The Strange Disappearance of Lil Tay: What Really Happened?
The social media space is one where success has come to many, even to those with limited popularity. Lil Tay was one of these individuals. But then, just as quickly as online fame was found, public persona, Lil Tay, mysteriously disappeared without a trace.
Lil Tay’s Rise to Fame
Lil Tay was a 9-year-old rap sensation and internet personality who rose to fame in late 2017 for her profanity-laden videos. Her videos depicted her bragging about her wealthy lifestyle, showing off her ability to rap, and flaunting her material possessions. Despite her young age, Lil Tay seemed to have no shortage of access to designer items, luxury cars, and private jets.
Though her age, vulgarity, and behaviour drew criticism from some, Lil Tay’s followers flocked to her page and rapidly multiplied. With the support of YouTube celebrities such as RiceGum and Jake Paul, Lil Tay’s online fan base sky-rocketed. In a matter of months, Lil Tay had millions of followers, featured in music videos and animations, and was selling her own line of merchandise.
The Fall of Lil Tay
Unfortunately, with the rapid rise of Lil Tay came the equally as rapid decline of Lil Tay. In June 2018, Lil Tay’s Twitter account unexpectedly vanished, followed shortly by her Instagram being abruptly deactivated. It left her legions of fans puzzled and wondering why she had so suddenly disappeared.
Rumours then began to swirl around the web that there was a link between his disappearance and an online feud between his mother, Angela Tian and her opponents, fellow youtubers The Faze Censor and RiceGum. In one of their videos, Angela acknowledged her involvement in creating the persona of Lil Tay, claiming that it was all ‘for fun’.
As speculation continued, reports began to surface detailing the conditions under whichLil Tay had grown up. She had supposedly been homeschooled and as such had been left to fend for herself. Furthermore, it was reported that Angela and her brother had been coaching her throughout her entire public career.
The Aftermath
Lil Tay has since then been the subject of much speculation. But the truth about Lil Tay remains shrouded in mystery. Rumours about Lil Tay’s whereabouts and current condition have varied from her returning to school, to her having gone into hiding, to her potentially being a victim of human trafficking.
The truth is, no one knows what happened to Lil Tay. But it is safe to say that we can learn a valuable lesson from this situation. Fame, as fleeting as it can be, is not something to take lightly. Together we should make sure that those who become vulnerable in the name of it are exposed to genuine love and care, not malicious intention and exploitation.