Stewart Perrie
UPDATE 08/10/23: TMZ has shared a statement attributed to Lil Tay saying she is 'safe and alive' and her Instagram account was used to spread 'jarring misinformation'.
The statement reads: "It’s been a very traumatising 24 hours. All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess."
ORIGINAL STORY: There is a lot of confusion at the moment about Lil Tay.
Advert
A statement was posted on the teenage rapper's social media pages claiming she had died suddenly, along with her brother.
Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope, became a viral sensation in 2018 when she posted videos of her claiming to own a $200,000 car and boasting about all her money.
However, people were devastated when it was revealed she had 'died'.
The statement on her Instagram page said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing.
Advert
"We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. 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.
“Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.”
However, Insider has contacted Lil Tay's father, as well as her former manager, and they both haven't been able to confirm the teenager's death.
Advert
Christopher Hope told the outlet that he could not confirm or deny the statement on social media.
Harry Tsang, the teen's former manager, added: "Given the complexities of the current circumstances, I am at a point where I cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family.
"This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed."
What's even more bizarre is that authorities don't seem to have an investigation into Lil Tay's death.
Advert
Police in both Los Angeles and Vancouver haven't 'received reports about her supposed death', according to The Sun.
Lil Tay has spent time living in British Columbia and California and yet local officers haven't been tasked to investigate.
The world was introduced to Lil Tay when she was just nine years old, where she claimed to be the 'youngest flexer of the century'.
She's beefed with several artists in the music industry since landing on the scene in 2018.
Her exact age at the time of alleged death is unknown, but she was thought to be in her mid-teens.