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Lil Tay’s Instagram account posts disturbing abuse allegations

Lil Tay’s Instagram account posts disturbing abuse allegations

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Lil Tay, the preteen viral star known for her foul-mouthed “flexer” antics, has been absent from social media for months. Her accounts went dark in June; in July, a message that simply said “help me” was quietly uploaded to her Instagram story with no further explanation.

The young influencer briefly appeared to make a comeback with a new docuseries called Life with Lil Tay, but her accounts have remained quiet — until this past weekend when an unknown user uploaded several disturbing allegations of abuse and mistreatment to Tay’s 2.5 million followers.

A person identifying themselves only as “someone who previously worked with Tay” who claims to “have seen everything unfold since the beginning” began posting photos and documents detailing Tay’s relationship with her estranged father, Christopher John Hope. Through a series of disturbing posts, the account claims that a court ordered that Tay be placed in her father’s residence by 4PM on June 3rd. It alleges that Hope “often slept with different women with Tay in same bed” or “was naked around Tay” quite often. Other allegations claim that Hope did not pay Tay’s mother child support.

The posts also allege that the sister of Hope’s new partner “would scream at Tay and forcefully lock her in a dark closet for hours at a time for no reason, all with the knowledge and permission” of Hope.

“The account has been hacked”

“He banned her off of social media because he was afraid she would expose the TRUTH to the world, the truth of what he has done and hasn’t been punished for,” the account says.

The Verge reached out to Hope for comment and was subsequently contacted by Chris Jones “The Promoter,” who says he works with Lil Tay on her music. “The account has been hacked,” he tells The Verge via phone. “Nor I nor anyone have access to that account at the moment.” Jones declined to comment on the allegations made on Instagram, reiterating that “at the moment, no one has access to the Instagram.”

A document from Hope obtained by The Verge, addressed to Instagram, claims that the account has been “taken over by by her brother, Jingxian Sun a.k.a. Jason Tian, also a minor. He has either personally, or encouraged others, or negligently allowed the account to be used by third parties, to conduct criminal extortion and harassment as well as the torts of defamation and libel.” Hope also says that the posts have resulted in death threats and threats of bodily harm against him and members of his family.

Circumstances around Lil Tay’s so-called persona and life have long been upsetting. The child star is known for swearing, dropping slurs, and beefing with viral stars like “cash me outside” girl Danielle “Bhad Bhabie” Bregoli. YouTube channels like Drama Alert have claimed that her behavior is scripted and even directed by her teenager brother. Several posts from the account — including a video in which a doctored voice alleges that Hope, upset about the social media posts, will soon have Tay placed in foster care — have since been removed.

Update, October 22, 3:48PM: Updated with Hope’s documents and Jones’ statement.