If it walks like a hoax and talks like a hoax... It’s probably a hoax

The first glaring suspicion came from the fact that the Instagram statement was unsigned. Though it read as if it were written by a loved one, perhaps even a family member, there was no concrete indication as to who shared the news. Further, Tay’s legal name was reported to have been Claire Hope, when she says it is in fact Tay Tian.

Things became even more peculiar when journalists attempted to confirm the young personality’s passing with authorities and family members. According to Insider, Tay’s father, Christopher Hope, refused to either confirm or deny his child’s death. Her former manager, Harry Tsang, was similarly hesitant to corroborate her passing.

“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 told Insider on Thursday. “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.”

No news outlets, including this masthead, were able to obtain confirmation that either the Los Angeles Police Department or the Vancouver Police had received reports of the death of a “Claire Hope”, or that any investigations were underway. However, that didn’t stop plenty of them from reporting the news solely based off the Instagram post.

On Friday, Tay herself appeared seemingly out of nowhere to assure everyone she was alive and well. Speaking to TMZ, she said she and her brother, Jason Tian, were safe and that her Instagram account had been hacked.

“I’m completely heartbroken,” she said. “It’s been a very traumatising 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.

“My Instagram account was compromised by a third party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumours regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not ‘Claire Hope’.”

The Instagram statement has since been removed from her account.

Death hoaxes are nothing new. Why is this one so baffling?

Though Tay’s former manager was reassured to know Tay was safe, he said he found it hard to believe she had been hacked, particularly given her account’s history.

“The typical duration for the restoration of a compromised account on platforms such as Meta or Instagram does not align with the reported 24-hour timeline,” Tsang said, adding that he believed making a statement like this could result in either financial gain or increased attention online for Tay and her brother.

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Controversy has surrounded Tay’s account since 2018, when her account suddenly went dark after a video was released that seemed to show her being coached by someone off-camera. Some fans suspected it was her brother, Jason. According to Insider, Tay’s mother confirmed that Jason had at one time controlled his sister’s account; however, it is unknown for how long.

Activity resumed later that year, including concerning videos of Tay crying, as well as posts that accused Tay’s father of alleged abuse amid a heated custody battle. All of these posts were later taken down and her mother claimed that the Instagram account had been compromised when these posts were released.

In 2021, several posts accused Tay’s father of further abuse and of stealing her money, while a supposed business dispute raged on that saw Tsang and Hope pitted against Tay, Jason and their mother. Hope denied the abuse and theft allegations and sent a cease and desist letter to Instagram. The controversial posts were removed.

Since 2021, both Tay’s YouTube and Instagram accounts laid dormant, until this week. Yet, despite the lack of police confirmation or corroboration from family members, the unverified statement was quickly scooped up by major news outlets across the globe.