The father of 14-year-old Lil Tay said he cannot confirm or deny whether his daughter is indeed dead.

Lil Tay, real name Claire Hope, shot to fame as a nine-year-old for her skills as a rapper, and since then has become a viral sensation online for bragging about the luxury life she claims to lead.

On Wednesday, a statement was posted to Tay’s official Instagram page – the first post on the account since 2018 – which stated the young rapper had died.

The statement called her death ‘sudden and tragic’ and ‘entirely unexpected’.

It went on to claim that her brother Jason, who was not named in the statement and only referred to as Claire’s brother, had also died, and that both deaths are under investigation.

However, Insider now reports that both Tay’s father and alleged manager were unable to confirm whether the teenager was dead.

Her father Christopher Hope said he could not comment on the Instagram post seemingly announcing his daughter’s death.

And former manager Harry Tsang said he could not confirm or deny the news but pleaded for ‘cautious consideraton’.

Tsang told the outlet that ‘given the complexities of the current circumstances’ he was unable to ‘definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family.’

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‘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.’

Tay lived in Los Angeles and grew up in Vancouver, Canada, but both police forces told the outlet they had no information on an investigation into the death of anyone named Claire Hope.

The young viral star shot to fame on social media in 2018 amassing millions of followers by bragging about her wealth and lifestyle, having previously been ‘broke.’

She used 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.

A statement allegedly issued by her family on Wednesday said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing.

‘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.’

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