Social media users were shocked on Wednesday when a post appeared on influencer Lil Tay's account saying she had died at the age of 14. Some of them started paying tribute, but others questioned the reason behind the sudden and tragic news. Adding to the confusion was her father's statement, who told the New York Post that he could not confirm if Ms Tay had really died.
"Yeah, you have the right person, but I don't have any comments right now. I'm not able to give you any comments right now. I'm sorry, I can't," the influencer's father told the Post.
He also refused to confirm if someone else posted the news about Ms Tay's death on her Instagram. "Um, no, not that that I'm aware of. Sorry, I can't really comment or give you any help," said Mr Hope.
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department said: "We haven't gotten any reports of either death here," referencing both Tay and her brother, who also allegedly died, according to the Instagram announcement.
"As of now, we are not aware and are not investigating," he added.
The statement shared on Ms Tay's Instagram account on Wednesday (August 9) said, "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."
The statement also mentioned the recent death of the influencer's older brother, adding that the deaths are "still under investigation." The date and cause of her death have not yet been revealed.
'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,'' the statement further read.
The news in the Instagram post was met with utter disbelief by her fans, who raised doubts about the credibility of the information.
"Is she really dead? Like, what is going on?" commented a user.
Lil Tay was originally from Canada but moved to Los Angeles. She first rose to fame in 2018 after she began posting controversial videos on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube that showed her cussing, flashing stacks of cash, and even starting fights.
She amassed a huge social media following of over 3.4 million people on Instagram. However, she hasn't used the app in five years. She was also a rapper who claimed to have started writing music at the age of seven, as per Metro.
In May 2018, Lil Tay talked about her controversial videos in an interview with Good Morning America.
"People think it's funny, I guess, 'cause I'm nine years old and I've accomplished so much. I'm the youngest flexer. I can do anything I like. If they don't believe me, I don't care," she said.
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