Lil Tay and her brother’s deaths were announced on Wednesday, but now she has spoken out to confirm this is not true
Lil Tay and her brother’s deaths were announced on Wednesday via a statement from the family and posted on the rapper’s Instagram account.
Speaking to TMZ, the rapper said: “I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It’s been a very traumatizing 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.”
She went on to explain that the misinformation went beyond just saying she was dead. It also falsely named her as ‘Claire Hope’.
Tay wrote: “My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not “Claire Hope”.”
The Vancouver Police Department had stated to The Mirror at the time that they did not have any record of her or her brother, Justin, being reported dead. They were not investigating further.
When asked to confirm or deny if his daughter was dead, her father, Chris Hope, initially refused to comment. He told The Sun: “I’m not going to comment on that right now.”
Former managers also denied to comment at the time. One, Harry Tsang, claimed to be in close contact with individuals involved and referred to the situation as ‘complex’. He told the Daily Beast: “I’ve been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation. 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.”
The message comes after an initial statement shared to Lil Tay’s 3.3million Instagram followers expressed the family’s “unbearable sorrow” over the deaths of Claire and her brother. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing. We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain.”
They added: “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.” The family then asked for privacy during their time of “immense sorrow” and while the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother’s passing is being investigated.
They concluded with: “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 statement ended.