Canadian rapper Lil Tay's family says she and her brother have died
Editor’s note: Lil Tay told TMZ in an interview August 10 that she and her brother are alive and well, and claims the death announcement was the result of an Instagram hack.
Viral rapper and controversial internet personality Lil Tay has died, according to a social media post Wednesday. The post is apparently from a member of the family and says her elder brother Jason Tian has also died.
The Vancouver-born-and-raised teenager, whose real name was Claire Hope, was known for social media videos where she showed off expensive possessions and wealth, often focusing on cars and branded clothes. According to The Cut, Jason helped create and build Claire’s Lil Tay persona online, starting when she was only nine.
The validity of the post and information on the cause of death have not been revealed.
“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,” reads a post shared on Claire’s official Instagram page.
“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.”
View this post on Instagram
The family asked for privacy as they grieve their loss, adding that 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,” the post concludes.
Lil Tay/Instagram
Former manger speaks out
Harry Tsang, Lil Tay’s former manager, released a statement to the media in which he admits he doesn’t know if the post is accurate and advised that the public be patient and not jump to conclusions. However, he says he has been speaking with “individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation.”
“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,” Tsang said Wednesday.
Many have posted their sadness about the news, including a man claiming to be in talks to be her new manager. Instagram/Luxurysleepy
Ties to BC
Court and property records show that Claire’s brother Jason lived in a Burnaby home owned by their mother Qi (Angela) Tian as recently as 2022. Burnaby RCMP says it’s aware of the information about Claire and Jason’s deaths circulating online, but that the officers “do not have a current investigation in relation to this matter.”
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According to a 2020 legal dispute, Angela Tian was awarded $1,161.09 from her former employer, Pacific Evergreen Realty Ltd, after the brokerage bought items without her consent. In the filing, the company brought forward a counterclaim that Tian had acted inappropriately during an open house, which is believed to have been in connection to claims that a Lil Tay music video was filmed inside an open house and used another real estate client’s personal possessions as backgrounds and props. The company said that behaviour cost them thousands of dollars “in time and business opportunities by having to deal with Ms. Tian’s alleged conduct.”
Tian’s real estate website is inactive and it’s believed she left the business in recent years.
Editor’s note: This piece has been updated to include a statement from the former manager.
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Files from Amir Ali, Claire Fenton, and Megan Devlin.
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