Influencer Lil Tay reportedly ‘alive’ despite Instagram statement announcing death
‘I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive,’ she says in statement released by family
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Canadian influencer Lil Tay is reportedly alive, according to a statement allegedly issued by her family.
In a statement toTMZ on 10 August, Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope, said she and her brother Jason Tian are both alive and that her Instagram account was hacked, after a since-deleted post shared to the account claimed they had “passed”.
The clarification came one day after a post was shared to her Instagram, which was not signed and offered no explanation about how or when the “deaths” occurred.
“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,” the statement to TMZ read. “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.”
According to the publication, she also addressed the statement on Instagram and said that her account was hacked, with a third party allegedly sharing false information about her.
“My Instagram account was compromised by a third party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong,” the statement continued. “My legal name is Tay Tian, not ‘Claire Hope.’”
The Canadian influencer went on to express her gratitude for Meta, noting that the social media company helped her get her Instagram back and deleted the allegedly false statement.
The statement came after a mysterious Instagram post had also emerged, claiming that both Lil Tay and her brother were “not dead”. The post, which was shared by the account @termanii.__, was posted on Thursday morning, and claimed that Lil Tay had been revoked access to her official Instagram account.
Speaking to The Independent on 9 August, Harry Tsang, Lil Tay’s former manager, said that after the initial statement about her “death” was released on Instagram, he’d “been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation”. However, he said he could not confirm or deny the accuracy of the now-deleted Instagram post.
“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,” he said.
He continued: “In times like these, it is imperative that we prioritise accuracy and empathy. I encourage everyone to rely on reputable and official sources for information. We must exercise patience while awaiting further developments before drawing any conclusions.”
Lil Tay’s father, Christian Hope, also told Insider on 9 August that he could not comment on the post and declined to confirm that his daughter had died.
The police department in Vancouver, where the family was believed to be living, also said that it was “not aware” of death reports for the influencer or her brother.
“As of now, we are not aware and are not investigating,” the department said in a statement to The Independent.
In addition, Insider reported that the Los Angeles Police Department and the county medical examiner did not have any information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope.
Lil Tay’s former manager Harry Tsang released a statement to The Independent in which he raised doubt about the claim that the influencer’s account had been hacked. He suggested there may have been other potential motives, such as a publicity stunt.
The Independent has contacted Meta and Lil Tay’s father for comment.