How Lil Tay rocketed to fame at 9 years old, disappeared from social media, and became the speculation of a death hoax

Lil Tay burst into virality in 2017 at the age of nine as the self-proclaimed "youngest flexer of the century."

Viewers initially couldn't get enough of the braggadocious and foul-mouthed child best known for flashing piles of cash, insulting her viewers, and inciting feuds with other internet characters, such as Danielle Bregoli and collaborating with controversial YouTubers like Jake Paul.

But in 2018, as journalists began to question the adults around her, her caricature became more concerning.

In May, several videos went viral apparently showing Tay's teenage brother, Jason Tian, feeding her lines, supporting concerns she was being used by her family to stir drama and make money. Her mother, Angela Tian, a Vancouver real estate agent, was also reportedly fired for using her boss's car and rental apartments as backdrops and props in her videos.

In early June, Lil Tay disappeared from the internet, her YouTube and Instagram wiped clean. Her manager at the time, Harry Tsang, said that a rebranding was underway.

In October 2018, Insider's Jacob Shamsian reported on the clash between several of the adults in her life, including immediate family members and talent reps, over the future of Lil Tay's business and brand.

Behind the scenes, her father, Christopher Hope, manager Tsang, and a music promoter named Chris Jones wanted her to focus on her music career and build out a presence on TikTok, while her mother and brother Jason were focused on cultivating her brash persona.

The argument over Tay's career intersected with the already contentious relationship between Hope and Angela, who are divorced.

"My daughter, Lil Tay, has been with me since birth. She never goes to Christopher Hope's house," she said. "If she wasn't famous, do you think he would bother? ... He just wants fame and money."

The conflict between Christopher Hope and Angela, who had joint custody of Tay, came to a head after the young influencer went to Los Angeles with her mom and brother in April 2018. Hope said the trio stayed longer than expected and missed 72 days of school.

He then sought a court order to have Angela and his daughter return to Vancouver, which was granted in May of that year. Angela told Insider at the time that she blamed Hope for stifling the growth of the Lil Tay brand, and alleged that he hadn't seen Lil Tay in years until she became famous.

Hope disputed these claims, telling Insider he was trying to set aside money for her future.

"I think the story here isn't 'Dad didn't take care of his celebrity daughter and wanted to get involved because she's a celebrity,'" he said. "The story is 'Dad tried to do the right thing to make sure his daughter is protected. And as a result, the people that want to make money off the daughter went to war with him.'"

After Tay and her mother were ordered back to Vancouver, the behind-the-scenes battle became public.

In October 2018, the person or persons controlling Lil Tay's Instagram posted lurid accusations of abuse against her father, which were then deleted. Hope denied the claims and sent a cease-and-desist letter to Instagram.

Hope told Insider at the time that he'd received thousands of phone calls and messages from Lil Tay supporters after a secondary account, @freeliltay__, reiterated the abuse allegations and posted Hope's personal contact information online. The freeliltay__ account also urged followers to call Hope and leave reviews at his workplace.

At the time, Tay's mother Angela told Insider that Jason controlled her official Instagram account, but denied being behind the accusations. Instead, she said, a hacker had gained control of the account and was posting without permission.

She shared with Insider a copy of a police report she had made reporting the alleged hacking.