What happened to Lil Tay? All about her medical emergency

Lil Tay has the internet asking questions again.

The internet personality – whose real name is Claire Tian – uploaded a cryptic post to her social media on September 11, leaving her followers wondering what happened.

Tay initially caused concern when she shared a post on her verified Instagram account that read, “Please pray for Tay. We will update you as more information becomes available.”

The next day, another post was uploaded to her Instagram channel and verified X account (formerly known as Twitter), which read, “Tay is currently in serious condition in the intensive care unit,” alongside a picture of a hospital and a sign with an arrow pointing to the pediatric intensive care unit.

Three hours later, a third update was shared on their accounts, saying: “Tay has been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart tumor.” The message included a video of what looks like an image of a heart on a monitor.

Her lawyer, Kenneth Kenneth L. Kraus, declined to comment on her current health condition.

Lil Tay made headlines back in August 2023 when she was involved in a murky death case. At the time, she claimed in a statement shared on Instagram that she and her half-brother Jason Tian had died. However, the statement was later removed and she returned to the spotlight the following month with her song “Sucker 4 Green.”

Here's everything you need to know about Lil Tay, including her latest social media mystery.

Who is Lil Tay?

Lil Tay is an internet phenomenon who rose to fame at the age of 9 through her shocking videos on Instagram. She grew up in Vancouver with her parents Angela Tian and Christopher Hope, who shared custody.

In 2018, Tay rose to fame for her raps and sensationalist behavior, such as shouting foul language and flaunting her designer purchases. During this time, she collaborated with other internet personalities such as Bhad Bhabie, Jake Paul, and Diplo.

Shortly after rising to online fame, Tay suddenly disappeared from the internet and went silent on social media less than four months after her first post. Her last Instagram upload was a tribute to the late rapper XXXTentacion following his death in June 2018.

What was Lil Tay's death rumors in 2023?

Tay shocked her fans in August 2023 when she posted a statement on Instagram claiming that she had died alongside her older half-brother Jason Tian. At the time, she was reported to have been 14 years old.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of the sudden and tragic death of our beloved Claire,” the statement said. “We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain. This outcome was completely unexpected and has shocked us all.”

However, Tay’s father and a lawyer representing her mother could not confirm the news of her death to PEOPLE, although the rapper’s management has confirmed this to diversityThe Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner also had no records of the suspected death.

The Instagram statement announcing Tay's death was removed from the account a day after it was uploaded. Family members and management had mixed reactions to PEOPLE when asked for comment on the situation.

Tay's former manager Harry Tsang questioned the “legitimacy” of the post, according to a statement given to PEOPLE. “Given the complexity of the current circumstances, I have reached a point where I can neither definitively confirm nor deny the legitimacy of the statement made by the family,” he said.

“This situation requires careful consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved,” Tsang added.

A month after the death declaration was posted on Instagram, Tay announced her return to social media with the release of a music video for her new song “Sucker 4 Green” in September 2023. “B—– THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS OVER,” the rapper wrote alongside the video on Instagram.

Why is Lil Tay in the hospital now?

Tay's Instagram and X account (formerly Twitter) published a series of posts on September 11 and 12 that sparked concern online. The posts were uploaded a few hours apart to keep her followers updated.

“Please pray for Tay. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available,” the first post said. A few hours later, another post was uploaded to the account saying Tay was in the intensive care unit “in serious condition.” The post included a picture of a hospital and a sign with an arrow pointing to the pediatric intensive care unit.

A third post was shared a few hours later, saying Tay had been “diagnosed with a life-threatening heart tumor” and asking fans for “love and prayers.” The post also included an x-ray video of what appears to be her heart.

On September 13, another update was shared on Tay's account. “Tay will have to undergo major open heart surgery to remove her heart tumor. This is a critical procedure, we ask for your prayers for a successful surgery,” it said.