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Did Meta help Lil Tay? Controversial influencer claims phony death post was put out by hackers

Lil Tay said that her Instagram account was 'compromised by a 3rd party' which spread 'jarring misinformation'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Meta reportedly stepped in to assist influencer Lil Tay in regaining control of her Instagram account after it was compromised.

This came shortly after an unauthorized message was posted on her verified page falsely claiming that both she and her brother had died.

Tay, the controversial 14-year-old internet sensation who gained fame at a young age through explicit rap-style videos, refuted the claims of her death on Friday, August 10. 

Meta helps Lil Tay regain control of her account

Tay addressed the situation more than 24 hours later, asserting that her account had been hacked.

A representative from Meta confirmed to TMZ that the teenager was unable to access her Instagram account and it intervened to aid her in regaining control.

In a statement to TMZ, Tay said, "I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It’s been a very traumatizing 24 hours."

She added, "All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess."

Tay further added, "My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong. My legal name is Tay Tian, not 'Claire Hope.'"

Was Lil Tay’s account ‘compromised’?

Tay expressed her gratitude to Meta for their assistance. Following their intervention, the false death announcement that had been posted on her account was removed. It is still not clear why the teenager took 24 hours to disclose she was alive after the phony announcement.