LIL Tay gained Internet traction when she posted a series of viral clips where she claimed to be "the youngest flexer of the century."
As a death hoax surrounding the Instagram influencer circulated, users began to criticize her mother, Angela, and her father, Christopher.
Who are Lil Tay's parents?
Otherwise known by her online name Lil Tay, Tay Tian is the youngest child of Angela Tian and Christopher J. Hope.
When Tay first went viral, Angie was a real estate agent.
Meanwhile, Chris is an attorney, pilot, and author who works at the Vancouver-based law firm Lindsay LLP.
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The influencer was raised in Vancouver but relocated with her mother to Los Angeles at nine years old.
Ever since Tay found popularity on social media, she was met with backlash from users who claimed her family was exploiting her.
Angie was also met with rumors that she was fired from her real estate job at Pacific Evergreen Realty because of Tay's controversial online presence.
Pacific Evergreen Realty confirmed Angie resigned before they had the chance to dismiss her from her position.
"I didn’t get fired," she told Juju Chang during her interview with Good Morning America.
"I resigned for my daughter’s career and her bright future.
"I don’t want to deal with all these questions anymore. Can you please help out my daughter’s career more?
"All the haters, they want to get attention from her because right now, she's famous, and she has a passion.
"Every parent needs to worry about their own child. I’ll worry about my child.
"She’s a star now, and wherever she is, I will be beside her."
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Which parent has custody of Lil Tay?
In October 2018, Angie and Chris were granted joint custody of Tay but the latter was granted full power regarding the child's legal matters.
Chris explained to Hollywood Life: "When my daughter’s social media began to go viral this year, I disagreed with most of the social media activity.
"I took legal steps to stop things which I felt were dangerous to her physical and mental health and to her future.
"I do not think a ten-year-old girl should be put in those situations and made to drop out of school so that she can make money for other people.
"Everyone else involved in this situation is motivated by money and the possibility of making money off of my daughter.
"I am not fighting about money; I am fighting for my daughter, for her happiness, and her future."
On August 9, 2023, it was falsely announced that Tay died at the age of 13.
The announcement also falsely implied that Tay's older brother Jason had passed as well.
On Thursday, August 10, Tay surprised followers by revealing she was still alive and urged the media not to believe the fraudulent death statement.
"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," she told TMZ.
"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."
On Saturday, September 20, 2023, Tay released a new song called Sucker 4 Green before going on Instagram Live to explain her years-long absence, per TMZ.
She also revealed that her mom has regained custody of the social media star.
