- The 9-year-old Instagram star returned from her social media disappearance to memorialize XXXTentacion, the 20-year-old rapper shot and killed Monday in Miami.
- She called him a "father figure." XXXTentacion was awaiting trial on charges that involved beating and strangling his pregnant girlfriend.
- The two were allegedly planning a charity event together.
- Lil Tay has been absent from social media since earlier this month, after a video leaked of her brother apparently feeding her lines for her videos.
Lil Tay disappeared from Instagram and the rest of her social media accounts two weeks ago because, her manager said, her team was retooling her image.
Now the 9-year-old Instagram star is back — to memorialize controversial rapper XXXTentacion.
In two separate posts she spoke about the 20-year-old rapper who was shot and killed in Miami Monday. XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was an influential musician in the Miami rap scene, but was controversial for his alleged assault of his pregnant girlfriend. At the time of his death, he was awaiting trial for a 2016 abuse case on charges of aggravated battery of his pregnant girlfriend, domestic battery by strangulation, and witness tampering.
Lil Tay, a preteen with 2.6 million Instagram followers, changed her Instagram profile picture to a photo of XXXTentacion and changed her description to "RIP X😢" in memory of the rapper. She paid tribute to him Monday night, calling him a "father figure."
"X you truly changed me ❤️ you were there for me when everyone wanted me to fail, you were there to give me advice, you were there," Lil Tay's account posted. "As a father figure, when I don’t have one, you were here, FaceTiming me and calling me for hours when I’m down."
The two had planned a charity event. Lil Tay said she'd still make it happen.
Lil Tay's account has been in limbo since May, when a video of her older brother apparently feeding her lines for her YouTube videos leaked on Instagram.
A representative for Lil Tay's didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's requests for comment.
Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.
