Lil Tay’s Former Manager “Cannot Confirm or Dismiss the Legitimacy” of Her Death, Calls for “Cautious Consideration”

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published Aug. 10, 2023, 9:25 a.m. ET

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Uncertainty is arising surrounding the death of Claire Hope, also known as Lil Tay. After the 14-year-old influencer’s family announced her passing on Instagram, her former manager said he “cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement.”

On Wednesday (Aug. 9), a post made to Lil Tay’s Instagram page shared the “sudden and tragic” death of the young rapper and her brother, Jason Tian, and claimed circumstances surrounding their passings were still under investigation.

However, Insider soon reported that police departments in both Los Angeles and Vancouver — where Lil Tay previously lived — had no information about an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope.

Moreover, Lil Tay’s father, Christopher Hope, told the outlet that he could not comment on the family’s post and also refused to answer whether his daughter was alive.

Later that day, Lil Tay’s last-known manager, Harry Tsang, released his own statement to Entertainment Tonight, where he said he wanted to provide “the most accurate and timely information as possible.” According to Tsang, he has been in communication with people 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,” Tsang said. “This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved.”

He added that he’s committed to “delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed” and said it’s important that we “prioritize accuracy and empathy.”

“I encourage everyone to rely on reputable and official sources for information. We must exercise patience while awaiting further developments before drawing any conclusions,” Tsang said. “Thank you for your understanding and discretion as we navigate through this situation.”

Lil Tay rose to fame in 2017 after posting videos of herself rapping on social media when she was only nine years old. In her short-lived stardom, she scored a three-episode series on the Zeus Network titled Life with Lil Tay, appeared on Good Morning America and feuded with Danielle Bregoli, otherwise known as Bhad Bhabie.

However, her online presence abruptly dropped off mid-way through 2018. Her most recent post prior to the announcement of her death was shared on June 18, 2018, when she mourned rapper XXXTentacion.

In 2021, Lil Tay’s brother set up a GoFundMe to “support her fight against her abusive father.” He alleged that Christopher “physically and mentally abused her,” and was the reason she went silent on social media as he had allegedly served their mother a “court order demanding control over Tay’s money, career, and custody.” As a result, the court allegedly demanded that she move back to Vancouver to live with her father, who allegedly took “every last dollar of hers.”