In a statement provided to TMZ from Tay’s family, she tells TMZ, “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. 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.”
Her last post before the now-deleted announcement was a tribute post to rapper XXXTentacion. “X you truly changed me ❤️ you were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you were there to give me advice, you were there,” she captioned.
“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 continued. “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. In times like these, it is imperative that we prioritize accuracy and empathy.
The statement comes after Lil Tay’s father Christopher Hope released a statement to Business Insider that he could not confirm or deny his daughter’s death. The site also reported that 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, where Lil Tay grew up, also said they had no reports of her death and were not investigating the case.