Rapper Lil Tay, who was reported dead Wednesday, is very much not, according to TMZ.
In a statement from her family released Thursday to the media outlet, the 14-year-old social media personality said her Instagram account was "compromised by a 3rd party" on Wednesday. The Thursday statement, apparently written from the perspective of the young rapper, alleged that her account was used to "spread jarring misinformation" about her "sudden and tragic passing," as well as the death of her 21-year-old brother, reportedly named Jason Tian.
One day after internet rapper and social media star Lil Tay's management confirmed to Variety that she had died, her family has allegedly issued a statement to TMZ in which she says she is "safe and alive."
"I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I'm completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It's been a very traumatizing 24 hours," the statement said.
Editor's note: A previous version of the story published Aug. 9 cited the false post reporting her death.
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The rapper, whose statement said her real name is Tay Tian, added that she was bombarded Wednesday with phone calls from loved ones "all while trying to sort out this mess."
Her death was reported Wednesday on social media by an unnamed family member. However, no details were made available and her father, Christopher Hope, and the star's former manager, Harry Tsang, said they could not confirm the teen's death, according to Insider.
The false statement has since been removed from her Instagram account. The rapper did not immediately respond Thursday to The Times' request for comment.
Tian went viral for her foulmouthed videos, rising to popularity in 2018 for her Instagram photos and posts where she flaunted designer clothes and luxury cars. In a March 2018 video, she claimed that the tub and toilet in her bathroom each "cost more than your rent."
News of Lil Tay's purported death was reported Aug. 9 on her Instagram in a post that has now been deleted.
That same year, the social media star gained the attention of fellow YouTube personalities Jake Paul and Danielle "Bhad Bhabie" Bregoli. Her videos also caught the eye of rapper Snoop Dogg. But it seemed he was not a fan, calling out Lil Tay's act in 2018.
Lil Tay, who moved with her family to Los Angeles from Canada, told "Good Morning America's" Juju Chang in a 2018 interview that "no one's forcing me to do this" and that her mother — Angela Tian — was not exploiting her.
She continued: "This is my decision. I'm happy with what I'm doing."
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