Editor’s note: Following the publication of this article, Lil Tay has claimed the social media post announcing her death was a hoax.
(KTLA) – Lil Tay, a rapper and social media personality who was widely reported to have died on Wednesday, is still very much alive and was the victim of a hoax, she says.
“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,” the social media star’s family said in a statement to TMZ.
The initial post on Lil Tay’s Instagram account, which has since been removed, also said her brother had passed away.
“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,” the statement read.
She also said her legal name is Tay Tian, not “Claire Hope,” as was widely reported.