Lil Tay’s alleged ex-manager is questioning the validity of her death announcement after the anonymous statement was posted to her Instagram account.
“One thing I would question is who posted that statement and why isn’t it signed by anyone from the family,” the person, who didn’t want to be named, told the US Sun on Wednesday.
“Why is it not signed, ‘This is Tay’s mom,’ or ‘This is the dad of Lil Tay,’ or from an official representative? Why is there no attachment?”
The alleged former manager claimed that the lack of attribution was suspicious since the statement announced that the influencer’s brother, Jason, had also died.
“I should be grieving right now … but I just have so many questions,” the person added.
Another one of Lil Tay’s alleged former reps, who claimed to still be in contact with insiders close to the rapper’s family, also said he wasn’t able to confirm the validity of the statement.
“I have been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation,” Harry Tsang told the US Sun.
“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.”
Tsang added that the situation called for “cautious consideration” and “accuracy.”
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“I encourage everyone to rely on reputable and official sources for information. We must exercise patience while awaiting further developments before drawing any conclusions,” he said.
The controversial statement posted to the Instagram account of Lil Tay — who was born Claire Hope — claimed that the 14-year-old’s cause of death was under investigation.
“We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribably pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock,” the statement read.
“Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief. 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.”
Lil Tay rose to social media fame in March 2018 at the age of 9. She became known for her scripted fights and videos of her throwing around stacks of cash and jumping in and out of exotic sports cars.
After quickly becoming an internet sensation, she disappeared from social media.
That same year, she claimed in an interview with the Daily Beast that she and her mother, Angela Tian, had to move back to Vancouver from Los Angeles to be with her father due to a “court order.”
“He was threatening to arrest — to have my mom arrested if we didn’t go back,” Lil Tay told the outlet at the time. “I didn’t see him for multiple years. He never saw me for so long, it’s obvious he just came back because he wants money.”
But a spokesperson for her father, Christopher Hope, denied the allegations.
“There are only three things he wants to see,” the rep, Charles Wong, said in response. “First, no more crazy videos of cursing from Tay. Second, 25 percent of the gross earnings going to a trust fund dedicated to Tay. The third thing is, there has to be structure in her operation, in her public image.”
Lil Tay’s Instagram account, which was allegedly hacked, later posted allegations of abuse against her father and his second wife. Again, her father denied the claims.
“I am heartbroken about what has happened, not only to her, but also to my other family members, due to past events and now, due to the lies and harassment that were posted on Instagram,” he told Hollywood Life in October 2018.
Lil Tay’s final Instagram post before Wednesday’s death announcement was FaceTime snap from June 2018 to mourn the death of late rapper XXXTentacion. As for her YouTube channel, her bio reads “help me” with videos that were posted five years ago.
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