A little ten-year-old girl known as Lil Tay rose to prominence in early 2018. She called herself the “youngest flexer of the century” and flaunted a lifestyle of luxury—stacks of cash, expensive cars, and million-dollar mansions.
However, our story today isn’t about her, but about her brother, Jason Tian. You see, his involvement in her career went far beyond casual support.
According to many, it seemed that he might’ve been the mastermind behind it all. Let’s take a closer look at his role in the rise—and fall—of Lil Tay.
Family and Early Life
Jason Titan was born into a Chinese-Canadian family and is the older half-brother of Tay Tian, better known as Lil Tay.
Image source: Google
Their mother, Angela Tian, worked as a real estate agent, while their father, Christopher J. Hope, was a lawyer.
The siblings grew up in Vancouver, Canada. However, Lil Tay was originally from Atlanta, Georgia, before moving at a young age. Her parents never married but shared custody of Tay, and much of their upbringing remains private.
Unlike his younger sister, Jason preferred to stay out of the spotlight—at least when it came to his personal life!
Rap Career
Before Lil Tay became an international sensation, Jason Tian had his own ambitions of making it in the rap industry.
He picked the stage name Rycie and attempted to launch his music career. Sadly, Jason struggled to gain traction.
Image source: Google
Despite his efforts, his music failed to attract a significant audience, and his aspirations of becoming a rapper never took off.
However, this didn’t stop his pursuit of fame. Instead, it shifted his focus to his younger sister, shaping her online persona.
Being Lil Tay’s Agent
While we all saw Lil Tay’s face online, Jason was the one controlling everything behind the scenes.
Reports suggest he was the one who created her online persona, transforming his younger sister into the loud, brash character we all know.
Of course, as her self-proclaimed manager and agent, Jason took full control of her social media accounts, directing her content and dictating her every move.
A leaked video from 2018 showed Jason coaching Lil Tay, telling her what to say and how to act in her videos. This clip sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing him of exploiting his little sister.
YouTuber NessGod later posted a since-deleted video claiming that Jason crafted Lil Tay’s entire online persona after failing to find success himself.
Lil Tay being coached what to say by her brother… SAD! pic.twitter.com/lJi7o2AXnp
— KEEM 🍿 (@KEEMSTAR) May 21, 2018
Business Insider described Jason as “reportedly domineering,” while sources close to the situation recalled seeing him yell at Lil Tay, making her cry when she didn’t meet expectations.
Despite the backlash, Jason remained in control of Lil Tay’s brand.
Work Controversies with Lil Tay
As Lil Tay grew online, the controversy surrounding Jason’s role in managing her career intensified.
One of the biggest scandals came when it was revealed that Jason and their mother, Angel Tian, had staged Lil Tay’s luxury lifestyle. It didn’t look like the mother objected to what her little girl was doing online, instead, she encouraged it.
You see, the expensive care and lavish mansions in their videos don’t belong to them. As a matter of fact, they were properties that Angela was selling as a real estate agent.
Image source: Instagram
Reports confirmed that she had allowed Lil Tay and Jason to film in multi-million dollar homes without permission and even used her coworker’s Mercedes-Benz 550 SL to create the illusion of wealth!
The backlash was quick. When the truth came to light, Angela Tian lost her job, and Lil Tay’s image as a self-made millionaire unraveled.
Death Hoax
On August 9, 2023, a shocking, but now deleted, post appeared on Lil Tay’s Instagram, announcing that she and her brother, Jason Tian, had passed away unexpectedly.
The announcement quickly sparked skepticism. Neither Vancouver nor Los Angeles authorities had records of their deaths, and Lil Tay’s father refused to confirm or deny claims.
Just a day later, on August 10, 2023, Lil Tay spoke out, telling TMZ that she and Jason were alive. She explained that her Instagram had been hacked, calling the situation “traumatizing” and condemning the false information.
The hoax raised questions about who controlled her social media, with speculations pointing to Jason due to his past management of her accounts.
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Final Words
So, what do you think about Jason Tian? In my opinion, I just believe he’s a teenager guiding a child.
There should’ve been more oversight from adults in their lives, but instead, Jason ended up steering the ship. Of course, he steered as he saw fit and, in the end, he’s just a child himself.
He might’ve had a huge influence over his sister’s career, but the chaos that followed proves that fame should never be left in the hands of just a teenager.
Featured image source: Google
