Claire Hope, also known as Lil Tay, the pre-teen internet rapper from Canada, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by her management to Variety.
Her family made the announcement on Lil Tay’s Instagram page, which has 3.3 million followers, stating, “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. 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 and her brother’s passing are still under investigation. Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.”
Lil Tay’s last Instagram post was in June 2018.
Lil Tay gained viral fame at the age of 9 as a social media influencer. She was known as the “youngest flexer of the century” and became famous for her Instagram videos showcasing a luxurious hip-hop lifestyle, often filled with explicit language. In one video, she boasted about buying a $200,000 sports car despite not having a driver’s license. In another video, filmed in Beverly Hills, she claimed to “run L.A.” Lil Tay was associated with popular rappers such as Chief Keef and XXXTentacion, whom she referred to as a “father figure” in a 2018 Instagram post. She faced backlash for using racial slurs but later apologized to those she had offended. In 2018, she starred in a three-episode docuseries titled “Life With Lil Tay” that depicted her rise to fame.
Five years ago, Lil Tay disappeared from the internet, leading to a custody battle between her parents. During this time, suspicious allegations regarding her family situation and safety surfaced online. In June 2018, Lil Tay’s Instagram account was cleared, and a story with the words “help me” was posted.
A few months later, Lil Tay’s Instagram was allegedly hacked, and a series of abuse allegations against her father, Christopher Hope, were posted. The allegations claimed that Hope had forced Lil Tay to return to Canada in order to profit from her earnings. Lil Tay’s manager at the time, Harry Tsang, stated in a 2018 interview with The Daily Beast that these allegations were fabricated.
In a phone interview with The Daily Beast, Lil Tay, alongside her mother Angela Tian, mentioned the difficult situation they were in and expressed that they were not able to speak about it. Lil Tay attributed her father’s actions to a desire for money, mentioning that she hadn’t seen him for years before this.
This story is still developing.