Lil Tay alive after death rumours plague the internet

Lil Tay, the pre-teen rapper is not dead.

Lil Tay claims she is still alive and that the death announcement she made on Wednesday was the result of her Instagram account being hacked.

“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,” the 14-year-old social media influencer said on Thursday, as per TMZ.

“It’s been a very traumatizing 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,” she continued.

Tay further added, “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.'”

What happened to Lil Tay?

The young celebrity's "unexpected" demise, along with that of her brother Jason Tian, was announced in a now-deleted message posted on her official Instagram profile on Wednesday morning.

“We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribably pain. This outcome was entirely unexpected and has left us all in shock,” the statement read.

It added, “Her bother’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,” the statement concluded.