‘I’m alive’: Viral child rapper Lil Tay dismisses accounts of death

The teenage rapper who had reportedly died has clarified that she and her brother are in fact safe and alive.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing,” said a post proporting to be from Lil Tay's family on the child rapper’s Instagram page. “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,” the now deleted post added. “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.”

However, a statement released to TMZ states, "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 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." It also says, "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'."

Lil Tay rose to viral fame at nine years old. Known as the “youngest flexer of the century”, she became known for her Instagram videos depicting an extravagant lifestyle. She was associated with popular rappers at the time, notably XXXTentacion, whom she referred to as a “father figure.

She drew backlash on the internet for using the N-word, for which she later apologised. Lil Tay was also the subject of a short docuseries titled Life With Lil Tay.

Hope disappeared for the internet in 2018 and was at the centre of a custody battle between her parents. Allegations started to surface online regarding her safety. The Lil Tay Instagram account had all its posts deleted in June 2018, while the words “help me" were posted on her story.

Months later, a series of abuse accusations against her father were posted to Lil Tay’s Instagram as part of an alleged hack. The rapper’s manager at the time said that the allegations were false in a 2018 interview with The Daily Beast.

In a phone interview, also with The Daily Beast, Lil Tay said “right now I’m in a bad situation and I don’t want to talk about these things,” and that her father “filed something to the court and the court ordered us to go back here, and he said that I was in danger and stuff.”

This story is ongoing .