p>The lack of confirmation of either death has since raised questions about the claim's legitimacy.</p><p>Insider reached out to authorities in Los Angeles, Lil Tay's last known residence, and Vancouver, her place of birth, who said there were no active death investigations involving the influencer. Lil Tay's mother told Insider in 2019 that the influencer's Instagram account was <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-father-harassment-campaign-what-happened-2018-11">previously controlled by her brother Jason</a>, although it's unclear who currently has access.</p><p>Insider contacted Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, on Wednesday and asked about the recent Instagram post announcing his daughter's death. He said he could not comment on the post and declined to confirm his daughter's death. By Thursday, he could not be reached after multiple attempts. An attorney for Lil Tay told Insider Thursday that they had no comment.</p><p>The most recent post on the verified account before the announcement of Lil Tay's death, which as of Thursday had been deleted, was a tribute to controversial Florida rapper XXXTentacion, who's real name is Jahseh Onfroy. It was posted on June 18, 2018, <a href="https://www.insider.com/xxxtentacion-murder-trial-3-men-found-guilty-2023-3">the date the rapper was shot and killed</a> while leaving a motorcycle shop in Deerfield Beach, Florida.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLwH8NH2kv/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018 post</a> featured a three-image gallery, the first of which tagged XXXTentacion's Instagram account, and appeared to show the rapper and Lil Tay on a video call. </p><p>The second and third images attached to the post appeared to show Instagram messages XXXTentacion had sent, encouraging Lil Tay to "manipulate and transmute the energy your way by doing some sort of small charity," and a screenshot of what appeared to be an Instagram story posted by XXXTentacion that read, "planning a charity event for this weekend Florida!"</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLwH8NH2kv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLwH8NH2kv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkLwH8NH2kv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)</a></p></div></blockquote> <p>The caption alongside the photos read, "X you truly changed me," beside a heart emoji, and continued, "You were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you were there to give me advice, you were there."</p><p>It continued, "As a father figure, when I don't have one, you were here, FaceTiming me and calling me for hours when I'm down, 3 hours ago you announced the Charity event we were going to throw, we had everything setup."</p><p>Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, told Insider's Jacob Shamsian in 2019 that he had been subjected to a campaign of harassment from her fans. In 2021 he was met with <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-father-harassment-campaign-what-happened-2018-11">baseless accusations that he abused Lil Tay.</a> At that time, he did not respond to Insider's request for comment.</p><p>The caption alongside the post ended with the words, "I can't believe this, the evil in the world, This isn't good Bye I Love you Bro."</p><p>In March 2023, three men were found guilty of fatally shooting the 20-year-old rapper, <a href="https://www.insider.com/xxxtentacion-murder-trial-3-men-found-guilty-2023-3">Insider previously reported</a>.</p><p>Lil Tay rose to fame in 2015 when she was 9 years old after posting videos bragging about her purported ownership of mansions, expensive cars, and cash. Her online following and persona grew as she collaborated with fellow stars, including Jake Paul and rapper Chief Keef. However, a <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">private battle later broke out between her family members, manager, and music promoter</a> in a bid to control her brand.</p>

Lil Tay's last Instagram post before her purported death complained about 'evil in the world' in a tribute to controversial rapper XXXTentacion

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Instagram account of Lil Tay, a 15-year-old internet star, announced her death Wednesday.</li><li>Almost immediately, speculation that it could all be a hoax began to blow up.</li></ul><p>On Wednesday, a post <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">announcing the death of provocative social media personality Lil Tay</a>, real name Claire Hope, appeared on her verified Instagram account. Almost immediately, online sleuths began casting doubt on the claim, skeptical and wary of the post given Tay and her family's history with online drama.</p><p>The original post said that the death of the 15-year-old was "sudden" and that her brother Jason Tian had also died, with both deaths under investigation. </p><p>But police departments for Vancouver, British Columbia, where Tay grew up, and Los Angeles, California, where she is known to have been based, told Insider at the time that they did not have reports of investigations into the death of anyone under her name. </p><p>Lil Tay's father, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8">Christopher Hope, declined to answer</a> whether his daughter was still alive when contacted by Insider on Wednesday, and Lil Tay's former manager, Harry Tsang, told Insider he could not "definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family." </p><p>That was perhaps with good reason; The following day, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/10/lil-tay-social-media-star-still-alive-instagram-hacked-fake-death-hoax/">TMZ reported</a> that Lil Tay was "very much still alive," quoting her in a statement that the outlet received from unnamed family members. It said that both Lil Tay and Jason Tian were safe, and that the Instagram account had been "compromised by a 3rd party" and used to spread misinformation about the influencer. The statement has not been otherwise corroborated, but the death announcement Instagram post has been removed from Lil Tay's Instagram account. </p><p>(This is not the first time Lil Tay's account has allegedly been hacked. In 2018, Tay, her mother, Angela Tian, and her brother Jason, claimed that her account had been hacked after Tay's verified Instagram account began posting lurid and crude accusations about Tay and Jason's father. Christopher Hope sent Instagram a cease and desist letter in order to have the baseless claims taken down. Angela claimed the account had been hacked, and showed Insider a copy of a police report made reporting the hacker.)</p><p>Even before the TMZ report on Tay's newfound aliveness, rumors emerged on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@baldnewsnetwork/video/7265481770299084074?lang=en&amp;q=lil%20tay&amp;t=1691669683793" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KEEMSTAR/status/1689621237318725632" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT-obNtHdUY&amp;t=6s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a> suggesting the post could have been a hoax.</p><p>Some <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@noahglenncarter/video/7265382124725865770?lang=en&amp;q=lil%20tay%20help%20me&amp;t=1691679978059">creators</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@michelletok/video/7265426993846537514?lang=en&amp;q=lil%20tay%20help%20me&amp;t=1691679978059" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised concerns</a> by pointing out that Lil Tay's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFjlnv-TEz-hMmnDzsAXig" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube bio</a> says, "help me." It's unclear when exactly these words were added to her bio, but they appear to have been there since at least June 28, according to screenshots from the internet archive, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230628084302/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFjlnv-TEz-hMmnDzsAXig" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wayback Machine</a>. In 2021, she similarly <a href="https://www.insider.com/help-me-lil-tay-delete-instagram-posts-2018-7">deleted all of her Instagram posts</a> and left one post up that said "help me," too.  </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi8RKvgD2Fx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi8RKvgD2Fx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi8RKvgD2Fx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)</a></p></div></blockquote> <p>Viewers <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUoxQzsques&amp;ab_channel=HayloHayley">also</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Sethical_/status/1689418974880989185">drew</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@idk.laugh9/video/7265479460051275014?lang=en&amp;q=lil%20tay&amp;t=1691669683793">attention</a> to an Instagram account under the handle <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_termanii__/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@_termanii__</a> that purported to have been written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvv3LcrL83F/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lil Tay</a> and her brother <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvv22LdrHEr/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason</a>, claiming that they are both still alive. An Instagram story said the account owner would go live on Instagram once they reached 25,000 followers.</p><p>But following Tay's statement to TMZ on Thursday, the account was deactivated. Insider was unable to reach its owners for comment. </p><p>Some users suggested that it could all be part of <a href="https://twitter.com/Aiden_Revival/status/1689401433836183553" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeliousone1/video/7265528299604938026?lang=en&amp;q=lil%20tay%20stunt&amp;t=1691680250233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"publicity stunt"</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/lanobreeze/status/1689513186469257219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coordinated</a> for online attention to increase Lil Tay's visibility, as she has been largely offline in recent years.</p><p>The same day Tay released a statement to TMZ, an anonymous source released <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-crypto-coin-released-and-already-flagged-as-scam-2023-8">a Lil Tay cryptocurrency</a>, sparking rumors that the death hoax had been carried out to promote the coin. </p><p>Since the TMZ report hit the internet, some people are even more confused, wondering <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@baldnewsnetwork/video/7265757787831930155?q=lil%20tay&amp;t=1691759317996">why it took 24 hours</a> to debunk the post, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thaboandray/video/7265762666906406190">what incentive someone could have</a> to hack her Instagram account and announce a fake death, and whether her recent <a href="https://twitter.com/doompiss/status/1689770842312339456">statement could be trusted</a>.</p><p>Tay rose to fame as the "youngest flexer of the century," posing with luxury cars and mansions to exude an air of wealth and excess, and often disrespecting the adults around her. A nine, she parlayed her brash YouTube personality into collaborations with industry heavy hitters like Jake Paul and Lil Pump, but many questioned whether her behavior was appropriate — and whether her family was doing what is could to protect her.  </p><p>The influencer's family has previously been at the <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-career-scandals-and-family-drama-that-led-to-death-hoax-2023-8">center of speculation</a> and controversy after a <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">private conflict</a> between over Tay's brand became public. Tay and her brother Jason have also used their social media to <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-chris-hope-bad-news-go-fund-me-instagram-2021-4">accuse</a> their father of abuse, accusations which he has denied. </p><p>When reached by Insider on Wednesday, Lil Tay's father declined to comment regarding speculation her death was a hoax. When reached on Thursday following the TMZ report, he declined to comment further on the situation.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/culture"><strong>For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</strong></a></p>

As soon as rumors emerged that 15-year-old influencer Lil Tay had died, online sleuths mobilized. Now they're more convinced than ever her 'death post' was a cruel hoax.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11161413" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lil-tay">Lil Tay</keyword>'s brother has started posting on her <keyword id="819905" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Instagram">Instagram</keyword>, saying he's raising money for a legal defense.</li><li>In posts, he baselessly claims that Lil Tay's father was "physically and mentally" abusive.</li><li>Prior to her disappearance from social media, her brother was accused of coaching her in videos. </li><li>Lil Tay's former manager says her brother had planned to invent claims of abuse years ago.</li></ul><p>The Instagram account for the once-viral teen rapper Lil Tay published new posts over the weekend after years of dormancy.</p><p>The posts, seemingly from her brother, make unsubstantiated claims that her father had "abused" her and "stolen all of her money."</p><p>The statements echo <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">posts made on Lil Tay's Instagram years ago</a> as <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-father-harassment-campaign-what-happened-2018-11">family disputes enveloped Lil Tay's story</a>.</p><h2><strong>Posts on Lil Tay's Instagram target her father</strong></h2><p>The now 13-year-old, whose real name is Claire Hope, had spent the past two years out of the public eye, leaving her Instagram profile unattended.</p><p>On Friday though, the Instagram account published a video of Lil Tay crying alongside a caption claiming that her father Christopher Hope and his wife Hanee have been "physically and mentally" abusive to her.</p><p>Her 18-year-old brother Jason Tian claimed to have commandeered the profile in a post on the page and started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-tay-from-a-life-of-abuse-saveliltaycom?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&amp;utm_medium=os&amp;utm_source=customercustomer">GoFundMe asking</a> for $150,000 to help Angela Tian, her mother, regain full custody, raising over $13,000 so far.</p><p>In 2018 and 2019, the person behind the Instagram account, which has 2 million followers, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-father-harassment-campaign-what-happened-2018-11">waged a harassment campaign against Christopher Hope</a>.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COBjVcOFZLO" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>"Tay has no money left to pay lawyers for fighting for her freedom, her father has stolen everything from her," the post read, offering no evidence for the claim.</p><p>Four other posts have been shared on the account since, detailing unsubstantiated claims of exploitation and abuse against Christopher Hope and his wife.</p><p>Two pictures showed Lil Tay with a mark on her face and back, though it's unclear what these may be. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COBzsivFx27" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Spill Plug  (@spillplug) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1385715076938665986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Austin Sachale  (@austinsachale) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1385745617796878337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></blockquote><p>When asked for comment, Christopher Hope responded with a YouTube video from The Hollywood Fix interviewing Lil Tay's former manager Diomi Cordero in December 2018. Cordero managed Lil Tay for six months in 2018, before her disappearance from social media. </p><p>"Her brother was the creator of the character when they first started, he just lost control of it," Cordero says. "Before he left, he told a bunch of us that he was going to accuse her dad of sexually abusing her as a way to win the case in the court."  </p><p>Cordero doubled down on his statement in an interview with Insider, adding "this was a plan that was created years ago, I remember it clearly, because I thought it was a bad idea from the start, but I said I don't think it's going to work out." He says that he contacted her mother "over the holidays" and that Lil Tay was "back in school and working on vocal lessons."</p><p>Lil Tay, Angela Tian, and her brother did not respond to a request for comment. </p><h2><strong>Family disputes have previously played out on Lil Tay's Instagram</strong></h2><p>Appearing online in late 2017, the young influencer went viral after posting photos and videos of her flexing with large amounts of money, hanging out expensive cars, and speaking with slurs.</p><p>Over the course of 2018, she gained millions of followers and made appearances with other influencers like Danielle Bregoli, Jake Paul, and Lil Pump.</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/06CMDDA4l8E" frameborder="0"></iframe><p>In June of 2018, all of Lil Tay's social media accounts were wiped clean or deleted, with the only communication being a post on her Instagram story with the <a href="https://www.insider.com/help-me-lil-tay-delete-instagram-posts-2018-7">words "help me."</a> This came after months of speculation and a leaked video of her <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-posts-deleted-viral-video-2018-6">brother</a> seemingly coaching her on what to say.</p><p>Controversy continued to swirl after Angela Tian resigned from her job as a Vancouver real estate agent after it was reported that she had taken pictures of her daughter in her boss' <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/4201335/lil-tay-mom-fired-boss-mercedes/">Mercedes 500 SL.</a></p><p>The Lil Tay persona quickly started to unravel after reports surfaced about her mother and brother. <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/who-was-lil-tay.html">According to The Cut</a>, former managers that worked with Lil Tay said her brother "wrote Lil Tay's lines and coached her on how to say them" and had "created the character." </p><p>Lil Tay's accounts started publishing new content again in October 2018, making claims that her <a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-parents-instagram-career-battle-2018-10">father Christopher Hope</a> was an "abusive absentee father" and that he had "banned" her off of social media.</p><p>Hope responded to the accusations with a cease and desist order to Instagram obtained by The Blast, writing that her brother was the one in <a href="https://theblast.com/lil-tay-father-legal-letter-instagram-threats/">charge of her account.</a> <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/16/lil-tay-custody-battle-parents-determine-career-path/">Sources told TMZ</a> that Hope and her mother Angela Tian were "locked in a court battle for custody of Lil Tay and full control over her life and career."</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-instagram-father-harassment-campaign-what-happened-2018-11">According to court documents obtained by Insider</a>, the pair have joint custody over Lil Tay but Hope has full decision-making authority in legal matters. </p>

New posts are appearing on Lil Tay's Instagram after years of silence

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b169a431ae6624f008b4777-2400/screen shot 2018-06-05 at 101122 am.png" border="0" alt="Lil Tay" data-mce-source="YouTube" /><p class="source"><span>YouTube</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>The social media accounts for controversial nine-year-old internet star Lil Tay have been wiped clean.</strong></li><li><strong>Reportedly, Lil Tay has plans to make a comeback after her image has been rebranded.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p> </p><p>During her brief online reign, nine year-old internet star Lil Tay, who goes by the moniker "<span>the youngest flexer of the century</span>," has inspired plenty of controversy.</p><p>The braggadocious Canadian wunderkind is best known for flouting gobs of cash, insulting her viewers because they purportedly have less money than her ("Y'all don't have that view," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFOwq08Y9G0">she shouts at the camera</a> from inside of a high rise apartment, "And I be holding your mama's rent!"), and inciting feuds with other viral internet characters like Danielle Bregoli <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8l2Ga3_wvU">of Dr. Phil fame.</a></p><p>But now, it seems that Lil Tay has disappeared from the internet just as she was beginning to make her mark. </p><p>Not only have all of the videos from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFjlnv-TEz-hMmnDzsAXig">her YouTube channel</a> been erased, but <a href="https://www.instagram.com/liltay/">her Instagram account</a> with 2.4 million subscribers has suddenly been wiped clean of all its content. </p><p>There's plenty of speculation on why Lil Tay might have temporarily abdicated her nascent social media throne. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b16a81d1ae6624c008b48df-2400/screen shot 2018-06-05 at 111033 am.png" border="0" alt="Lil Tay" data-mce-source="YouTube" data-mce-caption="Lil Tay is famous for holding up stacks of hundred dollar bills and screaming at her audience that she has lots of money." /><p class="source"><span>YouTube</span></p><p class="caption">Lil Tay is famous for holding up stacks of hundred dollar bills and screaming at her audience that she has lots of money.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Lil Tay's controversial presence has brought on real world ramifications: In May, Lil Tay's online shenanigans <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/14/17340682/who-is-lil-tay-mom-fired-child-stars-instagram">reportedly cost her mother her job</a> as a Vancouver real estate agent. It's also<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/05/the-lil-tay-saga-reaches-its-logical-conclusion/561116/"> been pointed out</a> that Lil Tay's YouTube videos seem to be directed by her reportedly domineering older brother. In past videos, Lil Tay has appeared to break down into tears multiple times. </p><p>The nine-year-old has inspired so much online animosity that in May,<a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xe48p/who-is-lil-tay-and-are-we-ok-with-the-internet-hating-her"> Vice wondered whether or not it was okay</a> for the internet to collectively hate her. </p><p>Lil Tay as we know her may have simply been too much.</p><p>Reportedly, Lil Tay's current erasure is only temporary. On Monday, Diomi Cordero, a spokesman for Lil Tay's family <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/remysmidt/why-lil-tay-instagram-account-deleted-posts?utm_term=.ks9J11ZZV4#.jjLgYYWWvR">told Buzzfeed</a> that the loud-mouthed nine-year-old already has plans to make a comeback.</p><p>"I am rebranding Lil Tay...stay tuned," he said. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/signal-snowboards-led-lights-board-snowboard-2018-4">This one-of-a-kind snowboard is filled with LEDs</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/nF4554zV-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

You Searched For "lil tay" and got 10 results

Lil Tay's new music release is making fans think her death hoax was a PR stunt

Kieran Press-Reynolds

Lil Tay's Instagram says the rapper has died, but nobody is publicly confirming the news

Geoff Weiss

Lil Tay, the brash child internet star, has reportedly died at the age of 15

Geoff Weiss

How Lil Tay rocketed to fame at 9 years old, disappeared from social media, and became the speculation of a death hoax

Geoff Weiss

A Lil Tay crypto coin was released the day after her verified Instagram reported that the 15-year-old influencer had died

Julie Gerstein

Lil Tay's last Instagram post before her purported death complained about 'evil in the world' in a tribute to controversial rapper XXXTentacion

Andrew Lloyd

As soon as rumors emerged that 15-year-old influencer Lil Tay had died, online sleuths mobilized. Now they're more convinced than ever her 'death post' was a cruel hoax.

Charissa Cheong,Sirena Bergman

New posts are appearing on Lil Tay's Instagram after years of silence

Steven Asarch

'The youngest flexer of the century,' nine-year-old Lil Tay, has abruptly vanished from the internet

Zoë Bernard

6. Basically Starbucks

Dan Bobkoff,Anna Mazarakis,Kate Taylor