Death announced of child star and her brother at just 14
The family of both rapper Lil Tay, 14, and her brother, Jason Tian, 21, have announced on social media that they have both passed away.
Lil Tay, originally known as Claire Hope, was a musical artist and influencer with an enormous, three-million strong following on Instagram, the same account through which the family shared the statement that she passed away suddenly. Their deaths are currently being investigated, as after the controversial social media star's former manager Harry Tsang called into question the legitimacy of the post - which did not mention a cause of death - as police in both Vancouver and LA report that they have no current record of their passing.
The statement expressed the profound grief and pain the family is experiencing due to this apparent unexpected loss.
Lil Tay gained prominence on social media in 2018 at the tender age of just nine. She became famous for her orchestrated confrontations and videos where she showcased stacks of money while getting in and out of luxurious sports cars. However, she abruptly disappeared from the social media scene due to contractual and custody disputes.
During that time, she mentioned in an interview that she and her mother, Angela Tian, were legally required to move back to Vancouver from Los Angeles to be with her father, citing a court order. She alleged at the time that her father's motivation was financial.
Her father's spokesperson, Charles Wong, denied these accusations, stating that her father wanted her to maintain a more structured public image and a portion of her earnings to be set aside in a trust fund.
After a prolonged absence from social media, Lil Tay's Instagram account, which was supposedly compromised, posted accusations of abuse against her father and his second wife. In response, her father refuted these claims, expressing heartbreak over the situation and stating that false information had been spread online.
He expressed uncertainty about the hacking of the Instagram account and emphasised the potential legal consequences of the actions taken on the platform.
Images: Instagram