View source for Lil Tay

{{Short description|American-Canadian internet personality (born 2007)}}
{{Distinguish|Lil Tjay}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
<!--- DO NOT CHANGE THE YEAR OF BIRTH WITHOUT PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE. TWITTER, DISCORD, OR CLAIMS BY THE PERSON THEMSELVES ARE NOT CONSIDERED RELIABLE SOURCES BY WIKIPEDIA. --->
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lil Tay
| image              =
| birth_name         = Tay Tian
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|2007|07|29}}<!--- DO NOT CHANGE THE YEAR OF BIRTH WITHOUT PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE. TWITTER, DISCORD, OR CLAIMS BY THE PERSON THEMSELVES ARE NOT CONSIDERED RELIABLE SOURCES BY WIKIPEDIA. --->
| birth_place        = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| nationality        = {{Flatlist|
* American
* Canadian
}}
| occupation         = {{Flatlist|
* Musician
* [[internet personality]]
}}
| years_active       = {{hlist|2017–2018|2023–present}}
| agent              = Jason Tian
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[Pop music|pop]]}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
*Vocals
*piano
*guitar<ref>Lil Tay has been seen various times playing guitar since she returned</ref>
}}}}
}}
'''Tay Tian''' (born July 29, 2007),<!--- DO NOT CHANGE THE YEAR OF BIRTH WITHOUT PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE. TWITTER, DISCORD, OR CLAIMS BY THE PERSON THEMSELVES ARE NOT CONSIDERED RELIABLE SOURCES BY WIKIPEDIA. ---><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Lauren |date=2023-08-10 |title=The Making and Marketing of a 9-Year-Old Meme Machine |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/who-was-lil-tay.html |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=The Cut |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |date=2023-08-24 |title=The Brief Death (and Short Rebirth) of Lil Tay |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/08/the-brief-death-and-short-rebirth-of-lil-tay |access-date=2023-10-03 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref> known professionally as '''Lil Tay''', is an American-born Canadian internet personality and musician. She first came to prominence in early 2018 at the age of ten (while claiming to be nine years old), when content depicting her boasting about being wealthy and calling herself "the youngest [[wikt:flexer|flexer]] of the century", as well as videos of her rapping, were published and viewed millions of times on [[YouTube]] and [[Instagram]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-11 |title=Two days in the death, then life, of teen influencer Lil Tay |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/lil-tay-viral-death-claim-confusion-skepticism-rcna99387 |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref name="career">{{Cite web |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |date=May 24, 2018 |title=The Lil Tay Saga Reaches Its Logical Conclusion |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/05/the-lil-tay-saga-reaches-its-logical-conclusion/561116/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809173043/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/05/the-lil-tay-saga-reaches-its-logical-conclusion/561116/ |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> Her social media accounts became inactive after three months when her father applied to the superior court of Canada for full custody and control of her career as an influencer; full custody would eventually be granted to her mother. In 2023, Tay was the subject of widespread media coverage after a [[Death hoax|false statement announcing she had died]] was published from her Instagram account.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2023-08-18 |title=Lawyers for Lil Tay's Mother Address Custody Battle in Statement Following Death Hoax |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/lil-tay-lawyers-statement-death-hoax-custody-battle-1234809081/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Newsy |date=2023-08-09 |title=Internet rapper Lil Tay dead at 14, statement on her Instagram says |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/internet-rapper-lil-tay-dead-at-14-statement-on-her-instagram-says/video_26a332ee-8f48-5523-8bf4-7ea1d8fecacf.html |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=NBC Right Now |language=en}}</ref> Later that year, she released a single, "[[Sucker 4 Green]]".<ref name=":12" />
==Early and personal life==
Tay Tian was born on July 29, 2007,<!--- DO NOT CHANGE THE YEAR OF BIRTH WITHOUT PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE. TWITTER, DISCORD, OR CLAIMS BY THE PERSON THEMSELVES ARE NOT CONSIDERED RELIABLE SOURCES BY WIKIPEDIA. ---><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /> to Angela Tian, a former real estate agent, and Christopher J. Hope, a lawyer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-10 |title=Who are Lil Tay's Parents Christopher Hope & Angela Tian? |url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/news/who-are-lil-tay-parents-christopher-hope-angela-tian-age-job-brother/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=[[Capital XTRA]] |language=en |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811055718/https://www.capitalxtra.com/news/who-are-lil-tay-parents-christopher-hope-angela-tian-age-job-brother/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Geoff |last2=Snodgrass |first2=Erin |last3=Lee |first3=Lloyd |date=2023-08-09 |title=Lil Tay's Instagram says the rapper is dead; dad declined to confirm |url=https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=[[Business Insider|Insider]] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810143622/https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8 |url-status=live }}</ref> She was originally from [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States, before moving to [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada, at an early age.<ref name="career" /><ref name="time">{{cite magazine |title=Teen Rapper Lil Tay's Statement Says She Is Alive Following Reports of Her Death |url=https://time.com/6303132/lil-tay-reported-death/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810031123/https://time.com/6303132/lil-tay-dead/ |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |magazine=Time|date=August 9, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Tay, viral influencer and child rapper, dies at 15: 'Entirely unexpected' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/08/09/lil-tay-dead-influencer-rapper/70558977007/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809192749/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/08/09/lil-tay-dead-influencer-rapper/70558977007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Her parents, who never married, [[Shared parenting|shared custody]] of Tay.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Rebecca |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Lil Tay's reported death hoax, explained as much as possible |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/8/10/23827421/lil-tay-death-hoax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810173845/https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/8/10/23827421/lil-tay-death-hoax |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |language=en}}</ref>
On September 12, 2024, an announcement was posted to Tian’s social media platforms stating she was in the [[Intensive care unit|ICU]] in “critical condition” and was diagnosed with a heart tumor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Toole |first=Scarlett |date=2024-09-13 |title=Lil Tay's family issues warning to fans as rapper 'is rushed to ICU' |url=https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/lil-tay-hospital-heart-tumor-691963.amp |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=The Mirror US |language=en}}</ref>
==Career==
===Social media beginning===
Tay became well known in early 2018 and was popular on platforms for a period of three months.<ref name="career"/><ref name=":5"/> She first rose to prominence through her presence on social media sites like [[Instagram]] by posting pictures of herself in luxury vehicles while wearing designer clothes.<ref name="career"/><ref name="WSB"/> She began showing off her luxurious lifestyle, and "flexing" as well as posting rap videos on [[YouTube]] which garnered millions of views.<ref name="career"/>
While her popularity was growing, Tay's mother Angela Tian came in contact with talent managers in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=":5"/> Tay, her mother and 16-year-old half-brother Jason moved from Tay's hometown of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] to live in Los Angeles. According to the ''Atlantic'' she was [[homeschooled]] in Los Angeles,<ref name="career"/> though her father instead said she missed 72 days of school while living there.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |title=Lil Tay rocketed to fame at 9 years old, disappeared from social media, and became the speculation of a death hoax |url=https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-career-scandals-and-family-drama-that-led-to-death-hoax-2023-8 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811055714/https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-career-scandals-and-family-drama-that-led-to-death-hoax-2023-8 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Coaching allegations and silence===
It was reported that Tay's older half-brother Jason was in control of her social media accounts.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|title=Lil Tay: mystery surrounds reported death of teen rapper|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/10/lil-tay-rapper-reported-death |access-date=August 10, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811055714/https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/10/lil-tay-rapper-reported-death |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite magazine|last=Bell|first=Sadie |title=Rapper and Influencer Lil Tay Dead at 14 in 'Sudden and Tragic Passing': Family |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/other/rapper-and-influencer-lil-tay-dead-at-14-in-sudden-and-tragic-passing-family/ar-AA1f1KkY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810142543/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/other/rapper-and-influencer-lil-tay-dead-at-14-in-sudden-and-tragic-passing-family/ar-AA1f1KkY |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |accessdate=August 9, 2023 |magazine=People Magazine|via=MSN}}</ref> As Tay's actions became more public, Tay's mother, Angela Tian, faced criticism online for allowing her young daughter to create rap videos with crude language.<ref name="SCM">{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2018 |title=Asian child rapper Lil Tay in custody battle, social media posts reveal |url=https://www.scmp.com/culture/music/article/2169650/lil-tay-custody-battle-asian-child-rapper-ordered-live-father-canada |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206101048/https://www.scmp.com/culture/music/article/2169650/lil-tay-custody-battle-asian-child-rapper-ordered-live-father-canada |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Amid controversy and speculation that her actions were forced by her mother, Tay defended her mother in an interview on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', saying she was not forcing Tay to act this way and that she was content with her actions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Del Rosario |first=Alexandra |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Lil Tay, teenage social media star known for boisterous behavior, dies |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-08-09/lil-tay-dead-family-announces-sudden-tragic-passing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809192622/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-08-09/lil-tay-dead-family-announces-sudden-tragic-passing |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Tracy |last2=Trainham |first2=Emily |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Lil Tay's former manager suspects reported death of teen influencer was publicity stunt |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/lil-tays-former-manager-suspects-reported-death-teen-influencer-publicity-stunt |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810210334/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/lil-tays-former-manager-suspects-reported-death-teen-influencer-publicity-stunt |url-status=live }}</ref>
In a May 2018 interview with ''[[BuzzFeed News]]'', Tay's mother stated that Jason directed the videos and managed social media accounts, with the article being released amidst a reportedly leaked video of the older half-brother coaching Tay on what to say in her video.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smidt |first=Remy |date=May 24, 2018 |title=What You Need To Know About Lil Tay: A 9-Year-Old Social Media Star Being Directed By Her Teenage Brother |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/remysmidt/who-is-lil-tay-instagram-youngest-flexer-brother-jason |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[BuzzFeed News]] |language=en |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517072918/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/remysmidt/who-is-lil-tay-instagram-youngest-flexer-brother-jason |url-status=live }}</ref> Jason, who apparently directed Tay's videos, was described by ''Business Insider'' as "reportedly domineering"<ref name="insider">{{Cite web |last=Bernard |first=Zoë |date=June 5, 2018 |title='The youngest flexer of the century,' nine-year-old Lil Tay, has abruptly vanished from the internet |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/9-year-old-youtube-star-lil-tay-disappeared-from-internet-2018-6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703092438/https://www.businessinsider.com/9-year-old-youtube-star-lil-tay-disappeared-from-internet-2018-6 |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> while an article in ''[[The Atlantic]]'' cited someone close to Tay stating "I've seen her brother shout at her. Once Jason was yelling at her, saying, 'You're no good, it's no good.' She was crying hard".<ref name=":5" /> It was also reported that Tay's mother, a real estate agent, allowed Tay and Jason to record their videos in luxurious homes she was working with and used her boss' [[Mercedes-Benz 500 SL|Mercedes-Benz 550 SL]] to portray themselves as being owners, all of which was allegedly done without the permission of her employer.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> Tay's controversial videos and reputation ultimately resulted in her mother losing her job.<ref name="insider" />
Summarizing the controversy, [[Vox (website)|''Vox'']] wrote:<ref name=":5" /><blockquote>This wasn’t quite the classic story of a stage mom, though; instead, Lil Tay had a stage brother. Jason, then 16, was the only one who had access to her Instagram account. He was the one who coached Lil Tay on what to say and how to say it, having studied famous YouTubers in previous attempts to get famous himself. According to reports, he was often harsh and cruel, and on at least one instance prompted her to say racial slurs.</blockquote>
===Familial conflict===
Accurate information about Tay has been difficult to confirm as she reportedly never had direct control of her public image, [[Vox (website)|''Vox'']] wrote.<ref name=":5"/> An apparent familial conflict between Tay, her mother and half-brother against Tay's father Christopher Hope and Tay's manager Harry Tsang occurred after Tay left social media, according to ''[[The Guardian]]''.''<ref name=":3" />'' Tay's father and manager sought for Tay to become more focused on professionalism, suggesting a music career for her, though her mother and half-brother encouraged her to continue her original boastful character.<ref name=":5"/><ref name=":7"/> It was then reported that Tay's father received a court order to return Tay to Vancouver and to cease content placement on Instagram;<ref name=":5"/> he stated that Tay missed 72 days of school after moving to Los Angeles.<ref name=":7"/> In June 2018, Tay's Instagram and YouTube videos had their content abruptly deleted in an attempt to "rebrand" her image.<ref name="insider"/> ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' reported that Tay's father sought to help Tay achieve a more professional career, looking to have her name [[trademarked]], and to have a [[Trust (law)|trust]] created for her earnings.<ref name=":5"/>
Following the court order, Tay's Instagram account was used to make unsubstantiated allegations of abuse against her father in October 2018; Tay's mother denied reports that Jason was responsible and instead said that this occurred due to a hacking event, sharing a purported police report about the incident. A separate Instagram account was reportedly made with contact information on Tay's father, including details about his workplace, allegedly to harass him.<ref name=":7"/> By 2019, it was reported in an edition of ''New York's'' ''The Cut'' that Jason managed all of her social media presence and that her mother had several business meetings about Tay without her involvement or any contracts signed.<ref name=":2"/>
Numerous posts were made on Tay's Instagram in 2021 – reportedly by Jason – again accusing Tay's father of abuse and claiming that her father had court-ordered Tay back to Canada in order to profit from her earnings.<ref name=":3"/><ref name=":7"/><ref name="variety"/> According to ''[[¡Hola!]]'', Jason launched a [[GoFundMe]] page citing the abuse allegations in an attempt to earn money on Tay's behalf.<ref name=":1"/> In an article by ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', Tay's promoter responded to the posts saying they were a result of a hack and that the allegations were false, while her manager Harry Tsang said that Tay's half-brother used her Instagram account to perform "defamation and libel". Tsang also alleged that Tay's mother and half-brother had attempted to plot sexual abuse allegations against Tay's father, according to ''The Daily Beast''.<ref name="variety"/>
==Reception and influence==
Tay gained the reputation of insulting her viewers while boasting about her wealth.<ref name="insider" /> The videos were criticized by rapper [[Snoop Dogg]], who noted, "She need to be in school learning how to be a little girl not a dumbass grown person".<ref name="WSB">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/lil-tay-teen-rapper-social-media-influencer-dead-14/ROVHUPGKHBCW3KI42ME3MCRSKE/|title=Lil Tay, teen rapper, social media influencer, dead at 14|publisher=WBSTV|accessdate=August 9, 2023|archive-date=August 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811055800/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/lil-tay-teen-rapper-social-media-influencer-dead-14/ROVHUPGKHBCW3KI42ME3MCRSKE/|url-status=live}}</ref> Videos of her with [[Jake Paul]] at his residence and Tay feuding with internet celebrity and rapper [[Bhad Bhabie]] had more than four million views on YouTube.<ref name="WSB" />
Tay had been associated with rappers [[Chief Keef]] and [[XXXTentacion]], the latter of whom she referred to as a "father figure".<ref name="variety" />
== Death hoax ==
On August 9, 2023, Tay's Instagram account was updated after two years of inactivity, with a post announcing that she had died.<ref name="variety">{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Lil Tay, Teen Internet Rapper, Has Died |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/lil-tay-dead-instagram-rapper-1235692008/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809171544/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/lil-tay-dead-instagram-rapper-1235692008/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritschel |first=Chelsea |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Influencer Lil Tay has died 'unexpectedly' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/lil-tay-death-rapper-influencer-brother-b2390353.html |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810143007/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/lil-tay-death-rapper-influencer-brother-b2390353.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Lil Tay: Child rapper dies aged 14 as family say brother has also passed away |url=https://news.sky.com/story/child-rapper-who-rose-to-fame-bragging-about-her-wealth-and-expensive-cars-dies-aged-14-12936986 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |publisher=[[Sky News]] |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809224933/https://news.sky.com/story/child-rapper-who-rose-to-fame-bragging-about-her-wealth-and-expensive-cars-dies-aged-14-12936986 |url-status=live }}</ref> The post also indicated that her half-brother, Jason Tian, had also died, aged 21.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Tay, viral influencer and child rapper, dies at 15: 'Entirely unexpected' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/08/09/lil-tay-dead-influencer-rapper/70558977007/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809192749/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/08/09/lil-tay-dead-influencer-rapper/70558977007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Their deaths were reported in the post to be "unexpected" and under investigation;<ref name="time" /> however, there was immediate speculation regarding the veracity of the announcement.<ref name=":1" /> Both Tay's father and self proclaimed "former manager" initially told ''[[Business Insider|Insider]]'' they could not confirm or deny whether she had died,<ref name="refute">{{Cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Geoff |last2=Orecchio-Egresitz |first2=Haven |last3=Snodgrass |first3=Erin |last4=Lee |first4=Lloyd |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Lil Tay dead at 15, rapper's Instagram states, but her father couldn't say if it was true |url=https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810143622/https://www.insider.com/lil-tay-dead-child-rapper-influencer-claire-hope-instagram-2023-8 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Business Insider|Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[Vancouver Police Department|Vancouver]] and [[Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles]] police departments also stated that they had no reports of her death, and were not investigating it.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="refute" /> ''Variety'' reported receiving a statement from her management confirming her death.<ref name="variety" /> Journalists have observed that before her alleged death, Tay's YouTube bio read "help me".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Trujillo |first=Jovita |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Lil Tay's alleged death sparks mystery and speculation |url=https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20230809348990/lil-tay-alleged-death-mystery-speculation/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[¡Hola!]] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810142836/https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20230809348990/lil-tay-alleged-death-mystery-speculation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On August 10, Tay's family reportedly told [[TMZ]] that her Instagram account had been supposedly compromised and the post announcing her death was deleted from her Instagram page following this.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/10/lil-tay-social-media-star-still-alive-instagram-hacked-fake-death-hoax/|title=Lil Tay Is Not Dead, Claims Social Media Was Hacked|website=[[TMZ]]|date=August 10, 2023|access-date=August 10, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810174121/https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/10/lil-tay-social-media-star-still-alive-instagram-hacked-fake-death-hoax/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Horton |first=Adrian |date=2023-08-10 |title='I'm alive': teen rapper Lil Tay releases statement after mysterious death report |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/10/lil-tay-rapper-reported-death |access-date=2023-08-10 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810184056/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/10/lil-tay-rapper-reported-death |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Tay: Child rapper says she and her brother are safe and alive after Instagram statement said they had both died |url=https://news.sky.com/story/lil-tay-child-rapper-says-she-and-her-brother-are-safe-and-alive-after-instagram-statement-said-they-had-both-died-12937536 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=[[Sky News]] |language=en |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810183014/https://news.sky.com/story/lil-tay-child-rapper-says-she-and-her-brother-are-safe-and-alive-after-instagram-statement-said-they-had-both-died-12937536 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Fact-checking]] website [[Snopes]] also issued an update to their reporting about Tay<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Child Rapper Lil Tay Has Died, According to an Instagram Post |url=https://www.snopes.com/news/2023/08/09/yes-lil-tay-child-rapper-has-died/ |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[Snopes]] |language=en |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810012540/https://www.snopes.com/news/2023/08/09/yes-lil-tay-child-rapper-has-died/ |url-status=live }}</ref> after originally reporting that Tay had died.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Yes, Child Rapper Lil Tay Has Died |url=https://www.snopes.com/news/2023/08/09/yes-lil-tay-child-rapper-has-died/ |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[Snopes]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809210846/https://www.snopes.com/news/2023/08/09/yes-lil-tay-child-rapper-has-died/ |archive-date=August 9, 2023 }}</ref> TMZ also reported that Tay provided a statement confirming that her account was hacked, that she and her brother are alive and that her actual name is Tay Tian and not Claire Hope.<ref name="TMZ-report">{{cite web |website=TMZ |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/10/lil-tay-social-media-star-still-alive-instagram-hacked-fake-death-hoax/ |title=Lil Tay Is Not Dead, Claims Social Media Was Hacked |date=August 10, 2023 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810174121/https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/10/lil-tay-social-media-star-still-alive-instagram-hacked-fake-death-hoax/ |url-status=live }}</ref> MacLean Law, a firm that represented Tay's mother, released a statement that her mother would receive custody of Tay, that Tay's father had to pay retroactive child support, that Tay could "advance her career" and that Tay's mother would have the ability to sign contracts on Tay's behalf.<ref name=":11">{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2023-08-18 |title=Lawyers for Lil Tay's Mother Address Custody Battle in Statement Following Death Hoax |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/lil-tay-lawyers-statement-death-hoax-custody-battle-1234809081/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=2023-09-02}}</ref> The statement referred to Tay as "Tay Tian".<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Tay is alive, living with her mom after custody, child support battle in Canada |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/08/18/lil-tay-is-alive-after-death-announcement/70622727007/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Lil Tay's Mom Updates Custody Battle, Paves Way for Tay Comeback |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/08/18/lil-tay-mom-win-custody-battle-career-return-angela-tian/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=[[TMZ]] |language=en}}</ref>
On September 30, a few weeks after the incident, she released her lead single "[[Sucker 4 Green]]" from her upcoming debut studio album.<ref name=":12">{{cite web |last=Myers |first=Kristin |date=September 30, 2023 |title='Resurrected' Lil Tay SHOCKS Fans With 'Sucker 4 Green' |url=https://theblast.com/541162/resurrected-lil-tay-shocks-fans-with-sucker-4-green-music-video/ |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=The Blast}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Album
|-
!scope="row"|"[[Sucker 4 Green]]"
|2023
|rowspan=2 {{TBA}}
|-
!scope="row"|"Growing Up"
|2024
|}
=== Promotional singles ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
|-
!scope="row"| "Money Way"
|2018
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|10119227}}
* {{Instagram | liltay }}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2007 births]]<!--- DO NOT CHANGE THE YEAR OF BIRTH WITHOUT PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE. TWITTER, DISCORD, OR CLAIMS BY THE PERSON THEMSELVES ARE NOT CONSIDERED RELIABLE SOURCES BY WIKIPEDIA. --->
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Musicians from Vancouver]]
[[Category:YouTubers from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Canadian YouTubers]]
[[Category:American social media influencers]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:American musicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Canadian musicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:American expatriate musicians in Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian rappers]]
[[Category:Age controversies]]
[[Category:Death hoaxes]]
[[Category:YouTubers from Vancouver]]