Controversial social media personality Lil Tay has revealed she is very much alive — just a day after her Instagram account announced the 14-year-old had died “suddenly and tragically”.
Her brother, whose death had also been announced, was also alive, she said.
The social media star said her Instagram account was hacked.
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“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,” she told TMZ.
“It’s been a very traumatising 24 hours.
“All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess.
“My Instagram account was compromised by a third party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong.
“My legal name is Tay Tian, not ‘Claire Hope’.”
On Thursday, Tay’s Instagram account claimed that both the social media star — whose real name, it said, was Claire Hope — and her older brother Jason Tian had recently died.
“We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock,” the false statement to her 3.5 million followers said.
“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.
“Claire will forever remain in our hearts,