Rapper Lil Tay’s team has reported that her open-heart surgery on September 12 was a great success, though a substantial portion of the public remains skeptical. The news comes in the wake of a highly-publicized death hoax that circulated last year, which claimed the young rapper had passed away at the age of 14.
Tay, whose real name is Claire, recently shared an ultrasound of her heart to her private Instagram account, stating that she had been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart tumor. However, fans are voicing concerns about whether this latest health scare is genuine, given their memories of the previous death announcement. In August 2023, a message purportedly from her family claimed that both Tay and her older brother, Jason Tian, had died, which was later revealed to be false as her social media had been hacked.
Despite the latest surgery being deemed a success, many fans took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to ask whether new material would be released soon. Reactions have ranged from concern to skepticism, making it clear that trust in the updates regarding Tay’s health has eroded. Her account’s current private status adds a layer of intrigue and uncertainty to her situation.
After the 2023 fake death announcement, Lil Tay publicly addressed the misinformation, expressing devastation over the incident and stating that both she and her brother were alive. Previous management disputes further complicate her public narrative, with conflicting statements regarding the control of her social media accounts. Former manager Tsang and her father have both voiced doubts about the legitimacy of claims surrounding the hacking incident.
As the situation develops, the music community and Tay’s fans will be closely monitoring updates regarding her health and future musical endeavors. For more about Lil Tay, you can visit her NME artist page.