The boyfriend of Lil Tay's mother has admitted he still doesn't know if the death hoax was a publicity stunt or a prank, but insisted it was not orchestrated by the teenage rapper.
Chuck Wigg, who says he is in a relationship with the Canadian girl's mom, Angela Tian, said he was relieved to learn that Tay and her older brother Jason are alive but is 'angry at the situation.'
Speaking to DailyMail.com at Tian's home just outside of Vancouver on Thursday, he said: 'Tay and Jason are alive and well and are living in LA with their mother, Angela.'
Questions still remain over the bizarre death hoax involving 14-year-old social media star Lil Tay and her older brother Jason
Chuck Wigg, the partner of Lil Tay's mother Angela Tian, told DailyMail.com the death hoax was not a publicity stunt by the teenager. He is pictured above outside Tian's home in Vancouver
Big interview: Lil Tay pictured during an appearance on Good Morning America alongside her mother Angela Tian in 2018
'I don't know if was PR stunt, it took me by surprise. I don't know what's going on,' he added. 'The internet, a lot of it you can't believe.
'It wasn't a PR stunt by Tay. Jason told me her account was hacked and I've got to believe them.'
Wigg, who is still based in Canada, began dating Tian after her divorce from Tay's father, Vancouver attorney Chris Hope, several years ago, but said he has known the family for two decades.
When a statement claiming the young rapper and social media star and her brother had allegedly died was shared on her Instagram account on Wednesday, Wigg said he was just as 'blindsided' as the rest of the world and it wasn't until the following morning that he would find out the two siblings were in fact okay.
'I was just as shocked as anyone, even more so when I first heard the news,' he said.
'I was at work when a family member of mine texted me a story about Tay's passing. I was devastated as you can imagine.'
Wigg said he immediately tried to get a hold of Angela but couldn't get any response.
He finally was able to get through via text several hours later, when he was told the story was false and Jason informed him the account had been 'hacked.'
Tay - who was born Claire Hope but appears to have changed her name to take her mother Angela's surname - said she was 'heartbroken' by the fake news of her death
In her statement to TMZ, Lil Tay - whose real name is Tay Tian - confirmed that her brother Jason is also alive
A post shared on the teenager's Instagram account on Wednesday stated that Lil Tay and her 21-year-old brother Jason Tian had both died, referring to her by her birth name, Claire Hope
More 24 hours after their supposed deaths were announced on August 9, Tay's family released a statement confirming that she is alive and well, while claiming that her account had been 'compromised by a third party' and revealed that she and her sibling are both 'safe and alive'.
But by then, multiple news outlets around the world had reported on their passing based on the statement shared on her verified profile.
The phony death post, which has since been removed, read: '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.
'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 concluded: 'Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an irreplaceable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.'
Influencer and rapper Lil Tay has confirmed she is alive - more than 24 hours after a post on her official Instagram account announced that she and her brother had died
She did not reveal why it took her so long to shut down the rumors of her death
Staying silent: Lil Tay's father, Christopher Hope, (pictured together previously) declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com
But the post became shrouded in mystery and doubt soon after when her own father stated that he was unable to confirm whether she was alive or dead.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Wigg argued that Tay would not have been behind the hoax if it was indeed a publicity stunt as people have suspected.
When asked if her older brother was responsible, he said: 'I don't know, I'm not going to comment on that. I really don't know.'
'Tay is an awesome child…What goes through a kids mind, you don't know,' he added. 'Jason told me her account was hacked which is entirely possible.'
Wigg said the family has been living in Los Angeles since January where Tay has been 'working and recording music' but refused to elaborate more about what she's been up to career wise.
'Tay is gifted if anyone can make it, it's her. She's been focused on her music, singing and acting, she can play the piano and guitar. She speaks and sings in Mandarin.
'I'm relieved that they are alive but angry at the entire situation. I'm just glad they are okay.'
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