Mystery continues to surround the reported death of 14-year-old online influencer and rapper Lil Tay – whose real name was Claire Hope – after her former manager shed serious doubt on the family ‘statement.’

The news of her ‘sudden and tragic’ passing was announced by an unnamed family member in a post shared on the teen’s Instagram account today – when it was revealed that her 21-year-old brother, Jason Tian, has also died. 

But the controversial social media star’s former manager Harry Tsang has since said he ‘cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement’ as the cops also reveal they have no record of either passing. 

Lil Tay became embroiled in furious controversy in 2018 amid allegations that she was being physically and mentally abused by her father as well as being exploited by her brother – with her mother also losing her job as a real estate agent over the youngster’s content.

The statement shared earlier today – which did not reveal the cause of death – began: ‘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. Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief.’ 

The statement went on to reveal that both Tay and her brother Jason’s deaths are ‘still under investigation.’  

‘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,’ it continued. 

‘Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.’ 

Speculation has begun circulating on social media about the cause of deaths with one user, Jesse Ryan, claiming to have witnessed the incident.

He wrote: ‘As someone who was at the scene I can confirm that both were together when passing. Due to car collision. The brother was driving.

‘Local officials are speculating “texting and driving” being the cause. The other vehicle occupants were okay with minor injuries.’ 

Some followers have even gone as far as to suggest that the post was a hoax – while Lil Tay’s former manager Harry Tsang added further confusion when he released a cryptic statement about the news, refusing to ‘confirm’ that the rapper had in fact died. 

In an email to DailyMail.com, Tsang said that he had ‘been in communication with individuals who have an intimate understanding of the family’s situation’ but that he was still unable to ‘definitively confirm or dismiss’ the news that Lil Tay and her brother had passed. 

‘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,’ he said. 

‘This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved.’

Meanwhile local authorities in Vancouver, where Lil Tay’s father lives, and Los Angeles, where she had been living with her mother, had no record of any investigation into the deaths of Claire or her brother Jason when contacted by DailyMail.com. 

Lil Tay’s lawyer father, Christopher Hope, declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com. 

He and the social media star seemingly had a strained relationship – with Lil Tay herself claiming she ‘did not have’ a father figure in a tribute to rapper XXXTentacion following his death in 2018.

Her brother Jason had previously set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise $19,000 for Lil Tay after levelling allegations of physical and mental abuse against Hope and his wife, Hanee.

Attempting to explain Lil Tay’s absence online, Jason, who is not Hope’s son, wrote: ‘My sister Tay has been silent on social media for the past three years because her absentee father (Chris Hope) served my mother a court order demanding control over Tay’s money, career, and custody, and as a result it was court ordered that my sister had to return to Vancouver, Canada.

‘He also requested through a court order to prevent her from speaking out about the truth.’

Jason then claimed that Hope had ‘stolen millions of dollars’ from the rising star for his own benefit.

Following the allegations, Harry Tsang, a spokesperson for Hope, told The Daily Beast in 2018 that the father did not want any money from his daughter – despite trademarking ‘Lil Tay,’ arguing ‘it was obvious that her mom hadn’t taken any steps to do things in a business-like manner.’

‘There are only three things he wants to see,’ Tsang said. ‘First, no more crazy videos of cursing from Tay. 

‘Second, 25 per cent of the gross earnings going to a trust fund dedicated to Tay. The third thing is, there has to be structure in her operation, in her public image.’