Viral rap star Lil Tay is in hospital, recovering from open-heart surgery, one year on from the death hoax that rocked the internet.
The 17-year-old influencer has been privately navigating health issues recently, with a message shared on her behalf this weekend to provide an update on her condition.
It comes 13 months after she claimed her father faked her death; however, a representative for the teen has confirmed that her hospitalisation is not related to previous incidents, stating: ‘This isn’t a hoax.’
Uploaded to Lil Tay’s Instagram page, which boasts 5.2million followers, a video captured her lying in a bed, asleep, surrounded by machines and tubes, and with a teddy bear by her side.
The caption read: ‘We are overjoyed to share that Tay’s open-heart surgery was a great success!
‘We are deeply thankful to her surgeon, cardiologist and the team who are the best in the world!
‘Thank you for the love, prayers, and positive energy you have all sent her way. Thank you for your continued support 🙏❤️’
‘We are off to a great start on the road to recovery,’ the message concluded.
The post garnered over 200,000 likes in 24 hours, with fans flocking to the comments to wish her well.
Plenty did express concern, though, voicing discomfort at how the clip was filmed while Lil Tay wasn’t able to give permission.
‘Why are they recording her and posting it on social media before being able to even have her consent? This is not a proper way to handle this…’, wrote user alejotinganelli.
Another, whoiscoolio, wrote: ‘why tf r yall recording her like this’.
Many fans also apologised, having initially assumed her surgery was another hoax.
Earlier this week, Lil Tay’s page confirmed to her followers that she had been ‘diagnosed with a life threatening heart tumour.’
‘We ask kindly for everyone’s love and prayers,’ an Instagram post read, alongside a video of an echocardiogram.
Then, fans were given worrying updates via her X page, which is now private.
According to the Daily Mail, tweets were posted on September 11, reading: ‘we have devastating news regarding tay’ and ‘please pray for tay. we will be updating you as more information becomes available.’
The following day, a photo was shared of a hospital corridor with the text: ‘Tay is currently in the ICU in serious condition.’
Last August, Lil Tay – born Claire Hope before changing her legal name to Tay Tian – was reported dead, with a statement announcing: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing.’
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.’
However, the influencer spoke out 24 hours later to set the record straight, stating that her page had been 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,’ Lil Tay 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.’
Lil Tay, who was only able to reaccess her social media accounts after the hoax began spreading, claimed in 2018 that she had been abused by her father, Christopher Hope, and exploited by her brother, hence dropping her father’s surname in favour of her mother, Angela.
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