Lil Tay’s Father Will Not Confirm If 14-Year-Old Is Dead Or Alive
By Kristin Myers on August 10, 2023 at 12:30 PM EDT
Updated on August 10, 2023 at 12:32 PM EDT
New questions are swirling around the death of Lil Tay.
The YouTuber rose to fame a few years ago for her controversial videos. She went silent on social media in 2018 and did not post again until 2023, when a statement was posted announcing the death of not only her but her 21-year-old brother.
Many fans have questioned the validity of the statement, and a new statement from her father has only raised more questions.
Lil Tay's Father Gives Cryptic Answer When Asked If His Daughter Is Alive Or Dead
When contacted by the New York Post about her death, her father, Chris Hope, would not confirm or deny that his daughter, Claire Hope, had died. When asked about her death, Hope said “I don’t have any comment right now,” before adding, “I’m not able to give you any comment right now. I’m sorry. I can’t.”
When asked if there was another person available to confirm her passing, he responded, “Um, no, not that I’m aware of.” That only raised more questions; however, he quickly ended the phone call, saying, “Sorry, I can’t really comment or give you any help. I’m just going to let you go.”
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department said “We haven’t gotten any reports of either death here,” referring to the death of both Tay and her brother, adding another element of mystery to her disappearance.
Ex-Social Media Manager Questions If Claire Is Really Dead
Henry Tsang, who is the ex-manager of the 14-year-old Instagram star, questioned her death as well. Claire Eileen Qi Hope from Vancouver, Canada, has not posted anything on social media for years, but Tsang can’t “confirm or dismiss” the statement that was posted to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon.
“I have been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation,” Tsang said to The Daily Beast. “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.”
Another anonymous individual, who also claimed that they were a former manager of Lil Tay, questioned why the statement was not signed by anyone in her family. “One thing I would question is who posted that statement and why isn’t it signed by anyone from the family,” the insider told The Sun.
After admitting that they had not been in touch with Lil Tay for years, they asked, “Why is it not signed, ‘This is Tay’s mom,’ or ‘This is the dad of Lil Tay,’ or from an official representative? Why is there no attachment?”
“To me, that is a very telltale sign. It doesn’t make sense. Even when you have passings, there’s a group of people that come together to make the statement, usually the family, and we don’t see that here,” they added.
The source went on to say that they “just have so many questions,” adding, “I send my condolences and I’m shocked by the news. But I’m curious as to who the statement has been released by.” They also questioned why it hadn’t been signed.
Fans Question The Validity Of Instagram Post Announcing Her Death
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing. We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain,” read the statement on Instagram. “This outcome was entirely unexpected, and has left us all in shock.”
“Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief,” they continued. “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.”
They concluded their statement, writing, “Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.”
Fans have been concerned for Lil Tay ever since her brother, Jason Tian, launched a GoFundMe in 2021, claiming that Lil Tay was the victim of abuse.
In the petition, Jason wrote, “Starting April 23, 2021, Tay will be on trial in the BC Supreme Court of Canada up against her absentee father Chris Hope, who along with his wife Hanee Hope (previously known as Richanee Alcover), had physically and mentally abused her. Chris Hope is fighting to permanently gain control of her career as well as custody over her.”
