For the last several months, the Internet has been curious and fascinated by 9-year-old social media star, Lil Tay.
Her Instagram, which features the child in expensive cars and houses cursing and screaming about how much more money she has than everyone else, has over 2 million followers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh0P_YUD5Mi/?hl=en&taken-by=liltay
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh8AvpsjnpO/?hl=en&taken-by=liltay
Now, the 9-year-old has earned herself endorsement deals from companies and booked a ton of PR gigs and interviews–because, in the social media world, 2 million followers mean you have enough of a following to make companies a ton of money.
Many, however, have been curious where Lil Tays parents are–why aren’t they concerned that their 9-year-old daughter is cursing and using racist terms of social media? Why are they letting her hang out with rappers carrying guns and doing drugs are parties? Who is filming her? Who is telling her what to do and what to say?
According to Lil Tay’s mother, Angela Tian, her 16-year-old brother, Jason Tian, is the mastermind behind her social media presence and personality. Her mother is a single parent and was recently let go from her job at a real estate firm after her boss found out Lil Tay had used his car in a video without his permission. Now, the family relies on Lil Tay to bring in the money.
New videos have leaked from “behind-the-scenes” where you can hear Jason “coaching” his baby sister on “what to say” and how to act in the videos she posts online.
Lil Tay being coached what to say by her brother… SAD! pic.twitter.com/lJi7o2AXnp
— KEEM 🍿 (@KEEMSTAR) May 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/IamAkademiks/status/999049397076922374
Clearly, this 9-year-old is being exploited by her mother and brother to bring home money while her mother is out of work. While only a child, she’s been receiving immense backlash from her videos–including a ton of cyberbullying–and she’s even posted videos in tears asking people to please stop.
A representative for the family states that neither Jason nor Lil Tay’s mom have any comment on the situation and will continue to work together in their “family business.” Their mother told BuzzFeed:
“I love that they are working together. They’re very smart and super creative and I’m glad it’s staying in the family.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Biz9dVujwfb/?hl=en&taken-by=liltay
Now, Twitter users–who once hated on her and attacked her for her inappropriate videos and words–feel sorry for her and want to see her get help or be taken away from the family who is using her for views and money.
at first i was defending lil tay because her persona seemed like an innocent troll that people were getting butthurt over for no reason, come to find out shes just being exploited by her mom and brother for internet fame and money. someone gotta call child protective services smh
— xander (@whosalex) May 22, 2018
Lil Tay, is your brother over 18 so I can beat him up?
Asking for a few million people that feel bad your childhood is being stolen from you.
— Nathan (@nateismfof) May 23, 2018
Now that we know the truth about Lil tay & how her family is like lowkey forcing her to act up I feel so bad for her, someone call cps
— gutti 🌪 (@babyyseraph) May 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/cherrikissed/status/998785274720194560
https://twitter.com/SlGNMP3/status/999738782919397377
https://twitter.com/MarkDeBryun/status/999077559278096384
https://twitter.com/immortantoe/status/998680014953459712
https://twitter.com/HeroticTV/status/998650371621949441
https://twitter.com/savannamarie_xx/status/999783549644541953
People online are even signing a petition to have her YouTube and Instagram pages taken down. Recently, she was interviewed on Good Morning America with her mother and she claimed that no one is “forcing her” to do anything–and she does it just to be funny. In fact, she happens to be a “straight A student” (although she’s now homeschooled), and partakes in many activities other 9-years-olds do, like swimming and piano.
And, still, people are convinced the 9-year-old is “not old enough” to make these decisions on her own, and believe CPS should be called on both the mother and her brother.