Viral Rapper Not Lil Tay Dead at 14 Despite Reports

UPDATED 2 (AUG. 10, 3PM ET): In a statement to TMZ, Lil Tay, 14, confirmed she is still alive and that the previous death reports were the result of her Instagram getting hacked.

UPDATE (AUG. 10, 12PM ET): The rapper's father reportedly refused to confirm his daughter's death to Insider, while her former manager, Harry Tsang, told the publication he could also neither confirm nor deny the death reports.

According to Insider, the Los Angeles Police Department and county medical examiner "have no information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope," which some believed to be Lil Tay's real name.

ORIGINAL STORY (AUG. 9): A statement posted to her official Instagram on Wednesday (Aug. 9) appeared to announce the death of viral rapper Lil Tay.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing," the since-deleted statement read.

The statement also referenced the supposed death of Lil Tay's brother, Jason Tian.

"We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. The 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 circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother's passing are still under investigation," the statement continued.

"Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her," the family's statement concluded.

Prior to its removal, the comments section on the Instagram statement had been turned off.

The young rapper went viral in 2017 after posting videos rapping in mansions and "flexing" cash and expensive cars. Some of her most controversial videos showed her smoking hookah and getting into fights with other social media personalities.

Despite her massive following, Lil Tay has been absent from social media for around four years, with her last Instagram post being a tribute to late rapper XXXTentacion in 2018. "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," she wrote at the time.

In 2021, Lil Tay's brother made a rare post on his sister's Instagram account accusing their father, Chris Hope, of abusing Lil Tay.

The post has since been deleted, but according to Paper, Tay was seen crying in a video, and her brother's caption accused Chris and Tay's stepmother, Hanee Hope, of physical and mental abuse.

Jason claimed that Lil Tay was "scratched, beaten, and repeatedly thrown in a dark closet." He also accused Chris and Hanee of living off "the millions they stole from [Lil Tay]," and claimed that "Tay has no money left to pay lawyers for fighting for her freedom, her father has stolen everything from her."

At the time, he launched a GoFundMe to cover her legal fees. "I am just now speaking out about this because I am no longer a minor and now have the right to do so without harming my family legally. All people alleging that I am 'stealing money' through a GoFundMe please look at the facts. Look at the police reports about the abuse, this is a serious situation," Jason said at the time.

In response, Lil Tay's father denied the allegations, sharing, "I am not fighting about money; I am fighting for my daughter—for her happiness and her future."