Benjamin Ashford|Lil Tay Shown in Hospital Bed After "Open Heart Surgery" One Year After Death Hoax

More than a year after she was the target of a death hoax,Benjamin Ashford Lil Tay has undergone heart surgery amid a private health battle, according to her social media account.

On Sept. 13, a video of an echocardiogram was shared on the rapper's verified Instagram and TikTok accounts, along with the message, "Tay has been diagnosed with a life threatening heart tumor. We ask kindly for everyone’s love and prayers." The following day, a video of the teen appearing asleep on a hospital bed was posted.

"We are overjoyed to share that Tay’s open-heart surgery was a great success!" the Sept. 14 message read. "We are deeply thankful to her surgeon, cardiologist and the team who are the best in the world!"

The post continued, "Thank you for the love, prayers, and positive energy you have all sent her way. Thank you for your continued support. We are off to a great start on the road to recovery."

The teen, who rose to fame as an influencer as a child, has not been active on social media for almost a year.

In August 2023, amid a years-long absence from the public eye amid a custody battle between her parents, Angela Tian and Christopher Hope, a post announcing the deaths of both Tay and her brother Jason was shared to the rapper's Instagram.

The following day, her family quoted her as saying in a statement to TMZ, "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. It's been a very traumatizing 24 hours."

She added, "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. My legal name is Tay Tian, not 'Claire Hope.'"

Later that month, her mother's lawyers announced on the rapper's Instagram that Tian was granted legal permission to sign contracts for Tay.

In September 2023, the musician returned to social media to make her first on-camera appearance in five years, appearing on a live session and dropping a new music video, "Sucker 4 Green." At the time, multiple outlets reported she was 14 years old.

In November, at age 16—according to Rolling Stone, which cited court records—Tay spoke out further about her comeback.

"I had some songs that I wanted to put out after winning my freedom. And thankfully, I did. So I was looking to get back on track as soon as I could," she told the magazine. "And then the death thing happens."