Lil Tay’s death hoax, explained
On Wednesday, Aug. 9, a post on the Instagram account of the teenageinfluencer Lil Tay announced the deaths of her and her half-brother. But fans questioned it, leaving skeptical comments on the post. Lil Tay’s internet presence was characterized by stunts and staged controversy, as well as strained familial relationships.
Then, Lil Tay told TMZ on Thursday that she wasn’t dead, and that her account had been hacked. Fans didn’t appear to be that surprised, but the news came as a relief to many. She said, “My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me.” The Instagram post alleging Lil Tay’s death has since been removed from the account.
The details of the story are still developing, but reflect a larger story of a young influencer who seemingly never had complete control over her public identity. Here is the full Lil Tay death hoax controversy, explained.
Lil Tay is alive, according to the statement her family gave to TMZ on Thursday.
However, the time leading up to her giving this statement was marked by confusion. On Wednesday, her management told Variety that she had died. When outlets, including Insider, reached out to Lil Tay’s father for comment, he would not give comment.
Lil Tay is an American-born internet influencer raised in Canada who rose to prominence during an intense three-month period in 2018. She posted primarily on YouTube and Instagram, where she built a following around her persona of bravado and beefing with other influencers. Her videos often showed her “flexing” an extravagant lifestyle and rapping.
Her identity has been shrouded in mystery, however. In 2019, New York Magazine reported that she was born Claire Eileen Qi
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