Current:Home > MarketsOliver James Montgomery-Lil Tay, viral influencer and child rapper, dies at 15: 'Entirely unexpected' -Wealth Pursuit Network
Oliver James Montgomery-Lil Tay, viral influencer and child rapper, dies at 15: 'Entirely unexpected'
EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-10 18:29:19
Viral teen influencer and Oliver James Montgomeryrapper Lil Tay has died at 15.
"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," a statement posted to her Instagram on Wednesday read.
The date and cause of death for the young star, real name Claire Eileen Qi Hope, has not yet been revealed. Lil Tay's management confirmed her death with "profound regret."
The Instagram statement also revealed the influencer's brother has died. "Her brother's passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief," the statement read.
"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," the post concluded.
Lil Tay went viral in 2018 with several videos of her flashing wads of cash while seated in fancy cars and doing house tours. She self-labeled as the "youngest flexer," and had more than 3 million followers on Instagram at the time of her death.
"People think it's funny, I guess, cause I'm 9 years old and I've accomplished so much," she said on "Good Morning America" in May 2018. "I'm the youngest flexer. I can do anything I like. If they don’t believe me, I don't care."
She also slammed critics who claimed she was being exploited by her family. "No one is forcing me to do this," she said. "This is my decision. I am happy with what I am doing."
Lil Tay's mom Angie, who chose to only be identified by her first name, told "GMA" that despite her daughter's profanity on social media platforms, she is "well-mannered and a great kid, well-behaved."
The young influencer had gone silent on her Instagram feed in recent years, with the most recent photos on her account from June 2018. Aside from the announcement of her death, the most recent post on her account was mourning the death of another young star, rapper XXXTentacion.
"X you truly changed me," Lil Tay wrote in the caption. "you were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you were there to give me advice, you were there. As a father figure, when I don’t have one, you were here, FaceTiming me and calling me for hours when I’m down, 3 hours ago you announced the Charity event we were going to throw, we had everything setup, I can’t believe this, the evil in the world, This isn’t good ByeI Love you Bro."
veryGood! (1)
Related
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Drought Fears Take Hold in a Four Corners Region Already Beset by the Coronavirus Pandemic
- California Ranchers and Activists Face Off Over a Federal Plan to Cull a Beloved Tule Elk Herd
- Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox Are Invincible During London Date Night
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Keystone XL Pipeline Hit with New Delay: Judge Orders Environmental Review
- Love Is Blind's Paul Peden Reveals New Romance After Micah Lussier Breakup
- American Climate Video: The Family Home Had Gone Untouched by Floodwaters for Over 80 Years, Until the Levee Breached
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Energizing People Who Play Outside to Exercise Their Civic Muscles at the Ballot Box
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Latest Bleaching of Great Barrier Reef Underscores Global Coral Crisis
- Vaccines could be the next big thing in cancer treatment, scientists say
- Channing Tatum Shares Lesson He Learned About Boundaries While Raising Daughter Everly
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Mountaintop Mining Is Destroying More Land for Less Coal, Study Finds
- American Climate Video: In Case of Wildfire, Save Things of Sentimental Value
- Pink’s Nude Photo Is Just Like Fire
Recommendation
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Iowa Republicans pass bill banning most abortions after about 6 weeks
Idaho militia leader Ammon Bundy is due back in court. But will he show up?
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Honor Daughter Zaya on Sweet 16 Birthday
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Transcript: Rep. Veronica Escobar on Face the Nation, June 25, 2023
Jana Kramer Recalls Releasing Years of Shame After Mike Caussin Divorce
8 Black Lung Indictments Allege Coal Mine Managers Lied About Health Safety