‘I’m not dead’: Teen rapper Lil Tay issues statement after mysterious death report

Teen rapper-social media personality Lil Tay is alive. She issued a statement claiming her Instagram account was compromised and used to spread ‘jarring misinformation’ about her and her brother's death.

In a statement provided to TMZ from Tay's family, she 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 added, ‘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".’

Tay thanked Meta for helping to get her Instagram account back, and the phony death statement has been removed.

An unsigned statement posted on Lil Tay’s Instagram account on August 9 said her death at 15 was ‘sudden and tragic’. It also said that her older brother Jason Tian had also died and the deaths were under investigation.

The post read, ‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing. 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 statement continued, ‘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.’

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