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Thursday, August 10, 2023

The Hilarious Convergence of Chaos

Lil Tay dead at 15, rapper's Instagram states, but her father couldn't say if it was true

A statement on Lil Tay's Instagram page says the braggadocious influencer, 15, is dead.
But the internet personality's father would not confirm to Insider whether the post was true.
Lil Tay's ex-manager also told Insider he couldn't "definitively confirm or dismiss" the news.

The internet star Lil Tay, whose real name is Claire Hope, has died, a post on her verified Instagram said Wednesday. But the internet personality's father and her former manager told Insider they couldn't confirm whether the young rapper was actually dead.

The Instagram statement said the internet star's death was "sudden and tragic" and "entirely unexpected." It said that her brother, Jason Tian, had also died. Both cases were under investigation, the statement read.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire's sudden and tragic passing," the Instagram message read. "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."

Her brother, Jason Tian, has reportedly been in control of the Instagram account in the past, which has been used to level baseless allegations against her father and a bitter custody dispute.

When reached for comment, Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, told Insider he could not comment on the Instagram post and declined to answer whether his daughter was still alive.

Similarly, Harry Tsang, the star's former manager told Insider the situation called for "cautious consideration" and he could not confirm or deny the news currently.

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A post shared by Lil Tay (@liltay)

"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," Tsang told Insider in an emailed statement Wednesday. "This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed."

The Los Angeles Police Department and the county medical examiner had no information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope.

The Vancouver Police Department also said they had no reports of her death and were not investigating the case. Lil Tay grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Despite the confusion, the news quickly traveled across the internet.

Lil Tay became famous in 2017 for her brash onscreen persona, with curse-laden monologues boasting about mansions, cars, and bundles of cash. In 2018, she disappeared from the internet after a video leaked with a voice behind the camera feeding her lines, which was speculated to be the voice of her brother.

A battle then reportedly ensued for the future of her career, with her manager (Tsang), father (Christopher Hope), and promoter (Chris Jones) on one side, and her mother (Angela Tian) and brother on the other.

In 2021, Lil Tay's Instagram account became active after years of dormancy when posts, seemingly from her brother, accused their father of physical and mental abuse and stealing all of Tay's money. Hope denied these allegations with a cease and desist order to Instagram at the time.

Insider has contacted Tay's mother, Angela Tian, for comment.

Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect the uncertainty over whether Lil Tay died, and now includes comments from Lil Tay's father and former manager.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Tory Lanez Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison The Toronto rapper was found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion after a party in July 2020.

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Tory Lanez Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
The Toronto rapper was found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion after a party in July 2020.

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(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

By Paul Meara

August 8, 2023 / 6:32 PM

Tory Lanez's sentence has just been announced.

The Toronto rapper, convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot after a party in July 2020, received ten years in prison on Tuesday (Aug. 8).

Previously, Lanez's sentencing had been delayed multiple times – first in January and then in February.

On December 23, Tory Lanez was found guilty of all three charges he faced during his trial, including felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence, over the July 2020 shooting that took place after a Hollywood Hills party.

During the trial, Megan testified that Lanez offered her $1 million to keep quiet about the incident.

On Monday, Megan Thee Stallion issued a victim's, “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace,” she said in a written statement that was read in court. “Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”

Since his conviction, supporters of Lanez have also created several petitions to appeal his conviction in connection with the shooting. Late last month, the rapper's lawyers filed an appeal of the sentence, claiming that the chest tattoo Lanez has of a firearm hurt his case and suggested he like weapons, among other assertions.