Lil Tay, the child rapper who gained fame making music about her wealth, died in August 2023, a statement on her Instagram account. The statement claims that Tay’s brother, Jason Tian, also died. Tay’s career was on the rise when she suddenly dropped off the internet, raising concern for her well-being.
Lil Tay and her brother’s cause of death is unclear; it’s not certain that they are dead
Lil Tay’s death announcement describes her passing as ‘sudden and tragic’. It adds that Jason’s death has compounded the family’s grief. It reads:
“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 [Tay] and her brother’s passing are still under investigation.”
In most circumstances, such a statement would serve as an indisputable announcement of a person’s death. However, netizens are treating the statement as unusual and questioning its truth.
The suspicion stems from assertions by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Vancouver Police Department that they haven’t been notified of Lil Tay’s death and aren’t investigating the passing of anyone called Claire Hope. Lil Tay lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her father, who has refused to confirm Tay’s death to mainstream media.
Further, Lil Tay’s former manager, Harry Tsang, told Insider that he couldn’t confirm or deny the news. He told the outlet that ‘the situation calls for careful consideration’. Tsang 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.”
Lil Tay vanished from the internet and moved to Canada after her father, Christopher, gained custody of her. “Right now I’m in a bad situation and I don’t want to talk about these things,” Lil Tay talked to The Daily Beast about her father’s battle to gain custody. “He was threatening to arrest — to have my mom arrested if we didn’t go back… I didn’t see him for multiple years.”
The rapper claimed that Christopher sought custody because she was earning money. “He never saw me for so long,” she stated. “It’s obvious he just came back because he wants money.”
Since then, cryptic messages have appeared on Lil Tay’s Instagram, claiming she’s in danger. A GoFundMe page created by her brother alleged that Christopher was an abusive parent. “Help me,” reads the description on Lil Tay’s YouTube page.