Teenage viral sensation and rapper Lil Tay, real name Claire Hope, has died in a ‘sudden and tragic’ death, according to a statement on her Instagram page.
Lil Tay shot to fame on social media in 2018 amassing millions of followers by bragging about her wealth and lifestyle, having previously been ‘broke.’
‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing,’ the statement read.
It continued: ‘We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. 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.
‘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, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.’
Lil Tay quickly found internet fame five years ago, using her Snapchat to boast about ‘trapping out in six star hotels’ and claimed to own five houses and was known for her other foul-mouthed online posts.
Lil Tay was also a rapper who claimed to have started writing music at the age of seven, describing her sound as ‘steady flow into the outro’.
Reflecting on her transformation, she previously said: ‘But one day I woke up and I said I to myself ain’t going to be broke no more. So I got up and worked hard, started moving bricks and now we be living in the hills.’
Lil Tay had been absent from Instagram since 2018, with her last post being a tribute to XXXTentacion, who was shot and killed in Florida.
She had 3.3M followers on Instagram.
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